Pauline Interpretation of Christianity: ROMANS

1. Pauline Interpretation of Christianity:ROMANS RLST 212/Div/Rel 3162 Tuesday, January 18, 2011

2. Today’s Schedule • 4:00-4:50 Introduction to Paul: 5 Pauls • 5:00-5:40 Roundtables Rom 1:1-7 • “Paul as Slave of Christ and Apostle” Leaders: Madeleine St Marie (& Moo) and Steve Staggs (& Jewett) • “Gospel” Leaders; Derek Axelson (& Moo) and Ross Stackhouse (& Byrne) • 5:40-6:30 Discussion of your Interpretations. Learning from the other roundtable, different understandings of the themes

3. PEDAGOGICAL GOALS of this class: Part 1) Introducing you • a) to Paul and his interpretation of Christianity (in and for his context) • b) to the different interpretations of Paul by his readers (biblical scholars, as well as believers in different cultural contexts in history and today), • By the end of the semester, you will be expected • To have gained a critical perspective on the variety of interpretations that you will encounter as leaders in the church and elsewhere. • To know major differences among three distinctive scholarly interpretations of Paul

4. PEDAGOGICAL GOALS: Part 2) Learning to interpret Romans • A) In a weekly exercise you will be expected to develop your own interpretation of Romans • by the end of the semester, you will be expected to know the content of Paul’s letter to the Romans • B) “Some people claim to know the Bible, but the Bible doesn’t know them,” warned a Ghanaian preacher [quoted by Gerald West in Reading Other-wise: Socially Engaged Biblical Scholars Reading with Their Local Communities • in your weekly exercise you will illustrate how believers allow Romans to know their lives in their specific life and religious contexts.

5. PEDAGOGICAL GOALS: Part 3)assessing your interpretations(discuss reports) • Learning to do a critical assessment of your interpretation by comparing it with other interpretations (scholarly interpretations and also Christian believers’ interpretations) • Analyzing the textual, contextual, and theological/religious choices involved in each interpretation • By the end of the semester, you will be expected to show that you can compare several interpretations on the basis of the choices they made; and to assess their relative values.

6. First Step: On a Passage of Romans and a Theme Compare • PART A: Analyzing the text regarding what it says about a theme • [1) shown to be plausible (theological choice consistent with one of the several plausible views of the theme; see CDC) AND 2) grounded in textual evidence (analytical choice)] • PART A: identify the commentator’s • 1) choice of one of the views of the theme (see CDC) and • 2) choice of textual evidence (the most significant features of the text)

7. PEDAGOGICAL GOALS: Part 1) Introducing you to Paul … 5 Pauls! • Paul, the Apostle. • A most influential figure infirst-century Christianity and throughout Church history, a bold missionary who opened the Church to the “Nations,” • A most contested figure • A dangerous innovator 2 Peter 3:15-16

8. Warning: Our Friend Paul is dangerous! Handle with care! • 2 Peter 3:14-17 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by [God] at peace, without spot or blemish; 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.

9. Paul. A most contested figureEvoking passionate opposition, from the right; • A dangerous radical, perverting the “gospel”; • He is no longer preaching Jesus’ message about the “kingdom” • indeed, very rarely referring to Jesus’ teaching • Not surprising: he was not with Jesus during his ministry! • For him, Scripture (= Hebrew Bible, LXX = Septuagint) is no longer to be taken “literally”! Is the Law no longer God’s will? • no need for circumcision; no need to eat kosher; • Claiming authority as an “apostle” (= equal to Peter, James, John, etc.) on the basis of a charismatic experience • Galatians 1 and 2; 1 Cor 15

10. Paul. A most contested figureEvoking passionate opposition, from the left; • Patriarchal; authoritarian: • “imitate me and the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 1:6 you became imitators of us and of the Lord) • Constantly affirming and defending his “apostleship” and thus his authority • Slavery. Not contesting slavery and other oppressive institutions • “Slaves obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.” Colossians 3:22 • Androcentric; Misogynist; Male Chauvinist; • “Women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” 1 Corinthians 14:34-35

11. Paul. A most influential figureEvoking deep-seated loyalty for many • Transformed the gospel • from a proclamation of the kingdom, as Jesus did (“kingdom” ??? for Hellenistic people) • To a proclamation of Jesus as Christ: “the gospel of God… concerning his Son” (Romans 1:1-3) • A proclamation of the gospel without the law for Gentiles = you do not need to become a Jew to be a follower of Jesus Christ…. • An explosion of the mission to the Gentiles • Paul the second founder of the church

12. Paul. A most influential figureEvoking deep-seated loyalty for many • A radical gospel of liberation • A break down of all religious and social norms that separate people. “In Christ” everyone is equal. • As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:27-28) • A martyr that did not hesitate to challenge the powers of his days… and pay for it with his life.

