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Sin As Universal Reality and the Reign of Death As Its Consequence

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Sin As Universal Reality and the Reign of Death As Its Consequence SIN AS UNIVERSAL REALITY AND THE REIGN OF DEATH AS ITS CONSEQUENCE An Exegetical Study of Romans 5:12 THOMAS LEONARD NDAMA VID SPECIALIZED UNIVERSITY STAVANGER MASTER`S THESIS (MATRS6000) MASTER IN THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES SUPERVISED BY PROFESSOR JOSTEIN ǺDNA WORD COUNT: 29916 WORDS 25TH MAY 2020 Abstract This study deals with an exegesis of Rom 5:12 as a biblical text presenting a concept of sin as universal reality and the reign of death as its consequence. Its research question is, “how is the connection between Adam’s sin and the universal fact that ‘all sinned’ according to Romans 5:12, and what is the character of this universal sin?” With this question, the study scrutinizes the relationship between a sound exegesis of Rom 5:12 and the concept of universal hereditary sin through procreation – retained in Lutheran tradition. In so doing, exegetical and hermeneutical methods have been applied to Rom 5:12 with consideration to the three modes “behind, in, and in front of the text.” Recognizably, the apostle Paul was well acquainted with the Old Testament, particularly, Gen 2-3 and early Jewish writings in his expression about sin. Nevertheless, he goes further than the existing traditions that interpreted Gen 2-3 and upheld the Deuteronomistic tradition by defining sin primarily as transgression of commandment(s). For Paul, sin is a supra-individual power that reigns through death by which all humanity – understood as “flesh” – is inescapably exposed to sin. Moreover, the apostle’s concern in Rom 5:12 is about the universality of death as a consequence of one man’s (Adam’s) sin, but nothing is told concerning hereditary sin through procreation. Adam’s sin becomes either a model due to the free will alive in everyone, or an involuntary choice, but bearing no inherited guilt to the rest of humanity. It is just through Adam in whom sin found the first entry into the world and, consequently, death came through and triumphs over all humanity. However, as far as sin and death are considered by the apostle to be evil powers, human beings are incapable of overcoming them by themselves. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ by whom victory can be gained: baptism as the first part of regeneration as dying to sin with Christ and being renewed in His resurrection. ii Acknowledgments First and foremost, I express my sincere gratitude to the Almighty God for His endless love and sustenance that have enabled me to pursue my study program successfully at VID Specialized University, Stavanger. Glory be to Him forever! I extend my gratefulness to the leadership of VID Specialized University and its «Global Mission and Theology Scheme» for accepting my application, keeping and supporting me with access to various sources and facilities throughout my study program. My appreciation too to professors and the staff at whole for their daily noteworthy roles and service. Moreover, this thesis could not be possible as it appears without the inexplicable contribution of my principal supervisor Professor Jostein Ådna: I am sincerely, very grateful for his excellent guidance and tireless commitment, support, useful criticism, inventive thoughts as well as his encouragement to me. Long live my supervisor! Further, I recognize and appreciate an academic input attained from the :and the VID’s research group (שְׂפַַ֣ת כְׂ נַַ֔עַן) Postgraduate Hebrew Reading Group “Classical Religious Texts and Global Contexts” with its subgroup entitled “CollECT: Colloquium on Epistemology, Context, and Text in African Biblical Interpretation.” I extend my sincere gratitude to the leadership of Tumaini University Makumira, Arusha Tanzania for its recommendation and support to the extent of I being able to apply successfully for this study program. Further, I direct my heartfelt gratitude to my diocesan leadership currently headed by Bishop Dr. Abednego N. Keshomshahara: the North Western Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (NWD-ELCT) for permitting me to pursue this study program. My deepest appreciation goes to my beloved parents: Mr. Leonard Thomas Ndama and Mrs. Sabina James Hamuka for their endless prayers, encouragement and advice to their son. I am so proud of their incalculable attention. I appreciate too for the kindness shown by the rest of my family (siblings), related families and in particular, my fiancée Joy Edward Malema for her perpetual prayers, endurance, care and encouragement during my studies. Last but not least, I am very thankful to my fellow students both Norwegians and Internationals at the campus, friends and Stavanger International Church (SIC), for their generosity and inspiration throughout my stay in Stavanger. iii Table of Contents Abstract ....................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments ..................................................................................... iii Abbreviations ............................................................................................. vi Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................... 1 1.1 Background and motivation for the study ....................................................... 1 1.2 Research question ............................................................................................ 2 1.3 Research Methods ........................................................................................... 2 1.4 Research Sources............................................................................................. 3 1.5 Research Context............................................................................................. 4 1.6 Research Outline ............................................................................................. 4 Chapter 2: Sin in the Old Testament and early Judaism ............................ 5 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 5 2.2 The Old Testament .......................................................................................... 5 2.2.1 Genesis 2–3 .............................................................................................. 6 2.2.2 Different notions of sin in the Old Testament ....................................... 10 2.2.2.1 A deeply rooted sinfulness among humans ........................................ 10 2.2.2.2 Sin as transgression of commandments ............................................. 13 2.3 Early Judaism ................................................................................................ 14 2.4 Tentative conclusion ..................................................................................... 19 Chapter 3: Exegesis of Romans 5:12 within its context ........................... 21 3.1 Contextual delimitation of Romans 5:12 ...................................................... 21 3.1.1 Immediate context .................................................................................. 21 3.1.2 Broader context ...................................................................................... 22 3.2 Textual-critical note and translation of Romans 5:12 ................................... 23 3.3 The position of Romans 5:12 within the textual unit Romans 5:12-21 ........ 24 3.4 Exegesis ......................................................................................................... 27 3.4.1 Overview ................................................................................................ 27 3.4.2 Detailed exegesis ................................................................................... 28 3.5 Summary of the exegesis and a tentative conclusion .................................... 46 Chapter 4: History of exegesis of Romans 5:12 with its implications ..... 48 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 48 4.2 Romans 5:12 in the pre-Augustinian era ....................................................... 48 iv 4.3 Romans 5:12 by Saint Augustine, Pelagius and Chrysostom ....................... 51 4.4 Romans 5:12 in the Reformation era............................................................. 55 4.5 Romans 5:12 in the Post-Reformation time to the current time .................... 58 4.6 Tentative conclusion ..................................................................................... 60 Chapter 5: Research findings, contextual application and conclusion ..... 63 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 63 5.2 Research findings .......................................................................................... 63 5.3 Contextual application................................................................................... 65 5.4 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 65 Bibliography ............................................................................................. 67 v Abbreviations1 AD: Anno Domini. BDAG: Danker, Frederick W., Walter Bauer, William F. Arndt and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek- English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. BHS: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Edited by Albrecht Alt. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 1977. Cf.: Compare. EDNT: Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament.
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