THE 5511 NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY CLASS V THEOLOGY

THE 5511 NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY CLASS V: THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON 1. 1 Introduction to theology of Romans • Epistle of Romans in history • Augustine (AD 386) – Tolle, lege! (13: 13 -14) • M. Luther (1515) & Rom 1: 17 • J. Wesley (1738) – “my heart was strangely warmed” • K. Barth (1919) – “Bombshell on theologians’ playground” • Theological issues in Romans • • • Justification by faith Presdestination and election Life in the Spirit & sanctification Israel and the people of God New perspective on Paul

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON 2. 1 Theology of Romans • Background & situation briefly • Written from Corinth/Cenchreae between AD 56 -58 • During 3 rd missionary journey (Acts 20: 2 -3) • Prior to last visit to Jerusalem (16: 23; Acts 19: 29; 20: 4; 1 Cor 1: 14) • Most complete presentation of Paul’s theology • Not systematic theology – missing many important themes* • Paul’s personal goals in writing • Relationship building with Roman church (1: 13; 15: 24) • Clarification of his theology (cf. 3: 8; 6: 1) • Travel plans – relief funds to Jerusalem (15: 25 -29)

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Paul’s pastoral goals • Harmony among the “strong” and the “weak” (14: 1 -23) • Jew and gentile harmony • Possible historical background for conflict • Expulsion of Jews from Rome in AD 49 (Acts 18: 2) • Disturbances over Chrestus (Suet. Life of Claud. 25) • Leadership of house churches to gentiles • Return of Jewish-Christians after death of Claudius • • Jewish-Christian gentile-Christian rift over Jewish heritage Place of Law and good works & Jewish persecution

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • The Gospel of God (1: 1 -6, 16 -17) • Gospel about God (obj. gen. ) OR God’s own Gospel (sub. gen. ) • Gospel of His Son/Christ (1: 9; 15: 19) God’s Gospel about Christ Jesus • Also “my Gospel” (2: 16; 16: 25) God’s calling of Paul to apostolic ministry • Paul’s apostolic ministry & the gospel – worship/cultic language • • Worship (latreuo) by preaching the gospel (1: 9) Minister (leitourgon) in priestly service (hierourgounta) w/ offering (prosphora) sanctified by Spirit (15: 16)

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Gospel is… • Not Paul’s own message but God’s (1: 1 -6) • In continuity w/ Scripture and its fulfillment (1: 1 -6) • Jesus as descendant of David, Son of God (1: 1 -6) • Victorious & powerful to save & redeem (1: 4 -6, 16; 8: 31 -39) • Word, deed, power, sings & wonders, Holy Spirit & gospel (15: 19) • First to Jews then to gentiles (1: 16; 9 -11) • Reveals God’s righteousness (1: 16 -17) • Appropriated by faith – “from faith to faith” (1: 17)

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • “The righteousness of God” [δικαιοσύνη…θεοῦ] (1: 17; 3: 5, 21 -22, 25 -26; 10: 3; 2 Cor 5: 21) • What does “righteousness” mean? Being in the right relationship w/ God 1) Righteousness that God grants (obj. gen; cf. 2 Cor 5: 21; Phil 3: 9) • Often “righteous status” that God grants [or imputed righteousness] 2) God’s own righteousness [character] (sub. gen. ; Rom 3: 5, 26; 10: 3) 3) God’s righteousness as saving activity (3: 21 -22) • • Based on God’s faithfulness to covenant God’s righteousness/covenant faithfulness in light of human sin Manifested to humans as He acquits the guilty

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Human predicament – people in need of salvation • Righteousness of God revealed – wrath of God… (1: 17 -) • Wrath of God…from heaven – just & impartial response to sin • • • Refusal to acknowledge God (1: 18 -23; cf. Wisd 13: 1 -14: 31) Idolatry, downward spiral & consequences (1: 24 -32) Jews guilty despite having the Law (2: 3, 11, 13) • • Gentiles have “law in their heart” – also guilty (2: 13 -15) Judgment: eschatological & present predicament (2: 5, 16; 1: 18 -32) Sin reveals judgment – humans cannot free themselves

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Judgment based on “deeds” • • Payment “according to deeds” (2: 6 -11; cf. Matt 16: 27) “doers of the Law” justified (2: 13) Is Paul contradicting his later “law-free” gospel? (cf. 3: 23) • Towards solution(s) 1) Rhetorical & theological argument (1: 18 -3: 20) • “sweeps reader off their feet” & power of sin – powerlessness of Law 2) (Purely) a hypothetical situation – no-one fulfills all the Law 3) Description of the humanity without Christ • What was formerly impossible is now possible through Christ and the Spirit “righteous requirements of Law might be fulfilled in us” (8: 4) Argument culminating in “no-one righteous…all under power of sin”

