Upload
others
View
4
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
THE RESURRECTION IN CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL.ITY
ACCORDING TO
THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS
by
Sist.er M. Louise Follmar, B.A.
of
The Franc1scan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette university in
Partial Fulfillmetlt of ·the Re-quirements for the De,ree
of Master of Arts
Milwaukee, Wi.sconsin July, 1965
I
/
INTRODUCTION
The myst~ry of theJ'esturrection of Christ-had a
powerful in.fluanoe on the lives of the early Christ.ians.
For them, the resurrection put an end to the wretched
pessimism whioh had chaJl'acterized the ideas propagAted
1
by some of the Gret,ak t.hinltell's. Christ. haa risen and was
now constantly among them as their hope and their seGurilzy.
Darkness and death were changed into light. and life. The
resurreotion was t.heir assurance that the Father loved
meI\ and t.hat He bad brougbt them t.o new , life in His Son.
'Because, of their awaranese! of the risen Christ, j$Y
permeated. the early Christians I lives even in the midst. of
persecution. 1
In later centuries, however, the awareness of the
resurrection dimmed, particularly in the centuries
following the. Counter-Reformation, because the spirituality
of the latter movement .eema to have over-emphasized the
humanity of Christ, separating His passion and death from
His resurraation. In the ninet.eenth C$ntuxy, likewise,
on account. of the aufferin9 Cjf the Church under the
reign of t.he Absolute Monarchs and during the French
. lJamea Walsh, S.3., "Introduction," The Way, 4 (April, 1961), pp. 87-88.
2
Revolution, sound theology no long-er fed spiritmality.
The way was Open for the disease ot Jansenism. At this /
time, al.se. England's bouJ:geoissociety had become rather
puritanioal as seen in some of the wliit,lng:s of the era.
Novels 0 .£ this age spoke of a religion which was a jC)yless
affair, in which punishment. was meted out by God for the
least transgression. As a result, joy was obliterated
and purit.anical conduct reigned as the nona for "holiness."
Fearing the least mOral failure, Christ-ians refrain$d
from receivin9' the Eucharist, and eentered their devotion
on Cbrist's presence in the Blessed Saerruoont and on Uis
pllssion . 2
As the ninet.eenth centUJY progressed, noticeable
changes were evident in the concept of spiritual! ty.
Theology now beqan to assume it.s proper role as the founda-
tion of the spirl tual li fEt. Theologians such as Matthias
Scheeben, who died in lS88,a:n.Ci other men of genius, such
as Abbe Huvel1,n, the direetor of Charles de P'oueauld, and
Cal"dinal Ne'WJl\an inVigorated the thought of the time.
Seneeben explained. the unien 0t Chri8tians with one an.other
and with Ch~i8t as their head whose proper aotion 1s the
Eucharistic Sacrifice. Holy Communion bec;an to be viewed
as the culmination of this corporat.e act, .and the Blessed
Sacrament was joined more closely ·to the Mass. In the
preceding centuries, the passion and death had maintained
2 Ibid., p. 85.
a central position in the Mass an'a in spirituality, I blAt. the realization was qradually dawnin.g tha.t this
aspect was only c>ne side of the Mass. Certainly I Christ
3
suffere·d and died , but the offering of the Son would have
availed nothinq, if the Father had not accepted the sac-
rifice. By raising Christ. from the dead, the !'ather
maaiiest.ed His acoept.ance of ~e offed.ng_ It.is the risen
Christ. who is t.he g'lorious viet-l.m in. the Mass and this
presence of t.he ri$en Christ i. the hope of the Christian
and the fount, cd his joy. Now" in the present generation,
the depths of the meaninq of the resurrect.ion in mM's life " " ' , 3 is being progressively plumbed.
In this thes4,s, t will attempt. to show the impact. of
the r-esurreetlon on the spirituality of the Christian
according to the Secolld Epis.tle o~ Saint. Paul 110 the
Corinthians. Much has bejjUl written ciu!'r~ntly on t:he $plrit-
u,ali~y of the Christ.ian in view of the resurrect.ion, but
t.his topic has not been developed US1n9 only the Second
Epistle to the Corinthians asa S0ur~ ,. To accomplish
this purpose, I will diseuss the' meMinCJ of "in Christ ff
as founa in this Epistl",. I will then pz:ese-nt man's life
" in Christ" which 1s a J:esult of the resurrection according'
to the th.mes of sonship and apostle.hip.
3Martin 1'>' Aroy, S.J., "Modem Spirituality, " 'lbe Wal.' 1 (Jan· •. , 1961), ~p. 2-4. ' -
4
I
CHAPTER I
In his epistles Paul spedifically uses the formula
"in Chl'ist " one hundred and s ixty four times. 4 There are othe·l!' passag9.s in which this meanin'IJ is implied, but the pre-
cise terminology is lacking_ Although "in Chrilit ¥I is used
Il'epeatedly by paul, it CUUUlot be interpreted the same in
every instanoe ; henee, the various interpretat.ions of paul's
unique fo~ula will be $xamined, .s they ate found 1n five basic texts of the Second Epistie to the Corinthians , in order to ascertal'1.n Paul's teachin9 on the spit:! t.ua1i tY of i!he
Ch~!stianand its relation t.o the resurrection of Christ.
Paul states:
It I must boast - it 1s nGt inde.d expedient to do so -but I will aome t.o visions and r.~elations of the Lo·rd. I know a man in Chriet. who fourteen years ago - whether in. the body I do not know " or out of the body I do not know, God knows - 81.ldla one was caught. up to the third hea'Ven. (2 Cor. 12 : i - 2)
In this :text, according to pra~5 and Gr08souw6 , "1n Christ"
can be interp~ted ~8 meaning acting in a Chrl.tian way, or
as indioatint a type of rel.ation between Christ and t.he fa! t.h-
ful which the term, Cbristian, could' l'eplaoe. This intar-
4Fernand . Prat, S.J., The 'rheol..29.l. of Saint ~.~1 t translated by John L .• Steddard, II , IWesimInst!er l Newman Press, 1950), .p. 391 .
5Ibid., p. 3!U.
6Willlam K.Grosaouw, In Christ, translated by Martin Schoenberg, o.s.e. , (Westminster: 'Newman Pres., 1952), p. 93.
s
pret.ation doe$ not , howover I S~etnt¢ do justic~ to .. in (
Christ'll i'll$ used. bIt l1aul in ,thl$ te::d~ .~ thQl19'h it d.oee pain.t
to t.h~ reality. What. btrat lne4nS by acting in at, Christ.ian
mlltnnet; is quest.ionable since a ~r.()n ~.nnQt t:ruly !let like
a Christian unless h~ live'S wtthcbr:ist as the prinsiple of
his life. C(u:tainly ~ tbi~ relation8hip could be .indicated by
th.e Wot~d.l Ch,:d$tl!an # befi:iluae a persondo(ls not live " in
Cbri&\ JI' u.n.less het by l!)l!q.)t.l8,m, is .. Cbd.stian. It seems,
t.herefore,. that t.net'o' ~$ n() difference bat\'/t)en a Cbristian
and a man who 1!v6,ae l,!.f:llI ~ ill. ehd .. 9t., t> if the meaning o·f
Christian 18 understood in ita full eilJnlfio&tl¢e. conccmin9
t.his truth, C~rfauM aptly rema.rk.s ~
Among th.0$e formu.las th~ OM which intereats us th~~st in COM.!lcbion witili the id.'8 of tiu) Chu~,. is ttl. oon.oept. of 1.ife in Chr1.t~ It alone phvld~s us wi.t.h what emotlnt. to a no-t'1 tdt16 for t:ha Cht'!stia:n. Whereas oth$:t"~ ar-:~ und()l r ' the, law of HQse$1 ChrJ.flJti4nsare iT in CI-\risf.i.. \~ Paul ~ould h~vG used ttl" adjecd.ve ltChrlst.iu" in f:hesame WAY Cis he uaed ~h. e"lthets !l:noly" , #feitbful" and (;,cal1Qd~' I 'had it; nQ·il h!2en for th~) faat. that! thil1 t! t.le ha.d beeninvsl'l'ted by tb$ afualnies of the name. On th$: oth.er band} that.ho.o10gy of th~ 91it Qf Gotl 1 .Q£ ~rac() ,~nd; ()t juatiae J did not Ja)rovida 8. chal'a.oter!s:tio WOi\'d t.o
6
tari.or r.elation with Christ, but on a profound communion (
with Him hy which Oh9 i 's incorporated in the pe.rson of ~rist.
This phrase, furt.hermore, designates the Chu;cch in itsmya-
tical being and in its social being. 8 The thought of Bon-
sirven appea:rsvery si9nific.ant ina discussion o .f "in
Christ I" but all his cQnolu$.ions are net. discernible in a
curso·ry reading of 2 Cor. 12:2 . Upon refleetion it seem$
that if "in Christ, " as employed in this text, .is equivalent
to the word, Christian, various consequences can be derived.
Paul states that he knows a man "in Clarist" and then proceeds
to oxplain the ~xperi.enceot this man . '1'1118 simple statement
seems to indicat~ that the person is aC'bristian, which im-
plies tllat. he has rec~i ved the s.aerament of bapt.ism, in which
be begins to share tme life of Christ. Bysharinq Christ I s
life, the baptized person is tmited to all others who share
this same life • 'these persons are tbe members, of the Church
which Bonsirven desaribes b-y the word, mystical. The eh·utch
is .a visible society, also. Hence, tthe man "in Christ," of
whom Paul speaks I can be discened by exterior signs, which
Bonsirven describes as the soclal being of the Chul'ch.
Another interpretation of the "in Christ" of 2 Cor.
12 : 2 is presented by Richardson9 who suqge.sts that this is
~--~~~~--~------.~--•. ~--~~.~~--I
. 8Jostaph Bonsirven I S.J. I L 'F,1y~,ile ~ ~!.,!!t (Ilarts:' Aubl.er, 19".6), p. 242.
9A1an lli.cbardson, An. Introduc;tion t.o tbe Theolo9Y of the New Testament, (London r ScM presl, 1951f) ~l p. 250. ----
7
the only text in which "in Christ" indicates mysticism, since I
. Paul is speaki.ng in this passage of a mystio.l experience.
It is necessary, however , to d iscriminate' betwa &n t he mys -
tioal union o f ChriGt and a pers on andrnyst i cal experience . 10
I t see.ms t.ha t. Paul t i n :'. CGlI r . 12 :1 - 2 , indicates a union of
be ing and life with Christ by hi s words: " I know a man in
ehJ:'ist. .. It see ms, 1:00. that thL·seondi tioD i s a p re-
requisit.E! for thfi) state' in which • person can ' be p ropa-r l y
called a mystic, but. if, as Wikenhauser remarks, mys t icism
. includes ftlQN than myst.1oalexpGri.ence , there are Qthe r
Pauline passages whioh indicate mystioism.
'--~----'----~----~----- '-~-------~"~' --~- ---------.--------
: . lOct. AlfrEld W1kenbause,r, Pa_u,.ine, ~lst:lo.iS~, (Frel:.burg : Herder Co. , 1960), pp. 104-105~ Speakl.ngon myst.icism, Wlkenh4luser states : -To beq:in with,. thEl name mysticilism can ana sh()Uld b. applied to the objectl ve relat.ion-ship which Baptism brinqs about .• tor it c.reate. Ii union of being and life between Christ and man. The essence of mys-ticism is the establishment otsuc:'b an illl1'iledlate fel1ow$hip between GGd ana man, and since it is the saerament which establishes the ,relation,ship" ie 1s best deseribed as sacra-mental mystieism. Tbe word myst.icl.sm has a. QonventiQnal meaninq which appears when we speak of t he Mystical Body of Christ, or describe Baptism as a mystical death and resur-rection. Whellwe use tabe word tnYst.i.eism here i.n that sense, we must note oat:$fully that it refers to the objective and divine side of the unio~ with Christ. which Paul teaches • • • • There is a see
8
,. tun_It U"ct ot 'the word, lIlyetlcal, 1n re-f
lat1,Oft _0 leo.... 1.h 1"'2 .... pre.flliate' by OQir'll\Ut w.~ ....... e. that the nlatiot'\ _twen el'u:l.t. and tbe Ch dAti an may he
.oall,.a iQy.fJt:1c«1'1 :bu~ 'be 1.81.ts furtbe..t' tlUlt ehd.,st.lans 4e
not toxm .. l1W'strical a.l'iat. 11 at., 'nt.~.t.t10. of the tegt _ .... valid, aio.:Ce bo uI.sayetie.l t.o._ aome,tb1nq
aleh 1. nott Hal. a. 1n.Lt._ that Ch .. " .. U... beloftg to tll& real 019-1118. of 'the person ot Old.at.
Pa.\ll;.·. teaeb.lnq,.&coortllnq teAl'lem t I,mplle8 tl'UAt {me
ebd.attan 1a 1:'O'a11y united to the riAA a~i.t •• Gn. com ...
plete: p$RO:n. to aDo'cbel" in .. h&l ad ptll'tlOAill '\\aiM. 10,
tbi" union t.b. Chr-1etd,.. is eo ~1.t.11 ~.pena.nt oa Cbt;;i .• ~
that •• $10M 1. t:luldl:rect,1nq torce~. He state. I~
'1'bl,. uftt,on 1 ... _d._.nt!a! Qontao~ _1.'1 ,a. dYAdio taen .. tJ.f.t(n~Uon bet" ••• the :laithful andtb* bodyebaJiQ.d with ~rj • ,. • ~llf • . that 1. Job the body 1:HIteomes tfuiI· life otthc> •• WhO aft it. "Mir. • • ,. " s •• ., in ~'
9
t,he individual Chri.stian and Christ he contributes a clear insi
10
In ~hi. atato ae 1.&1."&Y8 joined to If!*, body tbe Chul'dh .• (
When. parson" therefore, becomes a Chri8tian he i8 not /
united to Chri.at in tsol.at.lon, bu.t ,,, unit.ed to all whO'
areCbristlans. Sine& a per30n by bapt13m 1s unitG~ to
Ch:rillt. an"tb .• Church" a i!fhole new manner Gf, livin, i.ill··
velved wblch will be ~lseulJse4 in later ehagtGl'8.
