The People of Israel and the Christian Church with Particular Reference to the Logic of Pauline Theology: an Application to the Portuguese- Speaking World
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The People of Israel and the Christian Church with particular reference to the logic of Pauline theology: An application to the Portuguese- speaking world R.A. Melo A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Sheffield for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy July 2015 1 2 Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge first of all my immediate supervisor, Professor James Crossley, who maintained his commitment to helping me through my research, meeting up with me regularly and offering invaluable advice. His interjections have been powerful, and without him this research would never have begun. Many thanks, James, for your thought-provoking comments and warm encouragement over the past four years. Another important formative influence has been my friend David Rigby, a former fellow student, who has been with me through the earlier stages of this research, offering his vast knowledge at various points along the way. During the closing stages, he was also kind enough to take the time to assist with the final corrections. Also, my gratitude to my friend and advisor Dr Anne Dyer who was also kind enough to take the time to read my thesis, offer her comments and do some structural work. Finally, thanks to Brazilian Scholar, Professor Leonardo Moraes, Senior Lecturer at the Portuguese Bible Institute, Lisbon, and Professor Brian Kibuuka, who brought their great expertise to bear, in particular, upon the earlier chapters of this work. On a less academic level, my heartfelt thanks go to my wife, Alexandra Melo, who has patiently borne my sometimes lengthy absences and has on occasion foregone the domestic assistance that she might otherwise have expected from her husband, supporting me at various crucial times in the writing of my dissertation and enabling me to complete it on time. Others to whom I owe a debt of gratitude are Mrs Alison Bygrave, Administrator for SIIBS (The Sheffield Institute for Interdisciplinary Biblical 3 Studies), and other staff members of the (now former) Department of Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield, who have helped and encouraged me along the way. Above all, however, I want to express my gratitude to God, my Rock and my Fortress, to whom I owe my life and my career. Undoubtedly the God who has called me since my mother’s womb to be an instrument of His glory, though imperfect, has been the One I can count as friend and provider along this journey. To His Name be the Glory! Sincerely, R.A. Melo 4 Abstract Evangelical Protestant Christianity is known for placing great emphasis on the Pauline doctrine of justification by faith within its soteriology. Even a cursory reading of the literature produced since the Protestant Reformation, reveals that this Pauline doctrine, occupies a central place in their spirituality. Firstly, the emphasis of this dissertation seeks to demonstrate that there is an obvious continuity between the Reformers thought on justification by faith, and conventional theology; there is an identifiable tradition of spirituality that has passed from generation to generation and been consolidated, especially within Evangelicalism, in the solid establishment of the doctrine. Consequently justification by faith is at the heart of our understanding in the Epistle to the Romans; I consider that Romans contains a trifold element whereby this doctrine plays a highly important role within Pauline theology. These three, in my viewpoint are justification by faith, relationship and servanthood/priesthood. In other words, they are intrinsically part of a whole as they form the very kernel of Paul´s intention in Romans (cf. Rom. 1–5; 5–11; 12–16). Secondly, in this thesis, a significant body of evidence is presented that shows how modern schools of thought in contemporary scholarship almost entirely subscribe to a view denying the doctrine of justification by faith as established in tradition. Hence, this thesis may serve to preclude approaches, of a more radical teaching which may compromise the Protestant traditional understanding. 5 Thirdly, therefore this dissertation supplies resources that may be found useful in the wider Evangelical debate about justification by faith for the Portuguese-speaking theological academic world, where to date, a thesis of this nature has not yet been developed. I have concluded this thesis by pointing out that these findings could play a part in opening up a discussion of the Christological roots of Justification. Finally, I have attempted to combine the doctrine itself and its inherent link to servanthood and priesthood, integrating the Pauline thought, through an evaluation and validation of the role of justification by faith, with its intrinsic contribution to develop a personal, individual but also a collective and communal relationship with God. 6 1: Introduction Table of Contents Declaration……………...................................................................................................2 Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................... 3 Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter One: Introduction ...................................................................................... 12 1.1. Thesis rationale ................................................................................................ 12 1.2. A brief background of Romans ......................................................................... 15 1.3. Introduction to the Portuguese-speaking world .............................................. 17 1.4. Background to the debate ................................................................................ 19 1.5 Contributions.....................................................................................................20 1.6. The debate’s influence ..................................................................................... 25 1.7 A contribution to the Portuguese-speaking world.............................................30 Chapter Two: An Overview on the NPP and OPP Debate ....................................... 34 2.1. The Old and New Perspective on Paul, an introduction .................................. 34 2.2. E.P. Sanders’ background ................................................................................. 36 2.3. E. P. Sanders’ ‘Covenantal Nomism’ ................................................................. 38 2.4. Justification, an introduction to the NPP and OPP concept ............................. 40 2.5. Paul’s conversion and the doctrine of justification .......................................... 50 2.6. Paul and Luther in contest ................................................................................ 60 2.7. Paul and Jesus, an analogous approach on the Law ........................................ 63 7 1: Introduction 2.8. The Law, its meaning and an insight into legalism ........................................... 71 2.9. Attempts by the NPP, a concise argument....................................................... 86 2.10. The quantitative and qualitative critique of the Law ..................................... 91 2.11. The positive and negative aspects of the Law ............................................... 93 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 95 Chapter Three: An Insight into the Deliverance of God .......................................... 99 3.1. Background ....................................................................................................... 99 3.2. Introduction .................................................................................................... 101 3.3. Faith in/of Christ ............................................................................................. 106 3.4 The meaning of ᾿ Χ .........................................................106 3.5. Ecumenical implications ................................................................................. 119 3.6. The teacher ..................................................................................................... 125 3.7. Personal understanding ................................................................................. 133 3.8. Doctrinal basis ................................................................................................ 138 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 143 Chapter Four: Justification, Its Implications and Meaning .................................... 149 4.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 149 4.2. Foundation ..................................................................................................... 150 4.3. The unrighteousness of all mankind .............................................................. 154 4.4. The fruits of righteousness ............................................................................. 159 4.5. Righteousness imparted: Sanctification ......................................................... 163 8 1: Introduction 4.6. Freedom from the Law’s condemnation ........................................................ 165 4. .......................................... 168 Conclusion..............................................................................................................167