13. Paul. An Ambivalent figure: 5 “Pauls” emerge out of different sources • Paul of the Acts of the Apostles • Paul of His 7 uncontested letters: • Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon. • = 3 “historical Pauls” (according to the scholars) • Paul of The Deutero-Pauline Letters, written by his disciples/followers • Ephesians, Colossians, • the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy, and Titus) (and 2 Thessalonians).

14. Paul’s Life = general agreement • a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin (Phil 3:5), a Pharisee raised in Tarsus (Acts 21:39); solid Hellenistic and Jewish education, • He zealously persecuted the church (Gal 1:13-14; Phil 3:5-6). • He was “converted” (c33/34; Gal 1:15-16; Phil 3:7-9; 1 Cor 9:1, 15:8-11). • Zealous mission work, 14 years with Barnabas in Syria and Cilicia (Gal 1:21); then independently in Macedonia, Achaia (Corinth) (c39-c51; writing 1 Thessalonians*),

15. Paul’s Life = general agreement • “Jerusalem conference” (c51) where Paul agreed with James, Cephas/Peter, and John (Gal 2:1-10=Acts 18:22) that the mission could have two thrusts: • one to the Jews/Judeans (led by Peter) and • one to the Nations/Gentiles* (led by Paul and Barnabas), • and that the churches from the Nations would support the “poor of Jerusalem.” • Two different forms of the “gospel” that are truly “gospel” precisely because they acknowledge the validity of a different gospel for Jews and a gospel for Gentiles • Should Gentile Christians become Jews and practice circumcision and eat kosher? This undecided issue came to a head in Antioch where Paul confronted Peter for his ambivalent attitude (Gal 2:11-14)

16. Paul’s Life = general agreement • Paul lost the confrontation in Antioch: • Barnabas and other Jewish Christians separated from Paul, • Paul nevertheless remained confident that Gentile* and Jewish Christians could work together. • During subsequent missions in Asia Minor and Greece (c51-c56, when he wrote most of his letters) Paul gathered a collection for the Church in Jerusalem • He brought the collection to Jerusalem (c56/57; Rom 15:25-28), where he was arrested, then imprisoned at Caesarea (c57-59; Acts 23—24) and Rome (c61; Acts 28:16)…. And eventually executed in Rome

17. What is Paul’s Teaching? Disagreements! So positive and negative responses • Different understandings and assessments of PAUL’S VIEWS about: • 1) HIS OWN AUTHORITY to proclaim the “gospel of Jesus Christ” (instead of “of the kingdom” that Jesus proclaimed); • 2) THE HUMAN PREDICAMENT that the gospel addresses; why do people need this “good news”? • 3) THE CHURCH.

18. Disagreements about Paul’s view of his Authority and Apostleship (see Rom 1:1-7) • 1. Paul has a special authority – comparable to that of the other apostles, and to the prophets -- because he has received a special revelation from God/Christ to whom he is totally submitted = Apostleship = transmitting this revelation • Through religious experiences , e.g. Road to Damascus • 2. Paul has a delegated authority -- as the “slaves of Caesar” acted in the name and with the authority of Caesar, so Paul acts in the name and with the authority of Christ = Apostleship = manifesting Christ’s authority • 3. Paul has a paradoxical authority to free others, when he is “crucified” like Christ, an abject “slave of Christ” = Apostleship = suffering like Christ redeeming others

19. Disagreements about Paul’s view of Human Predicament that the Gospel needs to Address • 1.Humans are under God’s condemnation; God is angry against human (God’s wrath); God views humans as God’s enemies • 2. Humans are enemies of God; we are angry against God; suspicious of God (“God is unjust”; God is partial; God prefers & favors others) and jealous of God’s people • 3. Humans are in bondage to the power of sin, power of evil; since humans serve evil, they are enemies of God and of God’s people