In th$: same ~pbJtlG'atllr.mtlrk.: It nut. thanks be to
Oodw1'1o alwaya loads us in trluftiph b t Cbl:'lst. JostiS .. • ~ ~
(2 Cor. 2.1t) M,o,.tl"y assumes tbat the !nter,r0·t&i:1Qn 0f th .•
verb intbi$. te:!tt is dOllb'tful ~ Be thinks 1 however" that the
notion of G-QQ le·ading- n.1e ape.tle In triumph as if lfllAaul who was &ware c;t man' s
dep~ndenos on ~d.~ The plltatSe 'tt ln Christ t " 4ccortin9 tG hl:m,
p.revent8 'the m!sAme.ratandio.g that this r&lat.iQn 1& Mr~11
external. 14 liOaley·. contribution 18 helpful in polnt.lnq to
.I.um'. 4epenssn-Cle on Clu:'lst f and the rela.Uotleh1p whiM is
interi()r, not; mer$ly exterior. The te:kt , h
11
According to W.ikenhause:t, t.he Ch1!i~tian t as evid$nced
in 2 Cor. 2 tl.4 I workl3 "in Christ" due tpa mfs.tical l:'¢ litiQn-
ship with Christ . He expl :ains the meani tlg of t his typo of
work:
• • . tha- work of the imprisonment is something wnioh Vs wi thdl'C!Wfi .frelln the natural spnol7e ; it does not belong to the merely natura:l plane ; for the pe:;'$ons concerned are mysti
12
Either the strong "mystical " meaning comes first, so that the passages pointed out above are corruptions and j weakenings of this sense, or at a given moment a more mystical significance is added to the general formula. 17
By mystical Cerfaux means life communicated by Christ. It
seems, therefore, that his interpretation does not do justice
to 2 Cor. 2 : 14, since even if the passage does reflect a
relationship based on faith, faith its·elf involves more than a
mere rational assent . By faith a person gives himself over
to Christ, which gift. is certainly an initiation into the
sharing of Christ ' s life. If, as Cerfaux states, 2 Cor. 2 ~ 14
indicates merely a relationship of preaching and teaching, how
could the persons be led in triumph unless they had accepted
the message and begun to live with Christ's life? The f01 -
lowing contributions lend support to a stronger interpretation
of the "in Christ" of 2 Cor. 2 : 14.
Stanley, in his interpretation of t.his passage, states :
ItThe ultimate source of man's redemption is traced back I in
Pauline soteriolo9Y, to God the Father •••• "18 Parallel
to the thought: of Stanley is the opinion of Spicq who com-
ments that far from being lost, the believer is turned by the
gift of God to triumph. In otlher words, the initiative of
man's salvation is from God. In the same chapter, though
17I bid., p . 213. ~
18David Michael Stanley, S.30; Christ's Resurrection In .~auline Soteriology, (Rome : E Ponti HCio Instl tuto Bibllco, 1961), p. 141. In lootnote 57 t Stanley remarks : "It is· to be noted (with Plummer) that nowhere in the Pauline writings is God said to be reconciled with men, nor is the verb i It. 4.. d x£ C1~c:/..(, ever used by Paul. 1f
13
not in th~ interpretation of 2 cor. 2~14, Spicq spaaks of (
the Fatber as the source of th~ efficacy of red\eroption .. I
since He sent His son to accomplish thof.) work of salvatlon. 19
'l'he3e b rief ,CQ)trlIDonts of Stanley and Spicq dese rve further
elaboration. ~ CQr. 2 ~ 1;1 states that God leads men in
triumph i n Christ. Since the persona a rc being 1e13 td-·
Ulllphant.ly in Christ, they can be call1!c1 Chris tians I that is I
thsy arG; united to Christ and t.0 His body t.he Church as dis-
cus sed previously. The f ,e,ct that God dOes the le1;1.ding in
Christ indieates that the b ,d.tiative tel:: t .ne triumphal pro-
cession is in a person other t.han Christ. Stanley st.ate s
that 2 Cor. 2 ~ H :reveals the rat.her as tho source of this
proce.$sion. His thought seems justifiable , s!nee the Gl'ee~ , J:i \
wox-a employed in the text is t7e 0 S , whioh is the "lOrd
used :Cor the 'ather. This intcrpr.,tation seam.s valid, fur-
t.hermor~ , since the S~'n , bein(l a rflcciver, can do only the
work whieh the Father giMes HiTa 'tile) 16k>. Sinee t h e l at.t.e r is
true I the na.'~\1re of a ~rson in Christ. 1$ desoribed as
:t'6cepttve, that is! he cannot le~d him.self in t;dumph . hut
must rely on Gad t s act.ion , God' l\ leading him. Spicq expl,ains
that the very leading' o~ persona in triumph re~Teal.s the pos-
sibllityof salvation· and is the basis ff)r hope. 20 This
explanat.ion of the text seems to be a valuable idea for a
study of the Christian' 3 !lpirittlality, since ,. if the Father
.. _ .. __ ------ - .. -.~ ..... ~ ... --_ ... .... ; "" _ ... . '_ "_"'''9; • . _'~ .. _ _ __ ... __ ... ~ .... ~_.~ ..... _ _ ~_ .. _." ... ... _ .... _ _ __ , ~.""_...__,....4 '.'~~;O'._~ ............. ""'_~_
19Ceslaus Spicq r O,P" Vie MQrale etTrinit~ Saiate salon Saint. Paul, IAatio Divin4:--r9;'~w'(Paris: "LesEdiUoos duCerf, ' 1§5~p. 29.
14
ha. free.ly bt1l~\m lea.din,CiI$. penoR.., thai: a0t:ion l!'Gv8als aie (
low. ';1:'..& love~, mol:'4'lover I iB the 30ur~ of. · hope I oocau4e
tb$ l¥atb~r lov(!l.s in..tini te ly al'!ld e-ares for tnttl$.e whom Ue
lOVOG.:n
lU.n~ tllis p'roo~setQn is .. tri;~hal paSS$fJ(& in
Chd.se t C2Cor~ 2 :14) t .hf! t'e$urreetlonll1.Jf (!bri:at;' i3 l~li.tI.
It was only by dy1.n9 to a lUniteci '\'rl.aMf#r otexl.st.in
t)aL'Jsingow.t'tc ria$1) 11£'
15
spreads has its source in the union of his soul with 24 . /
Chd,st. The same idea 1s expressed by Pe·ifer who believes
t.hat Paul is delendinC] bimself as an apostle, .since beth,
united to Christ. he teaohes His meli'saqe. 25 The remarks ()l
wikanhaus4r and Peifer are vit .. al, because they indioate the
truth that the person "in Christ" i ,8 so cgoverned by Christ
that his very words are lntluenoed by this relationship as
Paul states, It . • • with sincerity ,as coming from God.1 we.
preaeh in Christ in God' s presence. '" (2 Cor. 2 : 17) This
aspect of tthe Ch:d.stian life has extensive effects , as wll1
'.
be explored in chapter thhe ., but it will suffice to oite the
opinion of Filson in this regar4... Since the apostle is linked
to ~hrist, it is tbeopinion of Filson that the foundation of
the Gospel is really in Christ. and not in the · apo$tle 's
limited resources, since he is instlftlcient of hims.lf to
bfltara message which can cause dire results. The sufficiency
fo·r this awesome J;'esponaib11i ty r •• ul.ts from the apoat.le 'a
uni'on with Christ. 26 .
CerfauK,on the contrary, regards tnis t&xt in the
same manner as 2 Cor. 2:14: "in Christ" does not indicate
24 ..... Mikenhauser, !I?_ ci!., p. 28.
25Claude Peife%'# 0.8.B., The First !!!! Second Eei.tles ot St. Paul to 'the Corinthians, (Collegeville : Liturgical fiess, IJfo) -;-p:-19. .. . .
. 26FlaYd Filson, nTh,. .SC!tc~nd BRistle ~o , the Corintha.bs," The ~e!preter's BI'61" 10, (New""York , 1953), pp. 300-301.
16
any connect.ion of a "realistic or lQ'P.l fiat\U'(h . 27 If, by /
local Cerf'aux mdans Christ as some type of form r he would be
correct in denying- t.his interpretation of the ·text. He does
not ( though 1 seem to say '-that he means by local. A r~al
relati.on b$tween Christ and the Christian, hGwevell' , cloes
seem to -be intended ., since Paul could have uSed other >vords
w'hichwouid imply that the apostlE! is a. mel'e instrument, but,
instead, stresses that in view of the vital relationship the
apostles' \fords are ,l1dncere because they come from God.
(2 Cor. 2 : 17)
In the first two te)!ts discussed in the preceding
pa~es, it was explained that. Chri:stian could be used as a
t.i tIe replacing the phrase Ii in Chri st. I' This title implies
that the person is in union with Christ riilen and with the
Church. 'Fhe person, furthermo)te, whQ lives thus , is con-
stantly beinq led in triumph bY' continuaU,y dying and rising
with Christ. 2 Cor. 2 :17 tostifies that the Christian, since
he is IEid by the Fathor in Christ., bears the true messaqe of
God. Indeed, it oan beeaid that Christ Himself is bearing
the message since the apostle is in union with Christ and
Christ;, who is constantly present with him , acts through
him ..
In another passaqe of Second COrinthians which refers
to the elltire process of salvation, Paul-stat.es: "For ('70d
was truly in Christ., reconciling t.~e world tQ himself • . • tt
'-- -".- ~--.....-...-----27 ~ . -. Carfaux, !eo ~!., p. 212.
(2 Cor. 5 : 19) Schnackenburg olaims that in t his instance !
17
Paul uses the phrase "in Chtist'lt to indioate Christ's role
as the instrument of God' s \i;'0rk of salvation as :m.ani fested
in hietory.28 A simil.ar i~a is presented by Wikenhauser
who asserts that in this text there is no mystical reference
in the usa of tlin Christ" because the formula denotee the
completion of redemption by GOi:l tn Christ. It seems sig-
nifioant to him, furthermore, that. -in Christ" instead of
"by Chr,ist" emphasizes that Christ was the plaoe ",here God
was pr~sent working the salvation 01 men . 29 :soth Schnacken-
burg and WiltenhauSar., therefo:r;-e, indioate the redemption as
having its source in the Fat.her. Wikenhau.ser's contribution
is ~d
19
the initiat.ive in atonem~nt comes frsm Gotfland was effaot,eq.
through t he death 1':,[ Christ. 30 He comments f 11rtnerl I
Christ.' s wor k,. in saving us t h ro'Ugh his dee:th and res ut;'rection, was at. the s area tirne the work 0 f God. not on l y heotiluse G
Schnackeml:rux\j I tr11}(lenhl!u$(l\'r and Cerfaux assert ,
t here.f.ore r that the wQl'k of redempt.ion is not a mat.terof
$atlsfyinq the ~athe:t since the rec0nciliation originates
i n Ged. This inte r preta:Hon a·f t.he Pauline passage
2 Cor. 5 : 19 set)ms j~st.ified I s ince Paul states that ,God
w.as re-eonciling mat'" to hilnself. Thus, it seems that. God
is doing the reconciling rath'Sr t h an man . 11an, who h ad
been created in the ill1aq,e of God t sinned andt.he.reby di3 -
rupted t:.heord-ctr establishe d by God. .~>tan I by himsalf " was
unable to remedy h is miserable condition. God I hOlJ.re"ver, did
re-Eistablish Qrder. C~rfa.u~ e 'l,aims t hat God 'WGt'ked s?lh·atd.on
"in Christ" because Christ 1s (;00, and~ therefore, is one
30tuqian C. rfaux t Chris:t. !n.. ~ 1heolo9X ~ Sai!!t Paul, translates by Geoffrey Webb and AdrIan Walkel" ,(New York : Herder, 1962), p . 139.
31I b' 4 ~ ~') · ~ l . . l.U • . , pp • .,"'\ - .7.
19
principle of. act! vi ty wit]) Him I ailPat;ll ehse.rves : "God
was truly in Christ ¥ • • • " . (2 Cor. 5 : 19) It seams, h"i7~'
ever, that the te*t polnts, also , to t he ltU'l tEl l' life o f tbe
Trinity_ As God the Father. i s thE) sourc~ of divine life in
t he Trini ty and the Set! i s tot~11y t'ecept:iv.e , $ 0 the Father
is likewise the source of the W'ot'k of salvation l because the
Son can dQ only that wh.ich is qi Yen tii re by 'll.heFathEur. ;Paul
SeenlS to bring this fa·ct. out by saying t hat God \"(3.8 r econ':"
c1 ling the \V'orld t.o Hi msel f in ChI: 1st: I not that Ch rist v!.8s
1'eoon.0111n9 the \'lOrl d to God .•
It is at this point that the t houqht of Stanley ,
Filson and Ruby is i mportant . St.enley st.rElsses t hat, tor
Pau;l.. t he reconciliation meant that "God has e·ntrustod him
(Christ) with t he con:tinuance of the rec1empt.ive work ... 32 and
stat:es t hat tIt e myst.ery o f th·~ r~surroct.i¢n (}~telrs into the
continua."loe o f the reconciliat.ion, th()ugh h.e does not ex"
plain this in reference to the text unde r oonsides;-ation.
According to Filson, 2 Cor. 5l14 ~·19 is t he heart of the Gospel
since it presents the basie insight: of the Christian faith ,
namely ., C.od
20
cillation. A more specific view of the role of the reaur-l
rectlonin reoonciliat!on is contributed by Ruby who asserts that 2 Cor. 5: 19 r il'l COnn.fH::tionwi th the preced1nq
verse(v~ 18) I reveals that the strength of the sacriflce
of the cross 11ve~ on actively in tbe glorifie4 Christ. 34
H~, too, does note:::-::pl ain .hQW this happens. The i ,de as
preset.ted by these scht,l&.t"s bear further explanation in
order to understand the signifioance of t he z:asurrection.