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • The Origin of Sin – Adam; salvation in Christ (5: 12 -21) • Adam’s sin – disobedience, condemnation, death One man, one sin, death’s dominion, and condemnation all • Christ’s gift – free gift, grace, justification, (eternal) life • The cosmic power of sin (7: 7 -22) – “Law is holy, just, good” (7: 12) • Inability to resist sin and be free (7: 14 -25) • Law is spiritual (pneumatikos) – people carnal/fleshly (sarkinos) (7: 14) • Who is speaking? Paul OR rhetorical device of impersonation* • • • Paul – before his conversion Paul – his present experience Non-Christians in general With Spirit Without Spirit Individual OR Collective Compare Rom 7: 14, 17 -18 – 6: 22, 2, 14, 13, 19 Humanity in Adam in general – “I” of everyone under the power of sin**

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON “Righteousness” as ethical behavior in Paul (Rom 6: 13, 16, 18 -20; Eph 4: 24; 5: 9; • Salvation & righteousness of God Phil 1: 11; 1 Tim 6: 11; 2 Tim 2: 22) • The “how” of redemption – apart from God: sin, death, wrath • Righteousness of God revealed…power of salvation (1: 17) God’s way of dealing with sin • Humanity cannot save itself – salvation attested by Scripture (3: 21) • God’s righteousness demonstrated through Christ’s death • God justifies freely (3: 24) – eschatological verdict announced in advance • • “…justified by blood…will be saved from wrath” (5: 9) God acquits the guilty because… (forensic sense most clearly in 8: 33) • • Through redemption (3: 24 -25) – ransom from the power of sin Blood of Jesus covers/expiates (OR propitiates*) sin (3: 25) Christ as the (new) mercy seat (hilasterion) (cf. Lev 16: 14 -16)

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Earlier God “passed over” sin (Gk. διὰ τὴν πάρεσιν*; 3: 25) • God “overlooked” the past sin OR • God brought about forgiveness of sins committed in the past • Apart from the “works of the Law” – the meaning 1) Good works and piety • Failure to do good works (3: 20; 3: 27; 4: 2) • Election apart from good works (9: 11 -12) 2) Jewish boundary markers (circumcision, diet, Sabbath, calendar) • Circumcision (2: 25 -29; 3: 1, 30; 4: 9; 15: 8) • Diet and calendar (Rom 14) Both ideas present in Romans – no: 1 includes no: 2

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • By faith…apart from the works of the Law • Gospel-salvation appropriated by faith (1: 16; 3: 25; 10: 4, 9) • “faith to faith” (1: 17; ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν) 1) From first to last (completely)/faith alone 2) Believing in the “faith” (=doctrine) 3) From the faithful one (God/Jesus) unto those who have faith* • Abraham’s trust in God’s promises (4: 17 -18) • “obedience of faith” (1: 5) – apposition or genitive of origins? • • Obedience = faith (app. gen) Obedience that is derived from faith (gen. orig. ) Measure of faith given to each (12: 3, 6; 14: 1, 22 -23) Faith in/of Jesus Christ (pisteos Iesous)** effects justification (3: 25 -26) Matter of utter trust in God who justifies the ungodly (4: 5)

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Life of the redeemed and justified in the power of HS • From Adam, sin, and death to Christ, righteousness, and life • Peace and reconciliation with God (5: 1, 10) – not wrath & enmity • Access to God and assurance (5: 2, 9 -10) • Union w/ Christ’s death and resurrection – freedom from sin • Died w/ Christ, life in Christ (6: 8 -9) • No longer under the Law but grace (6: 14) • Death to the realm and power of sin in Christ, under grace – not in Adam or under the Law

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Freedom of the life in the Spirit (8: 1 -30) • Realm of Christ and power of the Spirit – freedom from sin (8: 1 -2) • • • Realm of human weakness and sin (=flesh) overcome (8: 9) Righteous requirement of the Law fulfilled through the Spirit (8: 4) Assurance – to please God now & future resurrection (8: 9 -11) Spirit assures of sonship & inheritance (8: 15 -17) Spirit as the “first fruit” of the full glorification (8: 23, 29) Glorification of the justified (8: 29 -30) Does this mean God predestined some while not others?

