8/3/2019 Review of NTWright Paul

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Introduction

N.T.Wright is an experienced New Testament Scholar and offers a fresh perspective on Pauls Epistles.Wright dares the reader to take a different path in the understanding of Pauls Life and Thoughts. Hewants the reader to think Pauls Thoughts after him and constantly be stirred up to fresh glimpses ofGods ways and purposes.Wright divides his book into 2 main parts:

y Pauline Themes : Chapters 2 - 4

y Systematic Theology outlining Pauline Thoughts : Chapters 6 - 7

Analysis

Chapter1

Wright gives us an insight into the triangular world that existed at the time of Paul. His Triangle consistedof 3 worlds: a) second temple Judaism, b) Greek or Hellenistic Culture and c) Roman Empire. Wrightgoes on to tell us that to the existing triangle we must add a fourth angle (world) that was formed at thetime of his conversion. He belonged to the family of the Messiah. In Pauls view, the Church theassembly of Jesus the Messiah formed a world of its own, standing in a unique relation to the other 3worlds. I totally agree with the Wrights view of the Pauls fourth world and that his encountered with the

Risen Christ had an impact on Pauls Thoughts.Wright also mentions that the Legacy of Paul was to keep the Church on its toes. I partially agree withWright however I also think that Paul Epistles were intended to play a very important role in the spreadand growth of Christianity.

Pauline Themes: Chapters 2 4

Chapter 2

I agree with Wrights new perspective that once we understand Creation and Covenant with respect toEpistles (Colossians, Corinthians and Romans) we would soon realize that Pauls Thoughts were deeplyrooted to Old Testament OT (Genesis, Psalms). Wright claims that, once Pauline theology is understoodin terms of Creation and Covenant, the current divide between the old perspective that concentrates on

the problem of sin and forgiveness and the new perspective, which focuses on the problem of Israel andthe inclusion of the Gentiles within Gods people, turns out to be a false either/or, as these two problemsare in fact integrated.

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Chapter 3

In the First half of this Chapter Wright analyzes the theme of Jesus as Messiah, demonstrating howPauls messiah beliefs enabled him to draw on the theme of Jewish apocalyptic in a new way furthermoreintegrating those themes with that of creation and covenant. Wright tries to prove that Jesus as Israel'strue representative has accomplished for humanity what the people of Israel had failed to accomplish.

Wright appropriately summarizes messianic expectations as well as demonstrates how they are allpresent in Pauls use of Christos for Jesus in the following 6 points: (1) The Messiah is Israels true kingas well as the Lord (Creator) of the world - Rom 1:34; 15:12 ; (2) The Messiah will successfully fightIsraels great and ultimate battle against the forces of evil and paganism - 1 Cor 2:68; 15; Col 2:1415 ;(3) The Messiah will build the temple, the house to which Israels God will at last return and live - 1 Cor 3;6; Rom 8:111 ; (4) The Messiah will thus bring Israels history to its climax, ushering in the new world ofwhich prophets and others had spoken; (5) The Messiah will act in all this as Israels representative - Gal2:16; Rom 3.2326 ; (6) In a separate sense the Messiah will act as Gods representative or agent toIsrael and hence to the world - Rom 3:2126.

Wright concludes his case with the intension that the reader keeps in mind that Paul understands Jesusas being the Messiah promised to Israel

In the second half of the chapter Wright highlights the apocalyptic aspect of Pauls thinking. For Wrightthe most important feature of apocalyptic is the thought of the unveiling of heavenly mysteries, particularlyof the divine plan that is about to reach a climax in the time when the book is being written. Wright claimsthat Paul believes that the ultimate apocalypse, the full disclosure of Gods secret plan, has already comeabout in and through the events concerning the Messiah, Jesus, and so is keen to justify in manypassages the way Gods long and many-staged plan of salvation (his covenant plan) has come tocompletion. Wright dwells mainly on Pauls statement of the revelation of Gods righteousness - Rom1:17; 3:21, the manifestation of Gods faithfulness to the covenant plan to free the whole creation fromevil and death: God has made full provision for individual sin through the sacrificial death that Jesus

offered up in faithful compliance to Gods saving plan. Along with this inaugurated eschatology, Paulswritings also include a futuristic eschatology, messianic apocalypticism.