TO accofaplish the work of salvat.ion the Son beo~e
man. By the vary fact of 'the IrAcarnation .. Chdst was a
link bEltwaen God and the h'Wl'lanrace, but, since Chdst had
an integral human nature , He had to rat::.ify His son.ship on
the "personal level of consciousness~ love and deci sion. It
i s in the a€knowle4g:~nlent of ais Father by IUS sacrificial
self-oblatioi1l, that: Christ united Iilan to (;oil. In this act,
Christ completely ~naunced. the Ufe of the world and set:
Himself It.side to b(~ the lite of men. This sacrificial
oblati·on, manifested in the passion and death of Chtist.,
would not: ot i 'sel f , however, h~ve 9ufttced t:osave man. 35
:tn t.he resurrection, the r.ther expressed His accept~noe of
the Son f s otferin,., ci!l\}sinq Christ to be !"aieed beYOD.a the
li.mited context of life and to become a lite-qiv!nq prin-
J4Joeeph Huhy t S .J . I Mis..!!q~e.! ~~j~e~~!. ~~; Johall.ui,gua:, (Pa:ds i Oeselee G.$ :3rower, J,946), p . le~
35Cf • 2 Cor. 5;14- 15.
oi1'1e. The risen Christ, remains fixed in this inner
offering of Himself to th3 Father. Th e essence of Uia
sacrificial oblation, therefore , continues. 36
21
/
'£'0 tea ch t he CQ;dnthl.~t15 the e lifact r:a sllH:ing i n
Chri s t 'from t he r!Os llt'rc ction, Pa~l states ; " 'i.\lQ 'N t he Lord
i s the spirit . . II ( 2 001'. :3 ; 1 7) Ind~ad , as Durrt'1all
indi(~ltttes" t h is statement does not me'an t.h at Chris'l; and
t he Holy Spirit are one Parson ., but rather ,. '!that Christ is
saneti,fi¢d €:te rru~lly. 37 A:lniot statal;> tu"lat c.~rist. in Hi s
r ia ell state balc.n Y's so completely t.o the Father that He as
man is a l.ife·-g i'tting principle" since He eXereisesthe
;f\ll.lness ofdivl.nc power. 38 'rQ say that Christ is a.
$pi~i~ is not to negate the fact that His ~isen body is
materi.al " but rat.her to assert tha/t; He, as man, is now
life""glving because tie is oompletely filla-a with the Holy
Spirit's livin\l pO\fer. AOCOZ'(.ll.llg' to Wiitenhauser, Paul
,- ..... ------, ~,.,.-.... ~.~-...... ,- - -'-36 f ,. X. Dut"t'WGll. , C.BS.It., {~ ~he .. ~d&ero.inJ. £!lrJ.st,
(lQe.w York . Sheed and Ward, 1963), pp. 5 .... '7. !.1aflY of t hese id.eas were drawn , alsQ , from una note.s taken in t.he ~!:.~~ ~.!~~ Sa~rantents. presented by Bernar" Cooke, S . J' . , Oct ~Dec. , 1964. ' 'cl. 2 Cor. 3 : 17 .
31F • x. DuZ'rwell. C.S5.R., 11'11. ReS\\l,~rect1on, (New Y01:K : Sheed and Ward, 1960), ' pp . l02 '~lQ3."'-6UriwiI·1 states; " fThe Lord is a spir.it J: he is the whole life ... gJ.ving reality of heaven ; in him i'esides the fullnes~ of everything that put s an end to tthe rule Qf the Law • • • Christ is spirit, realit.y , truth .. it is he who ~:i.ves hist.ory it.s m.eaning and it.s fulfi l mel)t; (2 COil!'. iii. 14·-16), becauee he himself is wholly $aturatec1 by th.e goly Spiri~. a$ is so filled by him that he is transfe rmed into his shining qloX'Y and his power of l.ife., and beCi:omes in his turn a principle of U. fe and, glory . • • I't .
38praI]9ois Amiot., !os. 14~~! ~ttr~-!!e_B !! Sain~. P!ul , (Paris : Les Editions duCerf, 1959), p ~ 224. ' '
does not mean that. the 910r10u8 ,Christ i. the ...
forml ••• ,spit-it wblcth ,..rmeat •• eftrytbinq, but. Christ ,/
and the Spirit a1!'e 4lquated tn regard t.o the work ~bich
they do in soule. Christ o(!)mt'ltW'l!cat •• the Spirit: aad
throuqh Ithe Spirit wor.ka in M1\.. tn til!. maruuu:, Ch.'t'i9t
1$ a I1f .... ,givifl9: Spirlt.19 ~48ic.l1y" a1.10£ 'Che above
22
schol.ars an tryt,B9 to .Kplain ~1~a.eM,., that. Christ; as
mu bee .... 'hbU .• hed in ~r .n48G oOlSld sftd the
Spirit.. To, ,it., tbatCh:rl,at. beca •• 111 .... qivinq spirit does not. dony ttU.lt 4. Godll. wa. al".va capableQ,f 9'1 vin
l3
l.t was $t.&ted ohov~ tha~the tl.s.t1 Christ is a 1..1 .. '.-·
«Q'i'ving $,p1ri t .,41 It1s preeisilly in t.hia JrQle 01. life~ / c;.iwr that. Chl'.iot. Qontiuual.1.1 It'tlde$Q)s man, ain;Q&;.l .He 111 ft)r-
liu!&r tlXQd at. t Ct.e poil.'lt. of o tf0X'inQ' nir.n$~lfito the 'rat-he%'
Md b~t.n9' aa.t:c.p't ed b~' 81M. 4l Slnea- Chtiet is f i'Ked in
t "ll is QfferizJft by tb® rEHJur~·~ac.l(}7t 9 He i~ f!l>t'.!)·wl." t ht!
(;>ourc~ of th~'i) Jted~4m0,cl uU>1!an ItIl~i$t.0n()~ ·of ,mauJidnd . ~'€, 1'11
eOtltltlual.ly ootl,t\l\lllioil'ltl ng' ilo r.~tlthil) ld.t'e 'ttbieib l.s 'f!i~'l.,
~"h~n 0 pGrfJOl1 is bal?ti%ad b ra e~t.~ rjJ int-o thGmysutalty 'Of
r$(~'mptl'i:).il and b~:;ins to .1iVG 'With Cbd$t ' I? VGry lit~ ..
24
thellt 41'\1 man is in c.,'?ri.$t f ha 1 ••. rae"oreature • .~
• •
(2 Cor. $ f17, It i "s t..''1ie p!UI8.aCJe which ,18 central fot: -'
tanderstancU.D9 of the Christian l1le. It. 15 .1~o tine text
of Second Corintl:d.ans on "tb!$h .scholars be.ve ooneentrated
the! r s t ully ot It in Christ. ",.
tflt$rpnt,1n~ 2 Co~. 5 d 1, Dele.8mann f a PX'~te,!ljtlAnt;
$cnolar # explains tl:l.a.t Cbriflt 1. atyt)e of .pat1al fonn
ill wM.oh the Ch1:'1etisJ:'l, dWGlls # GOMwbata. tn •. n atlMSphEUre,
or as a. bird 11ws in the 4iJ;'. 44 ru\~ lntesp"t,«~i~n.
however t< distorts tn. Wlderstandinq of the ChrlaUM f. re.1e1!:io!'lsbil;) toehrist. a.n;el ... ms uDtenable I' beeausee the
Ch r!8!bie.tl is not in Chrlet as in S'~thin~ ollt."lde of h im-
self, b:tlt , rather I' sh.r.&S't:hri!Jt 's' ri;ae.n l1fe.. Huby
~"'-~~"';;';'-~~~'----"""~""'''--'--¥'-~
44.1\. not.~n; ~l! 1\!'!!~!st.~...!"J",~!. !.~~!l!. "in, Cbt'l.st:& "e8\l, ~ (Ha.rburt' r Ie91r~ i-firi "lena",e vas taken from th,u,i:'WQl'l f !!l! !!?t\lr:~~!t~,~!!, . p.. let. . Du~rw.ll stat.$8 l itA .. oe.t .... nn: favour. t1he lie. im4t tn. Ch~i1l·t: in St. ''',1,11' s l!tili>-dtakea a corttaln spatial torm. 1-1k •• sort at outs,reeCS power Wbi~b ta. Cnristian. en'ters loe • .lly.Cor-tainly the pr:6,POalt.iQD 'in' sll.94i1eate 'the nctionof a prftS-.noe I but itl. DO" • local one. '1luere are CcIlS~. wh~u:.'e any visual J::epre"ettta:1dcm Qf our presence in, Christ 1a im-po.sibl. t wh,," the ... al.i tty i squi teoutaid... the SiP.ttl. a1 o'rd~u: and ~yon4 tbe reJul:b Q.t, iaqinat.Lon" ·fte ,no1d,on of a i flutd ChS'J .. a
25
olaims; that. thoufh the phrase $UfJ9 •• ts A sphero in
which a person li"s~ all tIlp~tlal 14eas must: be ('U,.oarded
-sinee Christ 1sa, petrtftl>na'l b~1nCJ! tb.~rd risen and
9101"1£1ed . 45 t"..omment.la41 on thi •• arne not.tQnef Cbrl&t: as
ft, spb&,m in whloha ":r:soa lives- • whol~ new tOA' of
eusf;enc&" beoaltGe he .is .,nl1vene4 by a new »rincipl e
which .1" 01 1'1,st;." l'>llr~U ~ltpl.in8! "It is • /Sphere of
e"i$tan~$ tn ®:leh ~an '$J whO],,, :bel_, 1.$ t.akon 'lP by a new
principle ". " ~ • ~ ahd further t, "Chrlllt bAS t-ak;tltn us up
1,nt9 himself ; our pres.nee in him J.$ _ i d0ll-t.tf.:loation in
t;hi! or"er Qf "baitH} " .46 DurNell·. tndicatiQ'B r;z.f tI1Ml' $ new
mftnniln' of ~xlst.:eDee is in accord with th.pn~vlous ~lM.'"
tlo:n ¢)f J'$df!ln1ltion , sbice I' by ba.!#t.!am ~ a ptJrlllollb~"il'ls ~
I!lha~ in Chnst' 8 11.& which is a li!ee,t l1oruahlp. MAn
now liwHJ a nm~ o"i$t~nc-e tn which he 1,$ r.:c> lctll'l..tn::a sl«ve
but: a 90n f beQAUMChrist J whc is the Son, is the: $O"t"~
of ht. n~ ute ..
It. hAS bettn preae1Qted that the passAp 2 eQr~ 5 $1'
l:ndlca-t-."thtt tmiO;"'A ~t Ch.rlct; a. .. ,d t:he d'ld.B,tie.. !t 1$
l\~Qe.8,a.qr to det'.!'rmiu$ wbat t:'{!)ft 'Of 'ani-on that ia. nuby
.tat;~e that; ~ wh,olo ((t~r1nG of lIa1'11 ,,111 clU't~.1 the
fortnul" "'in Christ" l'athf.!'lI' th.U! the formula, tllU$lnat~.tn~
';.>\~~_"'--.ii~"",,,,,,,,,,,,,,~_~~.40~,~_
.5uuby , ~" !!!. ,f p~ 14. 46SUnw&11 t ~ ~~uz:reqtlc!!, p. 210.
t he doc'trine. He .xplalnB th-atz '.ul bas twc) .u.~ •• lve
aspect. i n bis " re.entatlon fi t Obr1#t.1.&. 11fe,: jua·tifl!
eatl0lt r the moment a man puses trM'l a. state of SlB t o
4ivln. trtendehltn eantillcetion, the 4evelopwtnt .of the
divine U.f. re.lved. lly taitb 1ft.. l'iu.~l .fl .• ,d , but.
26
faith, for PaUl ; 14 .ome_hing very :riCh whlob includes aU
of mn, not: jus .. bis UaN'J.lt.aadinc;. Prtmarily,faitb 18
complt6,e .. sent. t.o Christ. eLcb encomp.sJ". hoP4\ and. love
81n.,. it .gp~ •••• the ant1ft co .... peratlon of human aotivity
1n ttl. divine worl\ol salvation ,. '.fbi .• falth ••• u.,. acon-crote tom in b-.ptl.~ 1n wbich '. ,P'!t'8on ls united to t he
10r111.4 Chriat,..'l'hroulJh tbis \tnion the. f:Rit. of 'eb.l'lat-s
d.a~ can tJ.ow to • man # and: by ~.i.'Acrlll!'ilmt theo14 ma.
who wa. 'UbdiU' tbe domination .of aina.verB h.ls connections.
ay dying 1n this maAl'N!U;, tine .an d,... at tbe 8atne time to
• new ltf. 1n wbicb. be b •• a nat.u. capab,l. of 8:xpandtn~l itl
.. glorio:U8 r.suft,ctton d\le to the new pd.nciple (ilf U.f8 .
Th.is •• ¥ 'p.rlnoipl. which anim.t.. ~h. baptl •• d petraen 1.
Christ. Huby .mph •• i... that this 1e not. III !Mre moral union of two pea •• on., in whbJb •••• ttl.1 11 ... bie own U.fe ,.
thou;h be iaon. with the oth.'~ penon in thougbt 1m4 de-
sIre. bthe,r, Cbria't; actually ·8hl.ru ate, own life with
the bapt1 •• d l!*rtion", !"b.ts co_\:Jl\lcation 01 l1fe neaes-
.8rily .1mpU •• ,. the 041 ",.l •• t;,lo.n of the man 'lltbo 18 tho
ftc1p1ent. ,.1:.0_ the, •• .haria" is GGd. Chr-lat ,and the bapt.ized flioweftl' ,. 40 bot me~ to d'l. .Kt.At. of "au81n,q
a 10 •• of identity_ Man- ,s 1.4.f. 1. 110t an addition to
Christ. I G, but rathfU! ~11l .18 ChlC'ist:t $ I 91nc41 Be 1s t.he . ( sub,ect. of t.he U.t-e.'? Like 1)urr:vellt Uuby a.eonn tha~
th.. person "" lnChriei.i r• by ~.pt.!.'.m 11vtla ~n «ud.$t~nC!Q in
'whlchChrlat is th. prill1~1ple. It is evil!'lent t.hat he is
~rappli.~l)J with th$ problem of how ~bi$ lite is lj)Osaible
Md ~1u!lt. to eall this fom o,f ~xi5tence . &1n(:'$ or.'ainary
tr.()t1~s of unl~ e~ !net:lmp.t'~:bly l 'S'SI tham tills ~"~'tery ..
