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Pauline Hermeneutics of the Gospel” and Hereby Overcome Ambiguous Perceptions of the So- Called “Lutheran Reading(S)” of Paul

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Pauline Hermeneutics of the Gospel” and Hereby Overcome Ambiguous Perceptions of the So- Called “Lutheran Reading(S)” of Paul Paul’s letters are of crucial importance for Christian theology and church life. The way in which the apostle Paul critically reflected on the meaning of the gospel message in light of Scripture, the traditions, ethics and Christian LWF faith and hope, has had a significant and lasting impact on the Lutheran tradition. In this publication, the fourth and final in a series of LWF publications on biblical hermeneutics, renowned international scholars from the fields of biblical studies and systematic theology reevaluate to what extent twenty- first-century Lutherans can rediscover the Pauline paradigm of the “power Pauline Hermeneutics of the Gospel” and hereby overcome ambiguous perceptions of the so- called “Lutheran reading(s)” of Paul. Exploring the “Power of the Gospel” BATKA, Lubomir; BECKER, Eve-Marie; BJELLAND KARTZOW, Marianne; GARCÍA BACHMANN, Mercedes; GROSSHANS, Hans-Peter; Hermeneutics Pauline JUNGE, Martin; MAHALI, Faustin; MTATA, Kenneth; NÕMMIK, Urmas; OBERDORFER, Bernd; SIAHAAN, Rospita; WANKE, Roger Marcel; WISCHMEYER, Oda; ZETTERHOLM, Magnus LWF Studies 2016/3 Studies LWF ISBN 978-3-374-04842-7 EUR 20,00 [D] Studies 201603 Pauline Hermeneutics cover.indd 1 27/01/2017 16:36:01 Pauline Hermeneutics: Exploring the “Power of the Gospel” LWF Studies 2016/3 The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Lutheran World Federation Pauline Hermeneutics: Exploring the “Power of the Gospel” Edited by Eve-Marie Becker and Kenneth Mtata LWF Studies 2016/3 Bibliographic information published by the German National Library The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbiblio- grafie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the internet at dnd.dnd.de © 2017 The Lutheran World Federation Printed in Germany This work, including all of its parts, is protected by copyright. Any use beyond the strict limits of copyright law without the permission of the publish- ing house is strictly prohibited and punishable by law. This book was printed on FSC-certified paper Cover: LWF Communications Editorial assistance: Department for Theology and Public Witness Typesetting and inside layout: LWF Communications/Department for Theology and Public Witness Design: LWF Communications/EVA Printing and Binding: Druckhaus Köthen GmbH & Co. KG Published by Evangelische Verlangsanstalt GmbH, Leipzig, Germany, under the auspices of The Lutheran World Federation 150, rte de Ferney, PO Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland ISBN: 978-3-374-04842-7 www.eva-leipzig.de Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................7 Preface .............................................................................................................................9 Martin Junge Introduction ..................................................................................................................11 Eve-Marie Becker and Kenneth Mtata The “Gospel” as the Hermeneutic of Emancipation in Paul’s Letters: Contemporary Implications .......................................................................................13 Kenneth Mtata Exploring Paul and Pauline Hermeneutics How and Why Paul Deals with Traditions ..............................................................27 Eve-Marie Becker Principles of Paul’s Hermeneutics ............................................................................37 Oda Wischmeyer Slave and Free: Hermeneutical Reflections on Paul’s Use of the Slave–Master Metaphor .......................................................................................................................47 Magnus Zetterholm Reading Pauline Texts and Contexts Paul on Charismata (1 Corinthians 12–14): The Principles of Diversity and Community Edification .............................................................................................. 63 Rospita Deliana Siahaan Creation and Reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5: Impulses from Paul and Luther ........................................................................................................................... 73 Roger Marcel Wanke Towards an Intersectional Hermeneutics: Constructing Meaning with and not of Galatians 3–4 .......................................................................................................... 85 Marianne Bjelland Kartzow 5 Pauline Hermeneutics: Exploring the “Power of the Gospel” Paul on Citizenship: Pauline hermeneutics in Philippians 1:27 and 3:20 ....... 