Morality and boundaries in Paul
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyse the way in which Paul emphasised the mental boundaries of the Christ communities to turn them into moral boundaries and how these boundaries affected both Gentile and Jewish believers.
Abstract: In the Pauline communities, ethics, ethos and identity were closely intertwined. This essay analyses the way in which Paul emphasised the mental boundaries of the Christ communities to turn them into moral boundaries. In this process, the fencing off of these communities over against their past and their present was a fundamental feature of Paul’s reasoning. The communities thus became fenced off from their past, because the Christ event was seen as causing a major change in history. This change affected both Gentile and Jewish believers. At the same time, Paul stressed the boundaries with the outside world: he characterised the inside world as the loyal remnant of Israel, consisting of Jews and Gentiles alike, and pointed out that this group is the group of the elect ‘saints’. The perspective with which Paul looked at ethics and morality inside this group was strongly coloured by the assumed identity of this group as ‘Israel’. Even though the Mosaic Law was no longer the focal point for the identity of this eschatological Israel, the ethical demands Paul mentioned over against the members of this new Israel were highly influenced by the morality of the law. For Paul, sanctification was a fundamental ideal, and this ideal reflected the spirituality of the Holiness Code of Leviticus. This particular ethical model was framed by the awareness that Paul (and Christ before him) was ‘sent’ by God, much in the same way the prophets of Israel themselves had been sent.
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TL;DR: In this article, the relevance of social ethics in South Africa and its current status is investigated, and it is argued that social ethical reflection is of particular relevance for South Africa, particularly those who focus on the Old Testament, are known for their engagement with themes that can be termed social ethical.
Abstract: South African biblical scholars – particularly those who focus on the Old Testament – are known for their engagement with themes that can be termed social ethical. This impulse is used as starting point to investigate the relevance of social ethics in South Africa and its current status. It is argued that social ethical reflection is of particular relevance for South Africa. This thesis is investigated in two ways. Firstly, the applicability of social ethics as academic field is examined and it is shown that post-apartheid South African political institutions, systems and processes themselves are subjected to major changes and developments – a traditional area of focus of social ethics. Secondly, the current status of social ethical reflection in theological journals based in South Africa is investigated. The article concludes by showing that the current status of social ethical reflection in South African academic theology does not reflect the perceived need for social ethical reflection.
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14 Nov 2001
TL;DR: Nanos as mentioned in this paper explores the issues of purity; insiders/outsiders; the character of "the gospel"; the relationship between groups of Christ-followers in Jerusalem, Antioch, and Galatia; and evil-eye accusations.
Abstract: Intra-Jewish conflict in Paul's communitiesAfter taking on traditional interpretations of Romans in The Mystery of Romans, Nanos now turns his attention to the Letter to the Galatians. A primary voice in reclaiming Paul in his Jewish context, Nanos challenges the previously dominant views of Paul as rejecting his Jewish heritage and the Law. Where Paul's rhetoric has been interpreted to be its most anti-Jewish, Nanos instead demonstrates the implications of an intra-Jewish reading. He explores the issues of purity; insiders/outsiders; the character of "the gospel"; the relationship between groups of Christ-followers in Jerusalem, Antioch, and Galatia; and evil-eye accusations.
38 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a contexte historique de "l'incident d'Antioche", the point litigieux a Antioche, which is a contradiction between justification par la foi and observance of the Loi.
Abstract: Le contexte historique de "l'incident d'Antioche". Les limites de la communion alimentaire dans le Judaisme de la fin de la periode du Second Temple. Le point litigieux a Antioche. Pour la premiere fois, Paul a pris conscience du fait que le principe de la justification par la foi s'appliquait a toute la vie du croyant, et pas seulement au moment de sa conversion| qu'il y avait donc contradiction dans les termes entre justification par la foi et observance de la Loi. D'ou l'importance decisive de cet "incident" pour l'avenir du jeune Christianisme.
37 citations
TL;DR: Paul the Convert: The Apostolate and Apostasy of Saul the Pharisee as mentioned in this paper is a book about the conversion of Paul the Convert to the Lord, which is a classic example.
Abstract: (1993). Paul the Convert: The Apostolate and Apostasy of Saul the Pharisee. History: Reviews of New Books: Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 179-180.
32 citations
01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: In this paper, the relation between identity, ethics, and ethos in the New Testament is discussed, focusing on the way in which the commandments or guidelines presented in New Testament writings inform the behaviour of the intended recipients.
Abstract: The book deals with the relation between identity, ethics, and ethos in the New Testament. The focus falls on the way in which the commandments or guidelines presented in the New Testament writings inform the behaviour of the intended recipients. The habitual behaviour (ethos) of the different Christian communities in the New Testament are plotted and linked to their identity. Apart from analytical categories like ethos, ethics, and identity that are clearly defined in the book, efforts are also made to broaden the specific analytical categories related to ethical material. The way in which, for instance, narratives, proverbial expressions, imagery, etc. inform the reader about the ethical demands or ethos is also explored.
29 citations