Echoes of the Kingdom: Tracing the Influences of Second Temple Literature on Paul's Strategic Use of the Phrase "Kingdom of God" in 1 Corinthians

This study demonstrates the parallels between the use of the phrase "kingdom of God" in I Corinthians and in Second Temple Jewish literature. Through a literary analysis of key passages in i Corinthians where Paul references the kingdom of God, alongside an exegetical study of analogous passages from the Wisdom of Solomon and the Testament of Benjamin, this research identifies a shared strategy employed by Paul and the authors of Second Temple literature: using the phrase "kingdom of God" towards the conclusion of their discourses for persuasive purposes. The findings reveal Paul's deliberate and strategic use of the phrase "kingdom of God" in the concluding/climactic part of his discourses on diverse issues, including the wisdom of speech, unrighteous behaviors, and theological misconceptions surrounding bodily resurrection. Additionally, the study highlights the potential influence of Second Temple literature on Paul's use of the phrase, drawing literary, lexical, and thematic parallels such as wisdom, unrighteousness, and incorruptibility.