:!:luby t tmouih/ expla!inc$ well~ht.1t in ~ rAtl emat.ion of
which 1'.u1 a~akg J' the ~'li£Qn
lS
to be bimsEtlf. 49 It. is quetltiQnable, tfhat .1alElVla~ means by (
. ,:
"$uper~.fla . 'i!' but he doe5 cont.ribut.e tlle. ide.. that , in
tb..ie w:lien 111th Clnd.fJt 1 t~ person· l'ep.lain& hime-elt to
wblc.'i'l rea11qr .bears witness.
t'aklnq 'the t'eduJ:l!'ect.in'h of Christ- as tJ'lb bdL. tor
t.he re~lityo;1. l,tvLnv in Christ , t.Utd.6IA Cerf\!t\m 0}',,"t~la1ns
that man is .• JU)W cnat;\u;e now· ~· .1nc. bJ; is tt:anatormed as
an .ant:.1clpat1on of hi$ OWl) !tOsur~~t:iOth Cb.rist.'s r8$\\r-
rtlct.ien was 'the fir.t. Iftst..n~ of the, ahu'ingof divine .
lif • .• SO . ny bapt.1.m~, manhe91il. ~p.at;tt¢ip&t.e in Ckrist.' 8
rison 1.if. an4 :1.catl~ht. up 1nf:.he moV$me.t\i'ii 'toward the.
P'8J;'Ous·ia. 'lbe lif.which he h •• recd.ftd ia of the sa.me.
nat.,." as the lit. which the :d.8Qn. CJu:iat 11vo. I and thus
is crae.tad a \Ui.ique nlaUonablp betwon Cbriat and tll$
Chd.:at::1arh 51 cerfaux Indtc.at •• I man-ever" th.t the eS$en""
tia.l mystaz:y of th.ta t'e14t:iol\sh1p e •• be e:kplainodonly
by ¢au.ali.tv .inC(! Clu-lat. 1. th •• ou:ree (\t tb8 Ouristian·s
U.fe. Tbel! f. of th. CJu1stlan and ¢briat Are ident1fi.a.
1'b.is means .imply that Cbrlst.*s life., in virtue of 11'!..,
X'eaurrectJ.on, c:on4ti~ut.e. ttho Cbrlet:lan'a 111., ilhot,Wb
Christ alway. Nu!n$ t.he persott Q.f Ch;:tat.. n.1Il oQDcludes,.
. 49r.~ Malew., "'L'i,li" corps du Chd .• t.," P4eb.fC~' des $CileQses. ~l{lJi.\t ••• , 3l f (19., ) ,. J,h 64 ~ 'th1s. %e:re~iiic(,-was t.Aken fio.5uli~11 ,~ a..\l[.-e:~~i,Of?:" p.. 21.3 ..
SOCf. 2eo.:t'~ 5 ~ lS""'11.
Sleerlaux, Chri.8t, in, the Theol!.1%. .f$a.lnt.'aul,. pp .. 317- 320. . , .. ,.. - - . , . . -- .... --
therefore, tbat. -to be " new olt'eatun .inchr!."" mean. to (
'be 1n the Cbr1.atlan. atau... • state in Which the Qhristd,,m
lives a life, infl_ftc:etl by the ri.e» Chri.t "til it.s prin""
c1p18. 52 Cel'faua t too, .trl VIla to explain tnemysterious
UaiGA betlwen Chr1.t and tbe Oud.atlan ad aMB thIG
valuable 1".1g:bt. that Ohrla' 1e tl,. caus. ef th.' Chrls-tlaa". U". tbnu9'b th. re4empt:lvemyat.exy.. Be titus
111ust.rat •• the C61!ftlatioA betcveen .1 Col:" S t l '1 and 19 .•
2'
xt. 1. tlna-nt It'OJl 1:bo 10"90·1n9 pag.. ttbatfJiobolara,
have bet •• aerlvlllg to floa an e.
30
thlln has been a grow1agqueattonin·9 !Vb.thex- or not to be
Ii.t.n Christ,'" •• IUacuaae,d above, 18 .. ,Mystioal ident.l- /
Itcation wit.h Christ. Cerfaux claiN that we .y apeak of
tho relati.Qn.hip betw •• n Chri.t ad the bapt.i •• d pelt.Qn
4. .. mystical 14en,t:ifieat:iotl by wldoh tAU shal'es 1n th.
11 te of' the tiua Chriat, provided we R.l.i~El that. the
words ,. u.. a" inAdequate to d •• qr~ 'this ,lnef'abl ..
~.t:.Q' tn wbi
31
isties it Tllouqb the tom.1t m.nner ofspeakln9 is, ftIO"r~ . . r
prevalent. , bot.h a" .expre •• ione or upect.s ·of tbG same "
iileta thlJllt
32
wived,_ (
Paul. ~1"e-tlVUrt&;,e,$ not think. of phy&ical betnif
\11 th Christ" l'lor of !(td bein9 undeJ: the infl..uen·~ ',of Chrlst
as ' under an i:rnpl)t:sonel ~r. A$ "lk~nh"\t'.e" e~~lains ~
If~n Pau.l'fl tdn~ ,. to k in, Christ mellfut being- unoo~ the
power ~ !:n~ltlenee of t beperi'Jonal ~r:1,$t. .... S9.,be ,re is
00 fua·ion' ~f th~ ~,"onaU.tiasC)fehd,ct 04 th(t Chriat,lan 1
!:mtthe ,l"lsen On~i$t l' u A. liv1.n9 parson " is .pr.$$$nt i n
tbGChd.stian to 11ltl._tl~ him i n o:;'d.er that he m1(Jb't.
d$v{tlop a ~~. Cbrl$ttan lit • .,
, ,b, c.ppos inl 1'.rte\t 1$ " resentJ.lel by Weitls , who ; basS-ftC;
1113 tboU9:b.t on ifN~/ ' t be LQrd is tho spirit .. y • D UCOr .•
3 ~ 1 " think. ~bat tbu p$;rH1l in Chtltat 1$ ~orbed ~ ...
pletelyin a ~st.ic.,l un-ion. in whICh flhe peuQ-ll lo •• ,s hi.a
intti.vi
tlt.l~" mystical ~ applied to thie union 8i9'nltl"uJ nQt:h.ln,,, r
.ineo the word, myst:J.cal t tnGa:n.8 see:ret. ~o say the man /
In. Christ '" l1vus in Ris atmosphli!l're ,t undor His irtfl\l$ftco t
he 1."e-marks, 18 ~o t.reat thetwd.on as A q'WllQtion 4)f place
an!! thing instead 'Of per$OtHJ wbo -Ill'6 pr0.8Qntt an~ sharin~' ..
Ind«ed, tlhe r",laM,ons ot love between tfllO persona a.re
similar t.oa dvaU.1ng: plltQo, .. foJ: the boln9 loved lives
33
in t.he onewbo love.s .him ~ec.Q:e bi. thought.s ara o f hiro .
ThiBdwelU.nq ", of ODe in $Dothe!!', h0W8ver f is an the. fa(bral
level wh!le. 'the UJ)!on of Chd.s,t and the, Cbriat14n 1$ on t.he
level of! bein, and on. the mral level. It ia mtlch !J!Ora
lhan a r.la~lGn of knowlea,e end love in whieb Qne would be
cent.red on au:lat" fo,r it. i.e an orilani.e alu'1 vital relation
sprinqin9 from lnM~ration tnt.. Chd .• t.. ,.be femula,
the.tore, eqnuJ ••• the re.-lity itl wbich the Christ.ian
4Jxlau Jlupemat\lral1y onl.y 1t be 1. ftlat.ed to Christ #
hold •• l1 ~.t. he is fftln\Chri.~#and doe. DOt. oonaider
him •• lf a:pan f~om Cl'u:ia'. Fr_ bap'tlh1,; ~. 108,. of hi.
own .t>ao!;ut:e autonomy eba_rector! .. s t.he CbrlatiQ, sine.,
Christ ,not. he t i. tne source of hia lit. and tb. quia o·f
hie .eta. 6'lsp1.~ aoea not thlM ~ha:t tb .. vordi,myatJ.eal,
1 ... 9004 d •• dript1oil of, the unity ~t;W!en Christ anJl the
Chri.t.1an# but, my.ticall •• u •• d. in thi. regar4,does
n,ot mean Nrely Ment. Rather f it. 1s us.d to 11\&
34
S-pioq '$ thQu,,,ht, hOWever I HeIT'.Ji to Hav.lid 1n.tet-/
p1'$taUon Gf l 'COl". $ ~ 1'. 9l.tl'd.lal' tc) $(';hcl •• 1J p.r-eviOu1f12
cited ~ and ellphaeia$$ .. gdl" t.hat bh~ ~la·el(')n$.hip ,l:m""
t\""1l Christ. andttu,~ Cb·dstd.an 1$ '. :r.elat1oultltlp itl whi.Cb
the Chl'istiu J:iec~.Lve:a j)4tW' life and 11v~$ 89 a new
oreature. It ts a ·M\f 11f@. since, by init.iaUGn intc
Clud.st. t · a pG:t'lIJona.--eoot.ws Cllr1s1: ~9 U.'.an', tll$ ,r~ 'fQr$ t i8
t!llt0n int¢' the life of the 'r'd.1l1'tY6 wbJ.ch indioat.&s that
the Chr1st1a.ra ha3 t'~.la.tions wlth GQd wllloh 90 beyon.d ttlGOe
ot cre:at.u.re to era.tot.. It 18th. t;&lat.-ion of a '~Ot1 to hi.
Pa:ther ·in wh1d1thClll'tt 1$/1 mutual ~id.,cf)n ,and gmn.tin'$
ff.'1 •. tndsh1p ,.
t.fa."l was allte&dy .fA c.reature l' but 2 Colt. 5 z 11 assert.
tha.t ho 18 In.dtIl new .. tbat ia t be e~d.Gt .... man in a dif-
ferent ruuu'lert t sinee the riQl9nCb:riat slu&.ftSl 'w1 tha hap'"
t.l~~d pe~aonr'l.!$ 'own lite o ,f son.hip. 'lhU$A' the i.llMI'I!n
Cb:tlst tI bas be:u)o ohang'G)d ontQ101g1cally from tha (!:Qndi t10n
of boln'l) Mftly aorea'tUl'e (i)f ~it int~ttte s·ttlt.'Sl of l>t!lnq
a son 'Of Sod.. Since be 1.1 W$ lna uuion \d t 'tl Ch:r.i$t $0
!ntit!la~o that. be live. b7Cbri.~ f " vert life t the ebristian f
then, 18 ,it per1Joo wh~· bt)ars 'bh~ Hordo! God, Cb l'i$t to ito all
whQre 1l~ ~.trotfl,. !lhB Christi .. ", i $.. 'there tOA I an apostle ..
!:n thischa1)t$:r the five· teX~$ to\lRd in the ~'Gcmd
lnpi.tl(i to the Corint.bi.ans which contain tM phra·ae "in
Christ"bave MenlUscu8.H(f t ift f'>l!'Mr to •• CiMJrt.ain the
spirituality of t..."t. ptu:son who 1,9 1I
concluded from tbis analyeia that tM Path$r is t1he
source of ~e redtl':mt>ttiw \Wold; ,~b,l00 wam 3;QCOmpU"shtld in /
the Sou Chrl.!!J't!c f who., .tn Ot'tkHl~ t.b~t: H\") mi£fhtl b~ thfll prin·"
ciplc of man · .6 life.!:i.ad t.() rj.~s o'u't:, C)f a lird.t.d c(mt;e~t
Qf e.xlstenc!~ by C};o.atb1nto a r~.$"n U .t4'.1J. In t.b9 ~HMu,a
niQ.nt:. of hep~ism ~ ,the nHn Cbd.at ocrot1Un.ic~tQs 1'Tt.$ 11fe
35
of aOllsnip to.: tb!Sl~'r$on l!U'l~ idti'Ulti ties ,nim3~1 f wi 1:...'1 the
baptl~h,d to $u¢in all eKt~nt 'that. ,a. 19 thaprinclpla of tbe indi v1eh141' 11 lif~. 'I'b~bllPti~$d pel'Gon,tb:.rl!for~ , b~Hlrs
Christ. -ao thd!w(;l::-ld. In hiM ~~n can ~ec'tmt~r Chri$t. .
'l''Aa apirituallt1 of t'h~Chdstd,~ 1.,t.h,e~fQr$ , o:rian:tat.e4
by theae two ba$i
'6
I
CBAPTlll'RII
Inob.~'Pt.,r~nQ 1 tr,las statfrr1nth!«.f';s, \ftU he d1s:~.nn';$$d . An
analysis o't: tl\;e oMic p&e$.~!ls which d~fine th~ :ap1,dt-
ualitly ~f' the Cht"'iff'~tana6 • ~O{:l will f :0110-,, .
~a\ll.t.t&s in hi$ q.r:*fltd.ng:
• • ~ ~re(!~ b$ t:Q yOtd tm-d poe" from Q(D(1: ,OU;t" rather "and fn>m the tordJesu.s Cbriut.. al •• lled be the GGd and Pathet ·Qf our :tA::lt4 Je6U$ Christ, th.$ "ather. of me,reie$ and t;hs God of all ~OtnfGtI't~ • • .. . (2 Cor. 1:2- 4)
lltAnl.ey f in eOt!i1~uu'\t .it\t* on t.llis seript'llt'al t~t j iStat-es
that ttl. beU.&! in the fa~rhood of GGe, llllthOttqh lr,l!!n-
e1or-tsd only Ol\oe 1n the ~arlY' kerygma, "as • . $p~~ial11
t ,l'$ lUHu;
I by tlut 1!atlter o.f Hie son in Paul . In ellis instanc~ t
Paul Z'e¢Ogn1~~d Christ. risen as the Son 01 ~d and
simultaneously was a"'are of tbe JMtherbood of God, whien
31
mwlation was beyond ~aull8 kcncwledge from the 01d'1'esta-
ment.62 'paul statiaa that grace and pe.a0eproeeed from
God t.he Fatber. Stanley jusd.fiably .ess 9':r .aee and peace
as sUnll'lulrif:in9 t:ne wort of li'ed.em;ptlon an~ as' bavinq theh:
oriqin ira tile F.th~.u:. Whia i.evident if the work of sal-
'Vation is cC)llsi.deu:-ed." It was ,di_ou ••• d pnviously that as
a :result of sin r.ulln .lCist~d in a ehAo'tie state , 8 state
in wbiCh there wae dieorde.r betvoc man .rul GGd . man and
tIlant and man anG nat:UlM!. '!'ben was, therefortt r a laok of
paaqe preoithlly bee.aU8fJJ man bad !'GfUMd 9'race - God· s love.