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • God’s sovereignty (in salvation) • Bound by sin – destined to condemnation & death w/o Christ Faith in Christ saves and justifies sinners – Spirit set free • God’s foreknowledge, predestination, and salvation (8: 28 -30) • Foreknew…predestined…called…justified…glorified 1) Augustinian-Calvinistic view --- divine predestination of the elect 2) Arminian view --- salvation per divine foreknowledge by response Both view need to import foreign philosophical concepts

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God [συνεργεῖ εἰς ἀγαθόν], to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew [οὓς προέγνω; cf. 11: 2], He also predestined [προώρισεν συμμόρφους τῆς εἰκόνος τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτου] to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined [προώρισεν], He also called [ἐκάλεσεν]; and these whom He called, He also justified [ἐδικαίωσεν]; and these whom He justified, He also glorified [ἐδόξασεν]. (Rom 8: 28 -30) Who “chooses” salvation? God or human being? Or both?

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • “Calvinistic exegesis” (e. g. T. Schreiner [2001, 2008]) • Foreknew…predestined…called…justified…glorified • Chain of events inevitable reality for God & God’s people • Nothing can break the chain – foreknown, predestined glorified • Certainty of the future event expressed in the past aorist tense • God’s “foreknowledge” – decision based on love • Sprit’s intercession and Christ’s love are “unbreakable” (8: 35 -37) • God’s sovereignty & election “overrides” any human “willing” (9: 16) • • Jacob-Esau (promise-flesh; 9: 6 -14) God’s mercy and hardening (9: 15 -18) Potter and the clay (9: 19 -24) Israel and gentiles (9: 25 -33) Election and God’s sovereignty exalted and emphasized

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • “Arminian exegesis” (Marshall [2004] & Witherington* [2006, 2009]) • Death of Christ has universal scope (5: 18; 11: 32) • God is free to do as pleases but God’s mercy not arbitrary (cf. 9: 15) • Language of predestination indicates corporate election & “pre-destiny” • Foreknowledge [1 st in the chain] cannot mean predestination • • God’s “pre-destiny” to those who have come to faith – “image of Christ” “elect” – those who are believers; not unbelievers to be selected (8: 33) God’s purpose of creating a people not to save some select individuals • • • “God…not rejected His people [physical Israel] whom He foreknew. ” (11: 2)** Potter-clay about gentiles & Israel – God’s mercy cannot be explained Paul’s prayer for Israel & disappointment w/ obstinate people (10: 1, 21) Persistence in unbelief and danger of being “cut off” (11: 21 -23) Mystery of divine election, predestination, and human response (cf. Jer 18)

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • God’s faithfulness toward Israel (Rom 9 -11) • God’s faithfulness to Israel – Who failed? God’s word? (9: 6) • True Israel based on promise & election [“in Christ”] not physical descent • Abraham’s descendants: Isaac (Ishmael) – Jacob (Esau) (9: 7) • Isaac/Jacob [Ishmael/Esau] as “representative heads” of collective groups • One represents “true Israel” [remnant/promise] other “physical Israel” • God’s election based on His mercy not physical descend (9: 16) • Is God unjust? God’s freedom in showing mercy (9: 16 -33)* • • God’s choice of Isaac & Jacob demonstrates God’s mercy Pharaoh represents Israel – both Pharaoh** & Israel [unbelieving] first hardened themselves after which God hardened them

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Why does God “find fault” [i. e. judge]? (9: 19) • • • Lump of clay: two destinies (mercy [believing]/wrath [unbelieving Israel]) “objects of mercy” – those called from Israel and gentiles (“us”; 9: 24) Israel heard the gospel and rejected (10: 3 -21) Righteous by faith [from gentiles and Jews] (9: 30 -10: 21) • Has God rejected Israel then? (11: 1 -36) • • • Partial hardening of Israel leads to “salvation of gentiles” (11: 2 -11) Olive tree [collective metaphor] into which gentiles are grafted (11: 17 -24) Jewish remnant/elect who now believe – by grace (11: 2 -7, 20 -23) Israel’s condition is not permanent – “if…don’t continue in unbelief” (11: 23 -24) “all Israel saved” (11: 26 -29)* - end-time or anytime event? Israel’s future role politically not clarified except “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (11: 29)

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Moral life of believers • Ethical dilemma of the Law-free gospel • What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace (6: 15, 1; 3: 7 -8, 20; 5: 20) • Relationship between indicative and imperative • • Indicative = what God has accomplished in Christ Imperative = believer’s duty to obey Already Not-yet • Moral life and obedience based on Christ’ death & life in the Spirit • • • Obedience required and made possible From Adam to Christ; flesh-Spirit; death/sin-life; Law-grace New life in Christ (6: 1 -23)