20. Disagreements about Paul’s view of the Gospel as “good news” (see Rom 1:1-7) • 1.Good news about God’s forgiveness = something which happened in the PAST, to be appropriated in the present, and with effects (salvation) in the future FOR INDIVIDUALS • 2. Good news about God reconciling us to God something which happened in the PAST, to be implemented in the present, and with effects in the future FOR COMMUNITIES (the separation of Jews and Gentiles has been overcome; needs to be implemented now, and is fully promised in the future) • 3. Good news about redemption (being freed from evil powers) something which is happening in the PRESENT, as a fulfillment of the promises contained in the past, and to be responded to through faith NOW IN THE PRESENT, and is a token, first fruits, of what will be fully accomplished in future FOR COMMUNITIES, ALTHOUGH ALSO FOR INDIVIDUALS

21. Paul the hero of the Acts. 1) Against those who distrusted Paul’s gospel & apostleship. • 1) PAUL’S AUTHORITY Luke portrayed Paul as one who has all the authority of an apostle (14:1-4), • a witness (22:15; 26:16), a “chosen instrument” (9:15, Jer 1:5), and “light of the gentiles” (13:47; like Jesus, Luke 2:32; cf. Isa 49:6).

22. Paul the hero of the Acts. 2). Against those who distrusted Paul’s gospel & apostleship, • 2) THE PREDICAMENT a) being angry against God, who might favor other people, so we exclude them; b) Gentiles were unduly excluded from the people of God by “the Jews” • Luke emphasized Paul’s “road to Damascus experience,” presenting it three times. In Acts 9:1-31 it can eventually be viewed as a “conversion from Judaism” (and thus a rupture with Judaism, a “wrong religion”). • But 22:6-21 and 26:1-32 show this is not the case; Luke presents Paul’s “road to Damascus experience” as a prophetic call to go “for the sake of the hope of Israel” (28:20) and preach to Gentiles (22:21; 26:17-18) the fulfillment of Jewish messianic expectations (22:3-4; 23:6; 24:14-21; 26:4-11). • Gospel = reconciliation with God and with others

23. Paul the hero of the Acts. 2). Against those who distrusted Paul’s gospel & apostleship, • 1) PAUL’S AUTHORITY Luke portrayed Paul as one who has all the authority of an apostle (14:1-4) • 2) THE PREDICAMENT was that Gentiles were unduly excluded from the people of God by “the Jews.” • 3) CHURCH includes both Jews and Gentiles: Jews should be in the church with Gentiles: Paul consistently begins his mission in local synagogues before turning to Gentiles. But they refuse.

24. Paul’s disciplesdefended Paul’s legacy by writing the Deutero-Pauline letters • 1) PAUL’S AUTHORITY Paul is an Orthodox teacher: Paul’s gospel is an “orthodoxy”; he adheres to the proper doctrine (Eph 1:3-14; Col 1:15-23) revealed by God through Christ. • 2) THE PREDICAMENT that threatens believers is wrong beliefs, including deviant teachings of heretics (e.g., Eph 4:25; Col 2:16–23; 1 Tim 1:3-11; 4:1-5; 6:3-10),

25. Paul’s disciplesdefended Paul’s legacy by writing the Deutero-Pauline letters • 3) The Church includes those who hold orthodox beliefs; • And have the right praxis: life in Christ involves rejecting pagan ways of life (e.g., Eph 5:3-20), • and conforming to the order of life in Roman imperial society reflected in household codes (Eph 5:21-6:9; Col 3:18-4:1; 1 Tim 2:8-3:13; Titus 2:1-10) that normalize • the submission of women to men and of slaves to their masters as integral parts of the Christian way of life.

26. Quest for the “historical Paul” focusing on the undisputed letters = 3 “historical Pauls” • Yielded three different scholarly interpretations of “ Paul & his authority: • 1) “Paul the Theologian” • along the line opened by Augustine, Luther; • 2) “the Pastoral Paul” • With similarities with the Paul of Acts; and • 3) “the Apocalyptic/Messianic Paul” • With similarities with Paul of Greek Fathers, Orthodox Churches, Charismatic movements, and liberation theology