99 Lubomir Batka Applying Paul’s Theology and Hermeneutics to Church and Society The Paradox of Reading Paul in the Context of the Lutheran Churches in Africa ............................................................................................................................113 Faustin Mahali The Pauline Letters and (Homo)Sexuality: Examining Hermeneutical Arguments Used in the Estonian Discussion .......................................................127 Urmas Nõmmik Called and Cold Saints: Some Thoughts on Holiness in the Hebrew Bible and in Paul ......................................................................................................................... 143 Mercedes L. García Bachmann A New Life in Christ: Pauline Ethics and its Lutheran Reception ................... 155 Bernd Oberdorfer Christians Engaging in Culture and Society and Hoping for the World to Come .........................................................................167 Hans-Peter Grosshans List of Contributors ...................................................................................................181 6 Acknowledgements The fourth and final international hermeneutics conference was made pos- sible through the generous sponsorship of Aarhus University (School of Culture and Society), Aarhus Universitets Forskningsfond (AUFF), Aarhus Stift and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria (ELCB). Last but not least, we would like to thank the dedicated and gracious local organizer and host of this conference, Dr Eve-Marie Becker, whose untiring efforts ensured the successful and effective running of the conference. 7 Preface Martin Junge Among the many biblical writings that influenced Martin Luther and the sixteenth-century Reformation only very few were as influential as the Pauline writings. The Reformation breakthrough is based on these writ- ings (Rom 1:17) and Luther’s interpretation of the Pauline letters has had a huge influence on modern biblical interpretation, notwithstanding its recent reevaluation. Instead being a source for Christian consensus building, Paul’s letters have given rise to intensive discussions regarding many of today’s ethical questions. Some of the questions raised pertain to the role of women in the church, or the right engagement of Christians and the church in relation- ship to the secular government. It was a deliberate decision to conclude the Lutheran World Federa- tion’s hermeneutics program with the study of the Pauline epistles. The study of the Gospel of John, the Psalms and the Gospel of Matthew gave the working group enough time to establish a clear interpretive structure so as adequately to deal with some of those issues addressed in the letters that have given rise to serious debate and difference within and among churches. This last publication in the LWF hermeneutics series, like the three previous ones, focuses on the rigorous study of the biblical text in light of Luther’s writings in response to various contemporary questions. It is my hope that it will give the reader a glimpse into how theological considerations can inform and be informed by biblical interpretation in ways that speak to contemporary questions, without denying the biblical text the authority to speak on its own terms. It is this dynamic of the biblical text, theologi- cal tradition and contextual location of the reader that is highlighted here. I wish to express my gratitude to staff and representatives of the LWF member churches who have led and supported this very important process. 9 Pauline Hermeneutics: Exploring the “Power of the Gospel” For a communion of churches such as the LWF, the ability jointly to read the Scriptures, to dialogue, together to reflect on what we have read and to be accountable to one another in view of the hermeneutical keys that inform all of this is essential. The hermeneutics program has meaningfully contributed to this process. The essays included in this volume were first presented at the inter- national conference on hermeneutics held in Aarhus, Denmark, in 2015, co-organized, cosponsored and cohosted by the Lutheran World Federation and Aarhus University. This event would not have been possible without the generous financial contributions received from Aarhus University, Aar- hus Universitets Forskningsfond (AUFF), Aarhus Stift and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria (ELCB). I commend this book to teachers at theological institutions and facul- ties, pastors and all those who wish to deepen their understanding of the Pauline letters in light of the Lutheran tradition and in response to the various contextual challenges. 10 Introduction Eve-Marie Becker and Kenneth Mtata In times when highly ambiguous global power plays gain traction in politics, the economy, sports and the military, it is not surprising that Lutheran theologians reflect on the power of the gospel. The expression of the euaggélion as a dynamis theou—coined and used by Paul in his letter to
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