210 christina m. kreinecker
papyri—παρακαλῶ is “the” request formula in paul. some observations on
paul’s use of this formula are worth noting.
as a request, παρακαλῶ is regularly used to introduce a new thought
or new train of thought. This is the case in rom 12:1; 15:30; 16:17; 1 cor 1:10;
16:15; 2 cor 6:1; 10:1; 1 Thess 4:1 (combined with ἐρωτῶ); 5:14 and phlm 9:10).29
furthermore, παρακαλῶ appears to elucidate or summarize the matter in
question, e.g., in 1 cor 4:16; 1 Thess 4:10; 2 cor 2:8. In paul, the use of the
request formula is not limited to either the beginning or the end of a let-
ter, but can appear throughout. 1 corinthians is an obvious example of
this (1 cor 1:10; 4:16; 16:15).
concerning the content, there are three situations in which paul uses
the word παρακαλῶ for requests. In one instance (a), rom 15:30, paul
begs for himself when he asks the community for support and prayers,
connecting this request to christ and the love of the spirit. Three times
(b) paul uses παρακαλῶ for recommendations. This way of using the word
is particularly prominent in documentary papyri.30 In phlm 9 and 10, paul
asks on behalf of onesimus, in 1 cor 16:15 (in the context of 16:15–18) on
behalf of (the house of ) stephanas with fortunatus and achaicus.31 even
so, most of the requests (c) stand in the context of the actual life in the
community in its different aspects.
pauls asks in different ways for a community life pleasing in the sight of
god. on one hand, a godly life means a life within a community threatened
by divisions and heresies, one that requires focus on unity and holding fast
to the good news (rom 16:17; 1 cor 1:10; 4:16).32 This idea is also found in
2 cor 6:1, when paul asks the community not to have received god’s mercy
in vain (i.e., to hold fast to god). By using the participle συνεργοῦντες,
paul stresses the fact that he and the community are united in the same
purpose—συνεργοῦντες δὲ καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν (“as we work together, we
urge you”). on the other hand we find concrete situations which arise in
the community, as backgrounds for requests on how to celebrate liturgy
29 among those rom 12:1; 15:30; 16:17; 1 cor 1:10; 16:15 have the phrase παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς,
ἀδελφοί, directly addressing the recipients. cf. p. artz-grabner in arzt-grabner et al.,
1 Korinther, 58.
30 cf. arzt-grabner, Philemon, 194, with examples.
31 cf. p. artz-grabner in arzt-grabner et al., 1 Korinther, 518.
32 The request in 1 cor 4:16 to imitate paul evokes the idea from 1 cor 1:10 to stay united
and without divisions—παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ
Χριστοῦ, ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ λέγητε πάντες καὶ μὴ ᾖ ἐν ὑμῖν σχίσματα, ἦτε δὲ κατηρτισμένοι ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ
νοῒ καὶ ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ γνώμῃ (“now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our lord
Jesus christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions
among you, but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose”).