27. PREDICAMENT AND GOOD NEWS • Different kinds of predicaments and then of good news”: 1) “Paul the Theologian” >> Good news that sinners are justified-forgiven through faith = Forensic Gospel 2) “Pastoral Paul” >> Good news of the New Covenant that now includes Gentiles: Pastoral/Covenantal Gospel (= “New Perspective”) 3) “The Apocalyptic/Messianic Paul” >> Good news of the Liberation from the Powers of Evil: Apocalyptic/Messianic Gospel

28. Forensic, Theological Gospel • Human predicament: People are sinners as individuals who rebelled against God • They are guilty (and feel guilty) and should be condemned and punished by God, the righteous judge (as in a court, so “forensic”); • root-problem: lack of Knowledge of God’s love. • Solution: a) NEWS: Christ died instead of sinners; the Grace of God; (vicarious death) • b) Sinners are justified (= not condemned) through faith in Christ.

29. Pastoral/Covenantal Gospel • Human predicament: Gentiles are sinners, separated from God, in rebellion against God and do not belong to the People of God (rejected by Jews); Jews also are sinners = in rebellion against God; they are not faithful to the covenant. • Root-problem: rebellion against God and God’s Will (either as Gentile or as Jews) = LACK OF WILL to do God’s will, (which Gentile and Jewish sinners know.

30. Pastoral/Covenantal Gospel • Human predicament: sinners in rebellion against God • Root-problem: rebellion against God and God’s = LACK OF WILL to do God’s will, • Solution:Christ died to reconcile all with God [so that we will not be in rebellion/angry against GOD], by establishing a new covenant (new good relationship between humans and God) • through the Grace of God all are called to be members of God’s chosen people; to be “children of God” • Gentiles as well as Jews are “justified” (made righteous) when through obedient faith they carry out their vocation (the purpose of their calling) as the chosen people sent by God to others… as Christ was for others.

31. Apocalyptic/Messianic Gospel • Human predicament:All (Jews and Gentiles) are sinners = separated from Godby evil powers • the “power of sin” which keep them in bondage; • Idolatry which have power upon them as Powers, Principalities (engendering death) • By distorting their vision (darkening their minds) • Being oppressed by evil, idolatrous powers • Root-problem:a darkened mind; • either lack of/wrong vision, bringing about powerlessness (unjust oppression) • or powerlessness (lack of ability) = in bondage, bringing about a wrong vision

32. Apocalyptic/Messianic Gospel • Human predicament: bondage to evil powers • Root-problem: either lack of/wrong vision, bringing about powerlessness (unjust oppression) or lack of ability, powerlessness, being in bondage • Solution: Christ died and was raised from the dead in powerto free people, today as well as in the past; he is the living Christ who today free people from the powers of sin which keep them in bondage • “Justified” people = redeemed people, freed people, become in turn instrument of justice, members of Christ’s body through whom the resurrected Christ acts; freeing people from bondage; this is their vocation as slave of Christ and saints.

33. 3 Kinds of Interpretive Choices:

34. 3 Kinds of Interpretive Choices: Analytical Choices & Frame • Each biblical text has many possible, legitimate meanings inscribed in the text • We have to make a choice • The intention of the authors is not necessarily the most significant

35. Theological Choices and Contextual Choices • Theological Choices = among different PLAUSIBLE views of certain themes : E.G. different Plausible ways of understanding “Apospleship” “Authority” … or “Gospel”” • Contextual Choices = among different VALID views of the problem and ROOT-PROBLEM that the teaching of a text should address … “VALID” = VALUABLE to address concrete problems

37. GROUP 1 = ROUNDTABLE A:  a) apostle Romans 1:1-7 • LEADER: __Madeleine _St Marie__   • (her interpretation COMPARED WITH COMMENTARIES BY  either Stuhlmacher or Moo -- on reserve) • LEADS DISCUSSION • LEADER # 2: _Steve Staggs • (HIS interpretation COMPARED WITH THE COMMENTARY BY  Jewett -- on reserve) • Reports to class: DIFFERENT VIEWS OF APOSTLE in Rom 1:1-7 discussed • Logan Robertson • Jeremy Snow • Julianne Jarrett • Julie Carli • Arden Henderson • Murielle Wyman