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Life in the Spirit (8: 1 -30) – moral life as worship and spirituality • “living sacrifice” “spiritual/logical worship” [logiken laterian] (12: 1 -2) • Practicalities of the moral life – instructions and exhortations • • “consider yourself dead to sin” “Do not let sin exercise dominion”; “present yourselves to God” (6: 1 -23) - Imperative - Obligation - Not-yet Walk in Spirit “set your minds” “Spirit gives life” “leading”- “sonship” Not Imperfect flesh – “put to death” “cannot submit” “slavery” “death” (8: 10 -13) Law summarized in love (13: 8 -10) & fulfilled by the Spirit (8: 4) Communal worship – wellbeing of the body b/f individual & life in the - Indicative - “In Christ” society (12: 1 -15: 13) - Already - Divine power “already and not-yet” tension of the moral transformation (cf. 8: 18 -25)

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON 2. 2 Theology of Philippians • Background & situation • Written from Rome (or Caesarea/Ephesus) • Paul in prison & church suffered persecution (1: 7, 13 -14, 17, 29) • Strong personal tone and close friendship w/ congregation • Partnership in the gospel and problem areas in Philippi • Prayers and financial support (1: 5, 19; 4: 10 -20) • Disunity (4: 2 -9) • Incipient Judaizing tendencies (3: 1 -4: 1)

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Paul’s life as a pattern for behavior • Philippians – imitate Christ & imitate Paul • Imitation of Paul as a model in “heavenly citizenship” (1: 27 -30; 3: 20) • Persecution (1: 12 -30); threat of Judaizers (3: 1 -2); circumstances (4: 1 -20) • Prison and persecution “the same struggle that you saw I had” (1: 30) • • • False preachers (1: 15 -17) Threat of death: “living is Christ” “death gain” (1: 21 -23) Imprisonment & the spread of the gospel (1: 12 -14, 18) Paradoxical nature of Christ’s suffering & Paul’s hardships

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Gains & losses for the gospel “join me in imitating me” (3: 17) • False teachers: righteousness based on the Law (3: 1 -3) • • • Paul’s example – righteousness from God – former gains as loss Seek to experience power of resurrection and share in suffering (3: 10) Expectation of glorious body and earthly life as heavenly citizen (3: 20 -1) • Trying circumstances & disunity (4: 9) “Keep on doing…[what] you…learned and received and heard and seen in me” • Paul urges unity (4: 2 -9) • Paul’s trying circumstances overcome by Christ (4: 10 -14) • “all things through Christ” (4: 10) How to live in difficult & changing circumstances through Christ

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Christology (2: 5 -11) • Structure of Phil 2: 5 -11* • Self-emptying of divine Christ (2: 5 -8) • Attitude of Christ -- • In the form [morphe**] of God – equality w/ God not exploited • Self-emptying I -- • Emptied himself [heauton ekenosen] – form of slave [morphe**] – in human likeness • Self-emptying II -- • Humbled himself – obedient to death – death on the cross

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Exaltation of Jesus (2: 9 -11) • God exalted – name above other names • Universal worship • Name Jesus – every knee shall bow in heaven, earth, under the earth • Universal confession • Every tongue confess – Jesus as Lord [kyrios] – to glorify Father

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Jesus possessed equality w/ God (in very nature) from the very beginning – but did not take advantage/claim [harpagon] of that • Jesus’ morphe is same as God the Father • Jesus self-emptied and took the very nature of human being – death on the cross – God exalted Jesus and restored the divine prerogatives to Jesus • • Jesus is distinct from God the Father as “sent one” & “exalted one” Fullness of human condition to serve others Status of universal lordship, the new dimension Divine status yet distinction between God the Father & Lord-Son Jesus “Let your mind be that of Christ Jesus” (2: 5)* Attitude of Christ’s self-emptying as a pattern for the community

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON 2. 3 Theology of Philemon • Situation – app. 60 AD from Rome • To Philemon – owner of slave Onessimus • Onesimus had harmed Philemon and escaped (12, 17 -19) • Meets Paul, believes in Christ (10) • Paul appeals on his behalf (12 -17) • “receive him no longer as a slave…but as dear brother” (16) Radical reorientation of human relations in light of New Creation Theology of New Creation presupposed

THEOLOGY OF ROMANS, PHILIPPIANS & PHILEMON • Paul