The re4empt ion t by Which peace was netored, (uri9'tnated
'WiththePftthQr6 3 since the Son , .5 h.s bee.n said ; (Z/!4.."d$ only what tne I'atbel"qt ... alm to u. (lrace • . net peace .umJI'Iari~,e the work of redemption sincomo , wben be h.as
entered into the redemption t.hl"cuqh sacrament/. aece.pt.s the
love of the. three 4ivlne 'ersons. As he advll.nces inU.vin9
the •• oratt!ent.al ttcrtion ,. he acknQW1.d9'.~ the 'ath.t: by
11,,1n9 as :a 1I01S. Hia peace lies in thi . manner of exist.ence
.Jinee be tnen, is fulf.illin~ wltat h~ wa,. meant to be.
For ce,r fa:Ulf, the, " •• "age indicates the con~d$t.ncy
~f Paul .in 4!"BtLnquiablng betwe.1\ God t1'1. 'ather and Christ .
~"'~___ PI ! _'
'2~Ut.1\1.y, !R.. !!!., pp:. 255- 256. ~3Cf . 2 Cor. S t19 ..
This nWll'lar ot! .ad4rae.slng ('~a was ~mplO:1.d in: t.he salu't$i-
t1onan.1'0 pers~ncr or ~
fi4CartaUl!! •. £:1!!:tt !!'t. ~, ~~l,~R 2! !.~!D.!. ~!I Pl." . 473 -'414.
65ri1:Bo.n , ~.o1t .• , tip. 279 '''U~ij. ,
:39
It is i n the ackt'1;Ot11eclfJ;f$rn.!'nt or thl:?,i Fatt'u,n: ruld by th~
livin!J of hilfl (.'
40
rl?~tpU v1ty Q t t.he :;;o.n - t:J~~ flon ;t'e~ai W$ .all from the
1'~t.~p,r.69 Tht.l$ f ~md:t'wn p,.o!n't& out:, ~ ..,:tt:~l .;)l~nt ln, /
tili0: U.fa Qf the (!hd.$ni.ru\ ~. ~ ~(·m. gtJ,Ul con~it!tJnt..ly
c~lls the merciful, f'~t.h~.lr bl~sa.ad" ~eal1~~l h·"" t.X'ust$b~
:His m~r~~ and i$ cr~'\ian to wl"Ha'~~l1~%:' thlil 1!'ath~?t 1·~n{1s. This
t3:1Jstaltd op&'nn~ss 11>.\ h~lJ1e; fer t\ Clu:-1mt1an .!}e,zliI'u,s-a· the
P",'tl'hiUt carrnot fo!t'tt'o lU.S lov~ o:n ,a 1?~~sun. It th~ pe~s:on,.
tu.r~h~l!'mot~:l t t!'aceiV'Gst1'~ 'V'at'!'i(lr'i1 l.m/G" It. .La :t.o~ t .r"..Jly
eftGot.i Vii! tn 1'its 11 fa Ut11a$S hiiit f:' l'ruOt:s 'tlch!a leve to '\11v~
b i n< '>lhatt',l'ttl.!lit 1\\1 nt\de.~HH).ry. 10 The !;!Qplic~thm& of th,hil
.tat,ittllGnt. win bo ·d:t ~.'H;~1J9aaj l. otwt ~
Vt"Ott this l'a~lln{) t~~t ~ " h{1J!()!(}~a 1 it aee£tg eriu.Qllt
t lUlt the ~~l'nonwho llvM} ..,:t l)Chr1st.~ is a son of th.ft
1!'at;~er atn~ be sI;uilr~"4 t;b:tt lile .of t}\~ tls~n CiHdst which
1$ n life f 40na111.,1'.. 1'~1tl ttutth s~'1tmld 111uminltt the
C.h r.-httal,ts :U.ftl , but in rt11i.t' :f:hat.lt.'Will huVt! th1g
e t' te4t I' tb~ propor tmeJt1!,e;.tat)d!n~ ~ff~tb~t' and $¢.n U\ust bo
g't'~cp~d .. 11 h~ :m:hlUnd~r9tan·d'S f~tlrerbooe. tho. c~:lri$tian t
i m,te ad Cit livln9 in j'f)Y I ,~~~? and ,t~O~O)1\ 1 '41111. il;tl.at
1 n .Q state of f~ar . 1'&\%1 olarifie-d ~ in tile t1,Jxt Qnetn:
ccnsld-t'iatiQn , the r~alit:y of GQd/$ f~tha .d,n9' Qf. m~n. 'liM
r
~ l
~SPCQt.s ,. llQn~r.$ ~ '"al";J~~ ~lld r€dtli\~ ;tith utt:Q;t l~ft'' it~JittlJ of ti.'1Oi;;l}p.iatl.", \,lhioh
that-th. Olria,ti,aft 91fts thenlU;.'S ,SinQe it: i. in \hi.
_"''lsi. on that. he comos In. direct. .Clout."t wi.th the l'edeem1n"
pro ••• , het-unk. foX' the 91ft of the :Path.,X'·., love
42
Which, t.b%'Ou~ the re4eapti.ol\ .c~ll.JMl:d b:r Christ t
enabl.. him -to be, a 80n. '2$ ,1". thank. tor iz:he ,1 It.
pn8\IPpo ••• , a pov.rty of spint wh1. nCO'~l •• s .. n.ed
u.dl. I tberafoft~. .,:1111n;to $C_l~t I and tn. 8,t!tc of (IlCCilttp'"
hen_which lm,U .•• .• &tel_ton to l1". acc.r4in9 t6the
91ft.
in 2 aor. ad).. 'au1 .... ~8" 10hz; YQU. know th.
9racloua.". •• of o.urtoOrcliJ •• us Chris" - bow'~ belnq ricb .,
he bee_. poor tor your $ ake.,. tb.t by hi.. 'PO .. rey' you ln1q1'1t lM~.. "lob.· A:eco,rdinq to tlurCWll11, .... Y th.'.et of
U.vln9 tbJ.. 11f81
43
riches Re br1nqa t.o lola.. In t.hi. QUe ttl .• *' r .10h.5" .tttlply
the tb.i:nga of Coa whlch 14'.111 be be.towed en Qn, while I
poverty ft.lqaifie. th..t:ate of mck1.nd prior to tbe
Nd.ell!ption~17 Cturiet.,aa Son lnthe ~r!nlty; is tho
J:'$celverot the, iU:vU .. n1'fture, the ifbe!ni;J l'h:h li ;,r.f 'aul~
But the SOil, as both t'h.1t'~ll and CIU·'Q~ .x:pl~i8 I t;:o~k
U,poi'l bluel.f the poverty of man,. •• tat. in w~l(:1!J. u~ woulcl
"' n_pt.!ve/. tlCt#t of ricbes t but. of the. lot. of ei:nful man -
flutfer-tag. iJ'he SGn wa$ poor" poor 1n order to enabl.e .nan
to ahaft in the riche. of the 41 vine ",atllQ by belru} sons ;
., Paul · , •• y. , -He 1)e,eame poor far YOUlr llilkea, that by his
poverty you mt9ht :become rich. -
Stulat_v tfl~.rprets -:beoalH' poor'" as "farring I Ylot
merely to tlle J.Bca~a'tion of the ton ~but to It!. e.ntire
U.t. a! autter1ng thm1Jqb which muri._ bestowed ttlctms on
_til. ae elai .. , tur~.rmor., .t.hat. ~ et.a:t .. nt Implies
tAo pa •• over my.tery throufh wh.lcb the Son: _pt,"ed Rim-
"elf in ,ora-r ~, p ••• !-o d..en l1fe, the S'late :in vhiC!b Se
QQuld fl_, tim .. lf ·ulit. to melh 78 Tbe int,erpret&'t.lo1'1
of 8t.ule? see.. DIG.... pematr.at.1:a.9 than ·the. prece41n9 ft .. • plMattlon • . , .:!ace be indlcat.e., U. pt:OOG •• by whtob man
1. enablet1t.o h081vel:'iC)he. 4 ~.ul ••• te,s tba:t CIl'd.at
~~, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.~~~~ .. ~~~ 77ce.taux,1' ~hti.t h , .~ !~.~a !!, '-!.:-... !,!!!t p . 165 .. '.L 1 ' . i 14-Stoan, ey t '!2- ~, t .. ., p. . ~.
44
beG:a:nto poQr in QXlit:):t:' ,t bat Wln m.tght 00 r10h. But I a,s
Stanley Et~p,lAlns" tbe becoming pOOr wean' t. a I.ltat.i.c ~v&nt,
but. • nality wtUeb gradually A ,vea,led its many am~'\Got
as the Son continually rec-eive.d t.hat which the $!atht.u!' 'lOW
aim to the point. iliJf cOf'6l)lete entt'u$t.!nq of fll mh·lf to the
Fatl)Q:f t:bl'*l)\1qb ~ Qxpe.ricme& of dea~h to Iri.s.&n U,f(t-,
"Mil ~ .stabl.ishod in power Be, coUld b4$t()t1t the :ricb~:8 IJ) f
11,1'& on all men ...
X1Jlt$rpntln9 2 C~r.. ,819 tDeClOurt.~ay .~la1as 'that I
forPa\al, hAOUi\mmentl 1$ oeftt.r.l to 10.. Sl~ Cbris,t:
(\ospol1-.,4 J'J1.l1\self wl.unt.aX'!l.y# th$ CbrleUanmust l!~ oil
11fe of total PO~J'ty 0.., 'spl~lt: wbich U In.epa~ahl. t.-om t.:.."l$ ,complete aecotwpl.1.ifb1n9of ones.if •• i t WAS wi 1m Chr1st
in Hi$ pAeltOV8t' my.toq'., 79 Willl~ 2 c. .... 8:9 40-•• not 9~Qiflca:lly state thAt. whiGh 9Q,oourtra:y finds in the. text,
bJ.$ tho~h,t.eem J.n .accra with Paul' $',,,lnce Christ di d
b6.~ poex f~e.l.y beeAU •• of low wbich .imp110s a re-
,nounoing Qf the glory which vas pmporly nta. Tb·J'O\lth Hi.
poverty of spl¥'l't" the Scmt •• m., became .tully Kimselt
and thu was •• t ,abluhed in power. De_un-ray« '$ ~ell\2l1:'ks
on ~ Cht::1ati.". ~\dl'9 f\urt;h.~ eqlJanat;ion..lt 8"_ thJat the Cl'u:iatdan :mu.t 'live b poverty ·of' spirit pl"$cLM1.y
btt4auae be lifts ~tA Chd.at* .$ a "n lO 'l'~ l1ve .a a lion nqulns "1nq OPQO, re;eept:l"e to theF.ther'. will , wt'ttch
• .,.,,, ) i '~ 'II*''' ; .J •
'9 Albert:. lltteourtray t l1-P4nounc;ement at Amour d_Sol selon S.11\~ Paul jilt Nc~V..!lil; _~e 'l1:l.~191~~ ~ 1. , (tfS2) " pp.. al-22 . - . ' •... -- .. j • . "
4S
tmplie$ bel11c;1 ~t'~ By I1v1n9 'htG 100ship c.ompletely I
the ehriutl.n, like tlbri8t. t beeQUiGUii fluiy liho be iu f j
that is, he l$aoree~ ,d:,eh , d,il~ to cd.vanc$s ti:> thtl point
of et.ernal 91011""
A .final in~erp:mtAt.t()n of I Cbr.. ft .: 9 ill prcBen~~;d
by 1:luhywbo eloims tn4't tnt! t$H:t anow. tIlat. a Chdlltian
mU3~ be dOmt'I'll$'elrdla,~tod to !\18bmt.b~u;'& a~ Ch$':1.$~ W&B\
te ~ .. eo no :tllUU .. 'Il(i t.&xt Wldl3r eon.ide.tat.lol.\ d()6EJ not state tlU$ i~ .. aXl'l'n'Htly t but it. •• ~ to 00. '* valid int~rpret..aUon I .!a_til. seft is: fl pe,l'SOU whO bas rGctbi wd
the rath.r's lc.ave. Love, bow.ver~ t ... dynaIde 9iftt that
i. I l ,t cannot jUfft; be .t:$croiVed am1 po.a •••• d, but bat
be ~i ven in tum. 91 7.he seals n:lfpo,xu,o tt':>th$ rat.h"r'.
love i. the acing' or !lis will whiGh, pdm.Ad.ly t is to lewe .
'fhe son, tberefonlC fulfill_wnat bQ i. by beinq a b:ret.."lel!'
to anon ,,.
SuaaarJ.f!ifl9 toha implicat.l
46
growing' i s a l;Geil!ivinq. 'rbo latt.ar t~ tnt.1) beoa~8e the
Christian ls :u;()t. capablo of · adva.n~in9 bY' bimself 1 bu't /
mu~t trust. c()mplbt.el.y in. what is &:m.Q to him. .M Chris t. f #
r e CGptlvit,y icV'C)l.vltd $uffeJ'.in9~ eo I . t¢o # tthe Ch:d.st1an
who is a eon 1n tUm # will find an authentic QXp'rftss1on of
his l"ueeptiv1t.y tn thepat't.idi.:pat.1e>n. in the Butfed .. nga of
eh~ist~ Since· t.."'le Ch.risU$ll 1a a 1:eceive·t', 0von t be WJr:y
sutforlnqe heenduros will, not. _ :those Ob"0&11.1 but. 'tbo ••
which t:he f'.tbo,t' 91:'v4!le.. S1ft_ the :ratbel: 10V$$ completely r-
he . ll\\lS~ send $u£ffJltil\g'$~. te~ati-On. and triels in order
to aeoCM:nplish 'hhe bes·tfor !{j,s aon~ 8a Tbro\l~ ·the g:i.tt. ot
~in tll$ Cflr i.stian c,an gJ:'OW t;o be fUlly who 'h.a 1~, but
this x8aul t doe$; M ,t nec.e.s ,!U\:t'U.y hal?P4tn. s1nQ4 tht') son in
patn ia apablt) 01 ¢'$t)t:$rin1'3 on. :e1tl:uu\' of two poles. g.
ca con~ntUt.te().n the J'athe,r" 1;n· whtcn eAa_ ~ ho opens e d
espandg,." f.\U()'\~i.n.g toh~ B.t.;t"8tl9'tt. of the rtaen aUS'i,9t: t.o
i nwdau bi. I$O~ ... $3 'rrno .on ,moreovur I 1. Gl~o capabl.e
()t ~n'erinqM $~l f and. by tbis concont.rati.onbOCOlll09
slild.v.£tle~ 1n 11lJ1lRlf ~ Th. aoluti'Otl of this pfl:radox of
s:utterlb9 ilea i n t.llQ fait-hand hof>e of tbason. "b~ risen
Clnd.!rt., .i n 'Whom hf8 11"':$, haG already lJut'fe", a-nd 1.
p"ft.nt."U~-b bl~ abarifl"il Ri. visi.ol'l of U.fe an
47
h.e i!!Jthrotlgh 1Hlffe.l"i1'1g .• '.