38. GROUP 2 = ROUNDTABLE A:  a) Gospel of God Romans 1:1-7 • LEADER: ___Derek Axelson    • (his  interpretation COMPARED WITH Moo • LEADS DISCUSSION • LEADER # 2: __Ross   Stackhouse_ • (his interpretation COMPARED WITH Byrne) • Reports to class: DIFFERENT VIEWS OF Gospel in Rom 1:1-7 discussed • Jonathan Baynham • Karney Carney • Iris Ankromcrittenden • Amy Lenz • Amanda Moore • Jason Jones

41. Roundtable on Rom 1:16-2:1 • Focusing discussion on three themes: choose one (sign up); several possible interpretations of each. • The teaching for believers today in a particular context about one of these: • the righteousness/justice of God • the gospel as the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith • homosexuality

42. The relationship between “obedience” and “faith” # 1 • “Faith” necessarily results in “obedience,” when faith is defined as “believing that”(faith as defined by its content; "believing that the message of the gospel as teaching is true"). • For the Forensic Theological Reading, if faith is genuine, it brings about an obedient life. • When faith is a trustful assent to the divine truth of the gospel proclaimed by apostles to whom it has been revealed, • acting according to this faith involves a submission to the demands of this gospel, and “obediently” living a life that follows its teaching. Evidence: • Romans, 1—11, the doctrinal part of the gospel, the content of faith, what the readers should believe; • Romans, 12—16 moral teaching --the “obedience of faith,” what the faithful readers should do in obedience to their faith

43. The relationship between “obedience” and “faith” # 2 • “Faith” necessarily results in “obedience,” when faith is defined as “trust” in the “faithfulness” of God’s promise (because God is faithful) and thus “trust” in God’s call to a certain ministry—call to be apostles, to be saints (1:7),etc. (8:28-33; 12:1-8). • For the Pastoral Reading, faith is a response to God’s call and election (see 1:1), or more broadly, to God’s call to be “saints” (1:7) as members of God’s people in the covenant (a call which irrevocable, 11:28) • Covenant broadened through Jesus Christ to include Gentiles. • this call is for a service, for a function. • Therefore trusting (having faith) in God’s call is also accepting to carry out this function “faithfully”, “obedience.” Thus faith without obedience, without carrying out this vocation, cannot be genuine faith.

44. The relationship between “obedience” and “faith” # 3 • “Faith” and “obedience” designate the same acknowledgement of the authority of God and Christ, when “faith” is understood as “slavery to Christ” (1:1) in the sense of being totally under the power of one’s Lord and Master. • For the Messianic Reading, “faith” is being put under the power of the Lord (Christ, or God) by God’s intervention, acknowledging the authority/power of the Lord upon one’s life, and thus it is also “obedience,” submitting to this authority/power of the Lord. • Here faith is first of all a “gift” from the Lord; one cannot have faith if it is not given through a divine intervention (a manifestation of God’s “grace”). Yet, faith is also a movement toward God, the humble submission to this authority of the Lord.

45. Jesus as Christ Forensic/Juridical • Christ is the savior: Christ’s death (2000 years ago), dying instead of us • Christ died for sinners; Propitiation through Christ dying/being punished instead of us: Vicarious sacrifice

46. Jesus as Christ Covenantal • Christ died for sinners; • Expiation = Reconciledhuman with God, by demonstrating God’s love for us, through his absolutely faithfulness to God and to us, which established a new covenant with God; • His death is a Passover Sacrifice Covenantal Sacrifice

47. Jesus as Christ Apocalyptic/Messianic • Christ died for sinners & was raised with power. • Redemption = freeing people from their bondage to evil powers/ aka idols that keep people under their power. Redemption Sacrifice

48. Authority • Authority means not sheer power but legitimate power. • Authority exists only insofar as those who submit do so by acknowledging the legitimacy of those who are in a position to use institutional or other power and/or to speak authoritatively. • In Christian thought, authority belongs first to God, then to Christ, then to those who are authorized by God and Christ (prophets*, apostles*)

49. Authority 2. How is the divine authority transmitted from Christ to Paul? • Paul’s authority because he has received the Gospel and has the true, orthodox teaching (1 Cor 15:1ff) was recognized by the Jerusalem church (Gal 1-2). Peter/Cephas, John, James). • Institutional authority: Paul has authority because he is recognized as a commissioned apostle; someone who is honored/saint (by contrast with shameful); as someone who can be trusted. • a charismatic authority. Paul’s authority based on being freed from bondage by the power of God “through a revelation/intervention of Jesus Christ,” (road to Damascus) = gospel.