Category Archives: New Perspectives on Paul

The “New” Perspective on Paul

Posted on by
2

“Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace.

For the divinest prophets lived according to Christ Jesus.

On this account also they were persecuted, being inspired by His grace to fully convince the unbelieving that there is one God, who has manifested Himself by Jesus Christ His Son, who is His eternal Word, not proceeding forth from silence, and who in all things pleased Him that sent Him.”

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Magnesians, 8 (+ AD 107)

“Works of the Law” in Second Temple Judaism

Posted on by
Reply

And we recognize that some of the blessings and curses have come, those written in the Book of Moses; therefore this is the End of Days, when those in Israel are to return to the Law of God with all their heart, never to turn back. Meanwhile, the wicked will increase in wickedness and [...] Remember the kings of Israel, and understand their works. Whoever of them feared the Law was saved from sufferings; when they sought the Law, their sins were forgiven them. Remember David. He was a man of pious works, and he, also, was saved from many sufferings and forgiven. And finally, we wrote you about some of the works of the Law, which we reckoned for your own Good and for that of your people, for we see that you possess discernment and Knowledge of the Torah. Consider all these things, and beseech Him to grant you proper counsel, and to keep you far from evil thoughts and the counsel of Belial.

Then you will rejoice at the End Time, when you find some of our words were true. Thus, “It will be reckoned to you as Righteousness,” your having done what is Upright and Good before Him, for your own Good and for that of Israel.

Dead Sea Scrolls, 4QMMT (4Q397-399)

New Perspective on Leaven

Posted on by
Reply

In the old testament, we read of the prohibition of leavened bread in Exodus 12 for the celebration of the Passover (along with a prohibition of leavened bread with any meat offering in Leviticus 2).

Leaven, in its original form has the same component ingredients as those of sweet dough (Kurtz, p. 292). Through fermentation, however, its makeup is corrupted, becoming sour dough or leaven. “Hence, as distinguished from sweet dough, it represented the old, corrupt, degenerate nature (Ibid, p. 292).”

In the new testament, Paul refers to leaven when exhorting the Christians at Corinth to purge out impenitent sinners from amidst the faithful (1 Corinthians 5.6), so that they may become new dough.

In his epistle to the Galatians, Paul again refers to leaven, saying:

Continue reading →