To the Jew First: a Socio-Historical and Biblical-Theological
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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY TO THE JEW FIRST: A SOCIO-HISTORICAL AND BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PAULINE TEACHING OF ‘ELECTION’ IN LIGHT OF SECOND TEMPLE JEWISH PATTERNS OF THOUGHT A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY ANTHONY CHADWICK THORNHILL LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA JUNE 2013 Copyright 2013 A. Chadwick Thornhill All Rights Reserved ii APPROVAL SHEET TO THE JEW FIRST: A SOCIO-HISTORICAL AND BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PAULINE TEACHING OF ‘ELECTION’ IN LIGHT OF SECOND TEMPLE JEWISH PATTERNS OF THOUGHT Anthony Chadwick Thornhill Read and approved by: Chairperson: ______________________________________________ Reader: ___________________________________________________ Reader: ___________________________________________________ Date: _________________ iii To my wife, Caroline, my children, and my family: Without your support, encouragement, and patience, this goal would not have been achieved. I am humbled and amazed by your constant love and friendship. iv CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................. x ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... xi INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY .......................................................................................................... 2 STATE OF CURRENT RESEARCH ............................................................................................ 5 Election as National and Unconditional ............................................................................. 6 Election as National and Co-Operative ............................................................................. 11 Election as Remnant-Oriented and Conditional ............................................................... 13 METHOD AND APPROACH ..................................................................................................... 18 The Relationship between "Jewish" and "Christian" Texts .............................................. 18 The "Variegated" Nature of Second Temple Judaism ...................................................... 19 The Consideration of Social, Historical, Literary, and Theological Factors .................... 21 Selection of Sources .......................................................................................................... 22 SOURCES..................................................................................................................................... 23 Dead Sea Scrolls ............................................................................................................... 24 "Apocryphal" Texts .......................................................................................................... 28 "Pseudepigraphical" Texts ................................................................................................ 28 New Testament Texts ....................................................................................................... 30 Exegetical Approach ....................................................................................................... 30 The Authenticity of Ephesians ....................................................................................... 32 OUTLINE OF STUDY ................................................................................................................. 34 ELECTION IN SECOND TEMPLE JEWISH TEXTS: PRE-100 BCE WRITINGS ................. 35 Tobit .................................................................................................................................. 35 v Wisdom of Ben-Sira ......................................................................................................... 38 Baruch ............................................................................................................................... 49 Jubilees ............................................................................................................................. 52 Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs ................................................................................ 72 Additional Psalms of David .............................................................................................. 80 1 Maccabees ...................................................................................................................... 85 2 Maccabees ...................................................................................................................... 95 Summary of Pre-100 BCE Writings ............................................................................... 106 ELECTION IN SECOND TEMPLE JEWISH TEXTS: 100 BCE - TURN OF THE ERA WRITINGS ................................................................................................................................. 108 Psalms of Solomon .......................................................................................................... 108 Dead Sea Scrolls ............................................................................................................. 120 Pesher on Habakkuk ...................................................................................................... 121 Community Rule ............................................................................................................ 125 Rule of the Congregation ............................................................................................... 136 Rule of the Blessings ...................................................................................................... 138 War Scroll ....................................................................................................................... 139 Liturgical Prayers .......................................................................................................... 142 Thanksgiving Hymns ..................................................................................................... 143 Damascus Document ..................................................................................................... 150 Pesher on Nahum........................................................................................................... 156 4Q Commentary on Genesis A....................................................................................... 157 Summary of the Dead Sea Scrolls................................................................................ 158 Wisdom of Solomon ....................................................................................................... 159 Summary of 100 BCE - Turn of the Era Writings .......................................................... 167 vi ELECTION IN SECOND TEMPLE JEWISH TEXTS: TURN OF THE ERA - 70 CE WRITINGS ................................................................................................................................. 170 Sibylline Oracles ............................................................................................................. 170 1 Enoch ........................................................................................................................... 180 Book of Watchers ........................................................................................................... 180 Book of Luminaries ....................................................................................................... 185 Book of Dreams .............................................................................................................. 188 Epistle of Enoch ............................................................................................................. 193 Similitudes of Enoch ...................................................................................................... 199 Summary of 1 Enoch .................................................................................................... 204 Testament of Moses ......................................................................................................... 205 Biblical Antiquities.......................................................................................................... 213 Summary of Turn of the Era - 70 CE Writings ............................................................... 234 Summary of Jewish Writings: Pre-100 BCE - 70 CE Writings ...................................... 235 ELECTION IN PAUL ................................................................................................................ 238 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 ................................................................................................. 238 Romans 8:28 - 11:36 ....................................................................................................... 247 Ephesians 1:1 - 2:22 ........................................................................................................ 276 Summary of Election in Paul .......................................................................................... 293 SYSTEMATIC ISSUES AND CONCLUDING