In re1ation to ehfll sufte,riu\l of the Christ.ian, "",,1
B'tate4 1
And h$ hae .,1dto." 'itMy qraoe i .s ·.'d!ficient for thee, fol' atrerult.b 1. ma4eperfec:,t 1ft weMMS.,. n Gladly ~ the~fof'$ , :t +'#4.1.1 ,1eJ')i' in It.f infb:mitie:s I t...'1at the $t.n~9'tb 'Of Chri'ec n'lltl'" "el,l ' inlntt "Wb.re:fQrt) I am s.t--tat~ied r for 'Chx-iS\i '$ 8 'ak$ t with i 1'\f1 rmi t1e$ # witb 1n&ults~ \!litb .har~hll\$llwith per •• aution •. with c!U.streu~ •• $ • 'S'or wMn 1: .!n weak" thetl I am tlit:r.etlg. (2 Cor. 12 : 9-,16)
Dultr'Well .~.t.ifJ)S that strange para.dOlCttS ab0unf l r. this pas-
(!J~
2 Cor .. 12 t.g·",:U} in t.he li~bt. of ~h3 $;p08tf:Jli!lte. aay:1!l"1
that prior to this t.im the ·Co~j.htbian$ were · aware of
tbe weakness of Paul ... but U~ th~ r'lltur«¥ ·t.hGY wo-u.ld btt
CQtlsci these ]j:Ir.oi>ge L'tl1s.trulee$tb~
power of CliU."ist ;flowed in Ire.test .ftt;,.undMCtIl to bitt!.88 A
aimila~ vi$ti Q1! 't..he te,xt is prlasen'tA)i.1 by Petfer who st.ates:
tnat Paul can d-rAW joy '%!OJ:! hi. ver:y Sltft().r1ngll, ~ca\la.
any painoI' t:.rial \,hiel'l displays hie wealiJl0.$$ d.m~lQnao"sly
et:\pnM!ze.s that tbeatreng:th C" Cb.rillt ~perato8 wi ~hl11
him. It £Ioti\ illterpret.atio(4S s.eem va.lid ain'C{J they al'1
.: " - "1111 .-.....-
97Stm\ley, 2£.pi~ .H p. 146.
88wtkenbau •• t, !l!. !!1H p. 156" #39 if I. . 10 ' Pe . or. !E..~~~. ¥ p. . l.
a ~.i teratioll of '~u\l· athouqnt 111 different t E)rmino10QY.
Thert) 3e~1\\3 , h.Qw~\rBt'" t.o be &I:'lottnur aBl'ee-t to I
1 Cor . 12 dt ..,lO -...rhJ.o.h l'e l atQG wllto the son.bip of t he
ChJ'ist1~t\ J thQ~h $l(oqet etJ do not. I!xp11citllly inter:?ret
tl\~ text 1n t his ~~ru1ru-,;r. t~!th hi. words Fa.nl &apra$s~'a
his ~a-o~to whidh 1$ .Q; plCrb tilu"Y .Ara¢lt~:tistiQ ·u f. t he; $(.\~
~::r~" ' , -Fj ~~~
49'
90Cf.. U(lHl~ 1 Itol .s~in ~ $ .::1., ~ l. S~lxnG!~ ~Gt :av~e nO\Ul' f '''' Ch~let'!:~ ., 1.1 ("'~onu~ry t 1'64:) i pp. 6 ""2 ~ ; ttOr tb!& Old 'l'e.tarMit--b.~~-()'Un4 Qf p,eaee.. In the Old 'l'e9t~nt , tine reace 1 t.b'C! B~ll1re~ of tnti't:t\lln$e. i .!$ p~.en.tt'!!i .~ ttl! ~ 9ift t>t Go(l which cu, depart frem, • ~r.~n .1nee it. e.epcnd«; on tl'!i'll! ' $ . U.be'rt.y of a¢~pt.iniJ love: ¢It'rej$ct:i~9 it. by s in. Tbe biblical. _fid ah.l(')l\ Sltpn8ses the CIO'ndiUon Qf a 'man wM H .V$"o ¢rde;~'Jd ~:tlll!!t~nlO~ w1 t'l Co-d , ~n ~t.tt! e%'tH,til!>n. 1"hispe.aee "8.039",,"6, In the. ttme of the p*t1'tarchfJ an.4 .in the ye~H -foU.ow~ 'WMn ee.rthly ~ ... ~ si:(~rn1t!~~ t.~a't. mtmWb U.vinq in the p:roper Rl.~!on to (k)d,; .. " evid$netld i n. J.brM.~"t\, n Rt! died ~t i!; ~~ ,old. "~!'!, ~n. \'l)le mp J e.fbu: a luU. 'lifo • .. .. " • (G!Uh lSI ff.H 1 Ab:rabem 11v$d in petwQ and hap.opin •• s beoe~,~ be ""..:ta! t.l~tul to' God.
sertpt.ure t'elat'ea "h., in ,the Old 're8t:$M.nt #' tarn! bad ~atea with ot.!l~X"nlt;!~~fI who God, baYln~ ~eoen th4 tideU.ty of His people to ffia=lStends t stc.ruqglea !n their f :e.vc.t" • . IfOMf)f YO"'l 11'uts ·to fl1~t a 't."'$us"nd I b'lcause i't i. the ~, 'l"Our 604, hlnt!1elf whQ fights lei' feu " as he prom.t!;ed yOl.ti . "l"akt! q!ft'~t. Q'1.l~,f 'b,OWftWlt 1 to lov~ the .!,e-rd your God~POr if you ever DaMon hi!:'! (lAC:. ally ycult'$elv.'uJ tdtll tl!0 ~ant. of the,ffe tUlt.ion19 WhUe thlty ~urv!w~,tI'.ffl"t' YU: by tnt.emarrying alld tn·'te.r:mt-nq:U.I\, with theuh know fot c:.rt.lntb&t.th.lIJ 'Ar-'d J your God, will U(J lon~t" d.rive th .... se .l)ationa out. Of 'your".Y·o·j/f (80$,. 23: 10"'1') When tbe ~opl. Qt Yt\~~b Yen faithful ad 11"4 witJl a ~banq:6)d b •• rt, Y~hwfth!l1·.~e a.n. alilene. of pea co with 'Ulertt. "'S' w111 ~ake a eOV'eJllUlt of! pe&09 wi til 'them. .tid rid: tho; f:O'Unt!.'tY of rawn0\Ul I:u .. _t.e. t.hAt (ihey .6Y (tve!l aflOUJ!e.ly tntbe a ••• rt ·an~ file*,)) tnthe f~·Jt.·st'ih ~ (~. 14 t 25) niB ~.i!~ of Y~h ... web 1e· un1f •• ~.4 by a ... clwelltn,q with. ·them. ttl .. myst.dou.s mMner. (~'1 .• 3' t 261 "rhe '~4~ of Y .. 'lw~h ¥ (!~Qeted by YUs pl'e",u::e. culminated in eh:e:-i-at., at Wbos-ebtrth peaee 1$ p~.leJ._~ J ud wbo lstlbr; to.ld Ul!'J A'!')O!lJ'tlf&e .~ ';.hD q~, ... mencemel1t of Bl& p.$.$o"r ~ "'Pe.ceI leave with you t my pea~ :t ,1'lM to you , n,(tJ\: .•• thee world ,1"10. dft I '71vnt:Q Y(I)U.
\.
so
who i. contl(;!J'lt to f acei VEl only wh.s .t. the Ji'athe:r gives . (
1>8u1 receives infirmit.ie.s t insults, bardsbips, f>Ell'$eoutt6ns
and dlstres'Qs~91 He, therefore, suffers an.d is aware of
weakness. ':fhi-spain ,however I do • • ncU; frus t.rate him, as
1.8 eviderrt by his w.(;)1;"QS ~ "'Gladly r thexoefor$ , r wil l glory
in my i nfilmlities • Wheref'Ol:'e I an'i 6a\tisfi~a ·for
Chr!$t~s sake , wit.h hard$hips • • • ~1«2eor~ 12 :9- 10)
These $tate_nt.t~" Sf;$tn ,to ' ~;
Sl
tbe Israel.ltes. 95
Another P.ul:ttu~ to"t which ".,scribes the _f)di,t~n of tbe 8On, !n (:brist. is t ., % am flU:ed witb, com'or~. t
oV$rtlov witb j01' I.e, 411 our tNubl .... r. (2 Cor. '1 , 14,
This t.xt" • ., .11 as tht)~t.h.rp ... a9.UJ ecnt,ai»inq ret ....
,eren04t# to 'Paul,' .joy , 96 a,re &.1'.9ar48,4 by.at; eHi16tes,
.inc. th4t)" are prob-ably 1ul.gnil:lc.ant in «tOapa:l!J"soSil wi,th
_re 1.mponot pfiu,.sagos.. 8Gn,sirvon, hQW8~o.r I b .. 1e~lY ex'"
pre •••• bl. opinion that joy i •• :abare of gra. an« with
pea.-oe 1. a partlcl'patlon in the dlviae ,attributes to 9"
'l'hou,b brief, 9On.i~"n f s opinion 1 •• ignlflcant. in relat:lon
toth., Phcedlnt te:J:t ~.mj.1l9 tb. ""a. of Paul in pAin ,;
because be indicatea tba:t joy and 9*-. ant alU,Gd to 9'l"aeo .. If 9t'a..ce' 18 ClOns1deJ»ti .e the aeaept,._ of the t:ransfomiA9
lovaott.h.'.~r by WhicG • pe,non btcome$ • son in
Clu:lfJt.98 , thea the, relation between ,rae., pea" and joy 1.
ev14.n~ t a1aee 1t 8, JIG"- liv •• hi a, .ell.blp be 1s at. pea. w.htch .)(pr'..... 1 t.Nlt in 'or . Aeoordinq _ , ~o't. t Paul re:!ot.a .t.aya t.ven, 1n 8utfe,d.nq# beoau •• be 1s ifI'in
."" 5"'" '( .~
9Sef~ P"~l .• ltou ... ~,S .J_ #, -t..e Sources del. n coJu:tll.tlon., ;it ~liri.ttl;!., 11 (.)'«1\., .. 1964" , pp •. 31-$. , for an_al.y .• t. ontieprineipl .. ., truepe4a.. Though Roust.anq 40.8 1lOt. ·conaetlt on Sa_Ad Co.-lnth! •• , eome ot hi.. 14e.a, •• r:ve4 •• auaa.ktroun4 fort the thought ,re.ented in th1. p&,per.
teet • . 2 Cor. 1 ~ 2 ,h 'dO, l',!f: ll.
91&on..irveJ\,u'~V_IJ.,1.: ~ '.\1·1# p.288.
' t'et .. . 2 COl!. 5 117 ..
52
Chd.st" and 100k.s fotw·ard to et.e'Jmity.99 Paul "8 own wo~ds
lJhow' t.hat be is ¢ CJn. 15 111) .
Amiot a.a!'!ul t .O l:lisCGlm CGl'Hctly the J!'eesofl fo.t:' hi.
'Qy,be.cau$e 1f '.,.al 1$ "in Christ," it .t. "eCfluse hQ ha~
.cCGpte.i{ the :J1athex: 's love\G:l witb this . 'eC'Ut:lty lie
53
can (1enI.J'anitly .ntau.t8 tbG£luffurlng. wi'ell 'thQ !'athe~
ue~1t. in order to r:r.eaeh euum31 lito. 't'he eon 1i\l'62 in
,th~ joy of Oltrt.!~1;1dG " tl\*:ref~~* b'lcat.'la:a of Gc4~3 iJtmu9th
whicb will n~ve~ l,ail. H)2 ~a real! :les. tncnr$Oil~n' i t.hat bls'
part 1,5 to continuQ tQ ~ open, to t 'XU&t. cOf).plet~ly.f nl)t
ia bim •• 1 f 'f bu't in t).e:i'athor. 1'03 Xu tbl,sPGv~rty of
s¢rt t, t'hif)Qt t.&)t ~~llnspar;en¢1, tl'Ut, \1.011 acecei,1tl'J qat, is
'iJivQ w1·tb tr.tnql3111iy whltlb. ~r: •••• s, itoaetf 11\ JGY.
Atinu tOKt 4efiuinttbe, sp!rit,ua.11ty of 1::bc seQ is ;r
.. .. .. WMre th'O Spbr1t of t:.ha Lord is" there is f~$ilJ(1Qm", ~~ ' .. (2 Cor" • ~ 1 ') 'In 'tb$ op1nlol\ i!d WU.nbau.il~ f 2 CGr.. 3. t 17
~11el!l 'that the ~I'tl _d thti Spirit are not: identical in
Paul'. 'thoUCJht,,104 Ttle tut could be i.nt.o~reted in this
tUUll'ler, sin_ '.u1 ,doe_ not &taf!Eltl!lat th. t.o.%i4. Is tba
Spirit:. ~ but t.tMl' * t.h«t 't.t;. .. Bpi-tit tact the to%~.. Th18
eo.uld imply thAt; tbe Spit'it is son:t by the loor4..
54
otthe vivifying' Splr:tt)'O'S Xn tU:!l'ther mferance,s to the
t a)tt;, be $~atsfl) t.ba.t · Ptlul implies tbat; Chriat and th.e
Spit'it ar-e on. in $ft.nctityin, Il persoo. 106 Ifb ••• views
Bee-In p1'OblSbl" aln.~Paul (1M$ say that. the, SpirJ.t. is of . .
/
the Lard wicb meana 'that. tho Lord 1. so_how re1.4t4.\td to
the work of the Spi.t'i t ,. thOu9b ltb.-"ltt\doe*, not d:hl'Gotly
.say )~. It ' \11.$ 'discusse4 " rtWlously '1 ltoww!:. that wh$o
Christ. was e,.tahU.shed in, power" n • . ,' 4$ mQ f ~~ld then
sen4 ti)rtb th. Spirit to· acccm,plisll in 80\11. 1:h. W6n of
salvatioD. '_~a~a~ the Spirit ,18 .ent. by the Fat.her and
th(t Son .!' tlo can be gl.d,lQd tmQ Spid,t, o.f the tori.. 51noo
tho noly Spirit, furthermore, bC'in9. Chlr'is't,it s work t:&
fru1~iol1 1» 80ul*. it ~an be said t,ba;\ Ch-ristand the
Spirit are Oft. in GUoUfylng a, per_on.
8:o1tber Wik.nb.user! not' Sbuley ~la!R wby l.tberty
ia t.it. f~\\it of ~" $p!.:lt.·. , ..... n,", but. the latter con-
cept isimpo.:tumt in ,a a"lAdy t, son.hlp . Accordil'l9 t.o
(3recm P.l'o.perl.01 , Paul wrot41 the text fortba Jew. antt .
w~s .. tt.emptinq to ohow that! three ._acJea aH involv.d in
tbeir con.raion ~ 1) tluty are converted "to 'lZh6 Holy sptr:it f
2) the _11 i.nmo_d MeatIQ t:hey : ••• C1urlat f\d.ll1Uft'f
an~ l!epl..41n, the 01,d'f •• tfUl!ent ~ 3, they recel va U.berty
105 .... . ' l' . .. 1'" . '1" .-", .. an e7l.. !Il0 ~. I P ~oL" *
l.O'lb14., W;, 116 i 134 .t 164 t :ne f tIS. - . It)7t;b'.ch 'ltOap611', 0.8.1. .. ", ~2 COl". 3.~17 ana. the Pauline
DGetrlne ot
55
from the Spiri,t ud no longer 11_ accordln~ to the
l Gtt.r of tit. law. R$.811d.ng tlla.t. the; JE)'Wf!; tIGre Oo,d'. /
chosenpeopl-e en:d WB1I:$ -trying' to fulfill. their ~;1d((! of t.'le
.(IWWl'lant , :ra'\.lt ~$b ... dto ¢i)xpl$in that theywl$re r~jQ(;It\Jd
b1!fCtIlU90 , 1nst:&44~f M00pt1nt1 earis~~ t:bey pl'~·te"~4 t;o
put tbel3< ¢d'ntiMa·(tg of b~:d.n~ just,l '.t~! i~ th,
thoal1h-t o~nnot. be dGl'iwd $t~ly t~m 2 Cor. 3!17109 t
there tc 11 val~able ins19ht. int.o 'tnQ !'O&Gon whll t.h13
ffplrit'" prOMnOlll is a.0 j uat1fl e(1 and l tln1s t JrfJ -
matiled s lave. to tnB xdnut.e pre$crtpttons ot tlleMosaio
Law. Cliri,$t ~ aa has b"ll .ltpta-tne4, 1):&\$8&d over to tbQ
rattler itl er~r: that men ltll,bt . ,hare tfl$ lite of .g-on.hig
an-d, lili.Nby, be. rede$1!lea _ Chr1,,\, 1\OW estab llsb.ed in
power I ,senda lU.s ,Spld.t to o!"iu-:8.tein _n 4l$ that they will
live thl6!r aonabip.10' As. pe~aOl\ 9J:OW$ 11'1 livin~ u a
so.n , he ha1in~1l pn~ftt\ud."ly tiM n\e&:l11nq of hetne; a per ....
son. Woe_ on.l,y deeive. TO t'tieQ:lCtant tbat, be H.v'C'lS U
.. I'ftCfj i vel' . ,~a.pin, notlllft.q an4 011n9in9 to J)oti\l.nq I hut
,4ocftptinq wh4tew:t' the: I'et~ • .t' \l1 ...... ; lul t. int.rio,r1:y frelt.«
_~~~~~.....,..~_ ~ I J; i1~
lotet .. ~.16o , 2 Cor~ 3 ~6.-
10?,2 Cor. 3 ~ 17.
Paul 5eene t'O ~~pn.H}t'}thi.$ )!e~ep:'i:Uvi;i! at.ti'tuCl$ and ,oot'res-
pollding fJ;e~dQl',l by his aaeeptant'!fa of ~\1£fe~1ng and dieu,pL
pOintMhel l O with eq,uan1.faity.
$~
-rb,(.u:aa.re' j b(i)'ltievt!3!' ~
51
10v8 whioflCl,m make aferson &$:on. It the love of
tho Fa:f-.he~ has been !,ieee1ve,d, th~ Holy Spirit .. who is th'
e;gpress:Lon ott.h~ lov~ of the. rather and thu SO~ , h39
ho>ell s-lv.a+n tQ th~ bnpt.h$d. 114 TQ the ta~t,.enttll~t the
son obey. the Spirit who prompt1J hl'mti;O lift 'btttcl1y tor
th~l 'atMl' , he is unomun:,ra!.nedby any lw f ngcept the
law of low ~ bQ(ut\l$$ t.he. laws yhlch pro~ed from t~f)
J'at.'1el" do not: 11:mlt:' hiro t since h,~ wanbfJ t-~ ~~resa his
lov.e .11S Ito is. ther&tO'l:'e I obaylu~ his $'\1.7\ wl11 to lo"tl"e.
~ha !!lOll.' sob..,tU.~n~ ie not ,. th$.n#th. w.~rt.$OM labor of
tb$ slave ,b\tt th~ ~ltpt'~ss1on @f ],ove * 116
'to 'tbis ehapt.er. the s ,ptl'itueU.'ty of the Cnriat1.1:n as
til 8!)n: hu been f.'ti.ISW.S$Gel: aooordll'19 t.O 51x te*'ts.. !t h,,"s
})eon explained tb«t the taC>-n by his ftq natun is ,8 re -
e«iWI! , sine.- he re:eeiWl$ .U, tnat 1\. 1. t~ th«t '!"aither,.
uie pr:o'peJl' responne 't() th.e ".t-.l\e,X'·" 94fnerQ$1ty ts ~rat:$.t"ltd,e
wbidi , howev.r t pr:f!suP:POfMs .. pove~y of. .pid,t:; 1n order
that the 1IOU beopcm t$ what th. Fatber g1.V~I.. filince h
.$8
I
CHAP\l'ER III
In chal'teX' o.ne· it was st..ted that the pcu'son who i .a
baptized .h_"s Christ's lite and" therefore, bears Christ
to all whom be meets. The Cbt-iatlan, is, then , an a.'POstle.
In tbis chapter the aspeot.s of ,a Clu:i.t.ian'a life as an
apO.'le will be ,dls(russed according tQ lour t.exts of the
Second Ep111'tle to the corinthiU8.
Pa.ul _tate. ~
aut thanks ~ to God _110 alway. leads U8 in\d.wnpb in abrist .1 •• us .# manif •• tirug tbrouqh us t.ne odor ot His 'knowled.ge in ever:y place,. Porve are the fraqran(!tt of Christ tor God ,;allJte .s regards tbose who are •• ftd aM tho.. who are l08t 1
59
pa$Saqa i.ndicatos ~ba't the fragrance Is mantfest.ed: tbto\l9h
the apost.le and Paul. sta.e •• that. t:,b. odor is that f:)t I
knowl.d~ • An OPPO,ln9 view seems to be presented by
Amiot who claims that tb4 preachers ot the Gospel are the
good o4or. 11El "his interpret,at.1o'A, though eontrIJry to
th~ ,nee,d1ng op.intbn J seeM j.ust! fiad since ~ l.n v ~ IS I
it is 1Jt6t.&d iUlat. the apolStl1'1 i ;9the frafJ%'.an~ of Clu:1·s ·t.
t'n. two a.s,pec>\ts of the tf!~dt se.m:to lMit
60
eltplains tme .ffeets which flow froB) the prea,¢binq of
the Goape.l.. Justa. God's 1u$tice, Yhich sbines in the /
risen Christ, is victorlthe o8,pao!ty to respond ..
61
Durrtlell ana Prosp6J! S,"ln to eort"ect1y int$rp~t Pa\.11 , s
words on the double e,t£ect. ~tth. fraqr4noe ... -either men I
accept: the Good 1-1ewsand live l or oj.cit Ltand advance
towar4 &:atl\. Paul, in v . 16, st.at.es t.hat tJie oaor ·of
Christ:. leed8 some to deilthand $orneto ltte. Tbese
.8cllolars I how.,wer, seem to thit'L'I(. that th& traqrenoe of
Christ whicb hM the double ~ffect. i" the p%'fUleM.nq of th .•
GQ13pel. This opinion aeems just.! liable s,in~ Paul, in
2 Cor. 2 ~ 11 1 states 1cllat; t.he apostle , .reachos the Word of
God .. It:. 1s evident tha.t. men bave to knoVt about Cbx-ist to
aoeapt llim, l:n.:1t:. it a.altuS 'tJUIt. ithepreachiaq of the Good
News ,Qr ~h-e Sl)l!'ead o f the 'fraql".a.ncQ of Christ, invo.lves
n8.oessarily !that Itlftn 00 brOlll}ht. int.o ecnt.actW'ith the love
of Cbl'ist through t.h!) apostle. " If a person aceept.sthie
love he beg:if;l$ t.o Ii V~ a$ a 90n. "in Christ." The g.i "Iring
o·f lov~ is; therefore t tl\.toffering'ot tran.stormat:ion ,
~oau'G as it perSO.l1 liveG his sonship, he is ~ol'de1ted:,
tran.torme(!~ 122 The apostle, therefore , a.emn to manif •• t
Christ ., also# by 10v1_9 people witbCbd . .st's YeJ:y love ..
CO'rfaux'$ eom!t.ont.$ lU'O vahtable in ·this re"ard"
Accordlng- to him, wben Paul .peaks ·of reoeivlng his mis ...
aian as an apo.t.le b~ \uses the word "ehriat" . ae
r4'lmarks : " 'The o\M);Jileetiolil wi thtihe cibjeo. of t.haMe-
safe is hardly S"rt; 'the Cbrl$tt 1. the person whO' bean
12.2Cf. 2 Cor. 5:17.
62
thi3 title or t.his nalne . ft 123 This lnt~r:p"tat:ion coul d
point to the fact th,at the man "in CbristG preaches I
Christ by hLs vert Uving_
'rho idea ot God,' s' 11Dadinq .. person i n t.riumph 'lin
Christ '" was discussed inehaptet' one in re9ard to an in-
dtivldual pe~son. Another facati 1$ now ~dded ... God not
only leads the particular Cbri.stlu t.o etemalqlory i but
i n the very p rocessof sanot:ltyin9 that person leads h i m
in bringU9 the fllessl19'eof Christ to ot.her men ! i n oxner
tbatthe body ,of Christ is 9raduelly b.uilt up t ,o t..'Il~
definitive trl~h of the Parous!a. It is ohvious that t he
aPQ9tl. 1. not the dause of. t he buildinq proces* J but. is,
t he instrW'll4nt tbrou,qh ,"mom God man! fest s His mf.UUla9'$ f since
' ,aul state's t natOed ,d",. t he, lead l ,ft9 . (v. 1.4) 'rh$
reality that the pro,cess i8 directed toward God fa 9'lory is
empha81~ed in v . lS. The apostle. then, 4oe8 noe sp~&.d
himself eO QtheX'$ , nor dcea he draw· men to himself.
Rather, he IIMifests Christ. to men, in order tbat they will
be drawn to the Pather;. 51.nee the knowledq_ and love which
the apostle brtngs ttl) me. bas st;lCl!b ..,.sou .tfeots p it. 1.
imperative that theapcstle •• ploy all his h.uttlan resouiltces
in order that the mes.aq. ", the love" be hCflived . He must .
thel:$fore, mani.fest the gentlc;nGs8, the .ar.th ~ tbe rElaep'"
tlvity Met the. .compassion ot Christ 80 that .n1l111be
encouraged to a.ee.pt Christ..
12leerfa\u,; { Cb,r~ .. t .~ ~ !.heolou; ·21 8aiA' ,t~ul; , p . 492.
'3
AAOtl\$1' Pau.1ift$ ~.EUtt ('.oneerniD9 the a,p0stleS"n1p is:
But we carry this t:t(tasl:tl~e in vessele of clay te show! that the abundaneElQ! the power is God's and n()\ out::s. In .11 thin,s we sutfer t.ribulation , but ~eare not di.i1rEls •• d ~ 'we are Gore presaed, but: ~ are not de8~.1ttJt"H we endure persO¢l
64
In tbe opinion ot tfontagu.~f2 CQr.4:7- 10 s hows ~~ . .' r
' o;.f.~at thl\l apOStlfil hAS atrength to preaeh thl! Good N/:lws, .:
yet, at 'the dame time , be is weak. His ver:y weak;nes B,
however I is employod b y God to ~Mife,st ,His own power.l~S
Aceordin9' to W.lsh , tha apostle realizes the nature of
the tl'euutte he bears in proportiQn as he 1s awara ~f the
defeeta in the traqile Vessel which be is. Being aware
of hlmsel t "he expects only fail \Ire 8tld weaknes8 i but hopes
oon,tldently in the -divine power witbin bim, even to the
point of rejoioing in his weaknaeQ so that the di trine
powc;Ut ean have f1)11 plAY .. 126 Both Monta~ . '$ and Wa leh· s
views on 2 Cor. 4 ~ 1-10 seems, justified since Pa.ul does
state t.hat he is weak and yet $,'trong by God · 8 power , and
he seems tc) rejoice in his very wollkneas, • . !'nee he e vidently
ollqhts in liat1n9 his tdals, emphas1zin9 8 t\SR 'time that
be ia upbeld .. 127
Sp!c:q claims 'that Paul 18 not attemptinq to depict
the inslqniticahGe Qf the apostl. # .ince the 1:r .. gila VAses
Of anclent dayswet:e often exquisi.t.ely tieear.ted. lie I
moreover I' does not think that P • . ul intended to shew the
couraCJeou8 .tren~tb of the &pe.t.le due to th. divine power
within him, b~t, iRsteaiL wished to .xnpba.ize the weak-
ness of the minister. whom God upholds. Thouqh this
p l. A f~ ~~
125Montaque f On. oit.. " p. 16L -~ ~
126Jame,8 Waleh , S"J. t '!'ISpint"al St.u,in.a f Cl 1~ •. Wal' 1. {.:tan '. f 1961) , 1' . 45. .
127ct .. 2 Cot'. 12!9- 10.
65
metapnor I in olass!a~l U58AJJe, wa.s employtt,d to describe
the soul in t.he body I bel'e . according to Sp ieq I it should!
be extended to human nat-lire as awhole,Spieq seems to
eorr6oUy see tlhe apostolie state aeone ot slt;ni;ficalnce .
while those in it a~e weak. WllO\lg'h paul , ill. t h i s
pa.898IiJEI " ('1S. 8- 9)
66
It is the opin!en of Stanley tbat Paul 0onsi~ers his (
vocation as an apoatle'l in tts aspect of suffering I as a'
reply tQ an lUt9Ulil$nt eoncetning hi.$ previo\1s words about
~e elCalted character of the apostleship. He asserts
that Paul l ill 2 CQr. 447-9; contrast.., by 'USih\J roe'taphors,
the boldin90f su,Pernaeur,al tr~aa'Ure. and the precarieus
stat.e of t:he poss.S90';. In v~ 10 he abatHions themetapllo.rs
in faVQ.t" of a present.ation of 'tbe Apostleship, in the light
olthe apolll1!.le's mystical. ({nion, with Chriet. , as. e. dy.i.nq
and rising 'With Chd.6t.. The apoa,t,le beArs hi$ a1iff~:ri)1q$
for t;hG sake cf elld.at and. this endow$ thenl ".d~.tl1 aspeoial
POWtlJ" tor the avostl~$hip. Stanley thinks ,furthermore I
tha~ this t.~)ft 1$ (Jn~, of the ~$rliedt\ i>aut1ne p ass8.fttes
contrall:tift9 de.thand U. ve. The life of.,tesus probably
retfl1':S to tJte evid4!fnc$ Citf t.be power oft,he .risen Christ. in
Paul·. apost.olic 1,lbors.ll9 Pa.ul, a.St.anley at.at. •• ; doe.
cont.rast. tba valuable treaaURS which tho apostle h~old.
wi tIl the 8'Uf'Etri'nfs. of the apoatle8hi.p. (118. 1 .... 10)
Stanley ,as dlscu, .. d above I see.. 'myst.ical pr~s.n~ation
of t.he lit. of the &!X'etle in v. 10... In el'taptAr on,e tb..
81Y8,1.::.1 unieft betwe.n Christ ana ~he ChristiM It.$ dis"'" cu,s.4. It wa. Elxplained" t.b.en, tbat: tha Cblei9.t.i
67
'$'t!i.ffere,d, so must t.he Christ.iaA inorClfU;' that h~ may
trul.y teflect. t..lte 11:fe of Christ. St&nlfry "s vlev Se~ms, /
therefor¢J to be valid. 2 COf'. 4 : 7 ..... 10 .SS(lluat;o ~Xl')~BS f'
81lio , the, receptivity oftl.he apoat..lt\l.Il'he Chl.~isUan
enjoys a.onship which t as disel.l$sed in chapter two , :tQ-~
suI ta from t.he adee'ptanc~ of lova. In 2 Cor. 2 : 14~ 16 it
wag e~lain1ad t:batthe masaago whieh the apos,tle bears is
t ile knowleQ9'a and 10'y,e oit Christ.. 2' Cor. II ~ 7- 10 relates
thQ notion of ·s~le,t' al).d be
set aside as a tral'usforminq influenc~ for tillln .. 111 SQ
t.oo, with tbe apostle of Christ. In th.e daill{ dying
w}:d.eh the apost.Io su .• fen. th$ t:riu."Ilphant ~#,u· of t!l($
____ _ .~ __ ~ . ... .-. "'.0, ....................
130Cf. 2 Cor. ld~-l'O; 12!9- 10.
lllCf . 2eor.. 3 z 17"
68
rissn Christ ~~aoda:~ thtlS taJiablin9 t he apQstle 4 s labors
to fructify arla to give .lew lif~ 'to t.he whole omlmmnity j ¢£ the Chu)Zcll.1. 3z Ie. isl tmecol'let.ant. dying and risinq
with Christ: ~M.ah re$t11ta in t.he d.elleloptMlnt oftbG
apo~~tolic crientati-Qn given t-O a p.$'rson in baptism. !n
suffet'in9, h'('Wl~v~r, t.h~ apost.le :t'~c~iv$s enduralH,e t since,
mani,.fEu:~tL'V3 11.1.$ graciousness and 90otil:neSG t tne 'f'athQI' COln""
forts. Theecmfo'rt, too, 1s ror ot;hers ehrC)'I;t\fh the
apo$tl~. Pain and oomfQrt unite the apo$ltle: to all th.ose
Iflho st.d!;fe,~" because ette oo:osol t';l'~l0nS h~ l:taQei \res in .01$
tinlaof f)ai:n enilbl e him toconsQl~ h1.$ b't~thl:'
t;9-
that God q.i '\feS ,ra~a 2:0 th-at tn$. person may h ti,r,e tb.e ~ . . ~
~ans for 9'000 woJ;'k$ t th\lrefore, i:t'ltpoLying that g'ratt implIes , fu~themore. that the
9'raeos Which the ChrisU.tI.1a receiV!!H!I a r e not for h!me&lf
alone F bat A~ Oe$t;owt'.d 1!l order that. he tdqbt. bd t'l9 the
1,ov€I of Christ to others ...
bl .anl)tner. t,~~t 'Pat1l states i
~.';>",""" ___ lo· ...... ·_ .. _~~~_~~ •• ~ ____ ..
135Moata9u4!I" !£ .. ,,1~., p. 17.
1 36,MQ:dey, !la,' !?!~., p. 526, b.
POI.' the loft of Christ: lmpels us I beeause we have ~ome to the (»I)clualon that. ;.ln~ ell. (lied fer alL
70
therefore, all diedJ and -t.hat Christ died for all, / in order that they who are alive may live no longer for themselves! but for him whe died tor t.hem ana rQse aqain. (2 Cor. 5 :14-15)
Durrwel.luaerts tllat this passage ls stgftifiC8ilt in
sbovin,} tbat bo·th thec!ee:th end the resurrection of Christ
oper.ate fo·r oUr:' redemption, tho\lqh .a..m bas a different
role " Christ died - therefore, tho .. who an in Him are
also cSe.a,d, dead to the lite u,oot'din
11
Christ for men as the motive fo'lt li.i$ ~dell'1pti ve work ~
t.lkeDurrwell, he emphasi zt.'ts ·that. ~h. Clurlstian J1ln I
Cbri,st1!i dies to ,a natux:-al ~de of livlnq for solf and: d .• $$
w11th Christ. t.o a new s\lperna1:;uzral life. He concludes I
the·refoX'El , that · '!'he Christ.ian elEi.teace aprin9s both
ontoloqicaU.y ana. in praet.ice h:QltI thedouhleac:t by whicb
Cbrist redeemea us, his death an'd resurrection. {fIla
Stanley ,(b'awa tile valuable. c:onalu8iQA from this Pauline
t.ext thattbe Christian Ute Ql\tologi.cally (fomes from
Christ'. 4 •• th and ,...surr9ctd.on.. Aocordlnq to Paul ~ it
W4S beeaun ehrist died and 1'08. that Christians can die
and 11_ fo!' !U.m. In otb,$r w~rds, aoco.rding to a previous
theo~091cal e1q)lanation Gt the death emd t"GHiturre:ot1on,
Christ could not. be the pritleiple of the lite or all men
until Be nad pe •• ed oute! a lbdted context of livinq.139
Stanley claims, a180, that the Chr18~ian life in practice
flows from the death and resut'rec1d,cl1 0-1 Christ. In 2 Cor.
S ~ U-15 t Paul atate. that Chri.,t 4i.4 in order that those
-.rho an allve in !tim may lift no lon9ttrfor th4iunselve#. Dy
baptism a person diea andr-lses to a new lite in Christ,
but this mmd1tion fluat b9 ra.d,fied in daily U.vinq, that
i. t the P4t'Pcm who b.a. ontologieaily died and ri •• nto a
n.e.w life llusttcoru!Jtantly re,nOWlce a -.elf1·ab way of life
and JlIU8t.Cl\OClJ8e t.o 1i ve a8 a son.. Thls faet is import.ent.
138StaAley, op. cit . , p .. 139. - - -
139Cf. 2 Cor. 3 111.
72
for thQ apost,leship'.. By baptism a penon is orientated
I to b rLoq CbJ:'ist' S .love to tnGtl ., blllt he does lllDt auto-
mat.ieally alway$ do so. If the Cbd.stian oloses h i rllSelf
instead of openinq in love ~ it he chooses to l1V'e according:
t ot-he fl$sh# i.nsteadef as a so.n ; if h$ 'views roaU.ty 'witb
self- centered 'Vi,sten r instead of Chri5lt ... ~eared vision, h_
who is ontoloqieal.ly an ~postle dH.S violence tQ vb.t h0
1$.
tor Wiltenhauser.
" • • the Maninq 01. v. 14 i.. that: »aul' 5J aeU.ens dQ .not 8prinCJ froms'elli.ab motives; he ia mowd :by the myst.erious power of the love Of Christ , which alone ab&p4ls his oonduct.th1s power dad .... from an aetual slt.uationat the pr .... n't, mc»nent ... name,ly f that · -themany" ,paJtt.tolpate til the death of the one ehriG·t. 'Of course he 1. tldllkinq of the pdt event ef Christ. 'a death on the Cross ~ but tbe past. even.t 1. here and now pl'odueinfj ita effect on hJ;.a soul .. Paul is moved and qo .... 4 by a pl'es.nti pewer Which 1s: 4esorlbed a. t.he - .chad.ty of cturiat" u ~tl.i"'l power derives from his mystical union witih CbZ'iat. 140
'Phe,t Pa-ul·. actiiQns de no't .,rin·q t.rOll: •• 1 fish reaSOns ,
but rather from the leve of Cbri-at. .. ems to b6 an accurate
interpnt.et.ion of v. 14 in whien PaGl S"Y8 tbat. b* i.
driv.t\ by th. 1.98 of Christ. A ,few phra.es later, he
insists that. tho •• alive in Christ should not. It .. for
theme. 1 vea, but for Ch,d.at. Wikefthau •• r, however ;e-tat. ••
that t.he power whicm drive. Paul flcnr8 from participation
in the d.ath of Christwbieb, thoufjn in tihe past" 1'1''0-
duces its effect on hi. 80ul now !Meau •• he 1. mysUeally
- 41~ " ~ 'OJ........,
l'Ot~!k.nbauJJer I ·~.¢lt., p. 36.
united to Christ.. '1'his staten1ent seems questionable,
since Paul, in 2 Cor. 5; 14-15, se$1!lstQ liM, as. Durr-
.ell end Stanl&y pointed out" the U .fe Q·f the Chriat.i.an
73
I
t o the deat.h and h110 resurrection of Christ.. A person could
askWikenhauser what of the I,laat .ven~ could be opera ....
tive on the Chri8'tiaft f s 80tl1. 11Ihouqh th .. PftuU.lle tEU«t;
does no, discuss ent. fact f it .,&_8 l'uacesslu:y teall\l..de. brie.fly to this idea. Christ. f a death i. an event of tae
past. but tJiat whieh was mottt ess.nt.ial in Ria pas8inq t.o
the Fatther wu fIis inner attitude of bft.d.nq Himself, of
aettin; Himself aside ail b&l o11qinq to the Father. Christ. ,
nOWt 1a, d .•• n and, as !lriS.fi, 1s fixed in offering Himself to
the "ath.r. The ~&mpt.ivemyat.ry, therefore i continues.
M~n , nOW', cru come in 'ceont.a"it. ",i ththis lIYstery and b$
transto,.,.d byahld.at's radeertd.ng loft.. flaey, th.:n, bear
t.his love to • . n and .1HI.ble the.e p4JZ'8GJU; to participate in
the ~y1n9 ani! ,,18in
7.
l.ncarnation God became IMn t, b\\t.the !n:oamationdid. not
involve a less.ning of Godnclti an 'obU te
7S
U.trlted , a love in wh1¢h .ach is proIJent te tllQ Qtll~r,
.revealing Hlms~l! totally AS ' NIIh 1s # l d(enti fyi .1l9 with t.he I
other I yet; pem ttln
16
\then be .f3t;:rt~a f "'For t.he love, o.f Chri st.. i mpels, us + • .. ~
(leor. 5 : 14) I
Ch;tist.' s love j' mca:eove~ I tJti$cCi1ttpl@te . It wa3 a
l ova wbich entzou\p4ssed man. t;t()ul &nd body. Ch~i$t had
e~'aas1Gn en the mtlltitude $~fflbrini1 ironl l~ek IQffoo4·,
on the widOw ef Nailll wee~inl!J for the les$ of. a b"l oved
son" on Mary qrievin$ for b.i\u: 'lut0ther , on the blindi, the
lame # thG Qeaf * the dumb • Chrl$t.\:I~nt about as kl br otl'uu :
to dl # lovin.9 Qia.eh i n hiot.r)t;(tli ty • &ecaUih! Clu:iat
loved men thus, when 8e.: cured a man I $ bO
71
sev,ere in ord~r to tlttain t.hlf} ~reate.t b$·n~fi t tor the
one loved .. :£;vet! wt.e:n tJ16re is pain f ho