PAUL'S 'IN CHRIST' - THE MYSTICAL THEORY THESIS BY DENIS IVQRWIillAMS Submitted in part fulfilment ofthe requirements For the Degree ofDoctor ofTheology In the School ofReligion and Culture At the University ofDurban - Westville Supervisor Dr. lA. Smit December. 2001 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • Sincerestthanks are expressedto Dr. D. Buchner and Dr. J. Smitfor their willing direction and supervision in the research conducted for this thesis. • Thanks also goes to Professors I. Phiri, H. Kruger, M. Kitshoff W. Domeris, C. Kourie, P. Maartens, A. Pitchers and Dr. M. Mthembu and Pennyfor their encouragement. • I also gratefully acknowledge scholarswho paved the way for this thesis and librarians for their willing assistance. • I wish to thank Bishop R. Phillip, Mike Skevington and all at Christ Church, Addington and at Tafta Lodge, for their prayers. • My thanks also goes to Tom and Mackie Carpenter for their prayerful support and for all their typing work. • I thank family members for their love. • To God be the glory. D.I.W. 11 PAUL'S 'IN CHRIST' - THE MYSTICAL THEORY ABSTRACT In Paul's thirteen letters the 'in Christ' phrase, with its variants (in the Lord etc.), appears about 167 times. Since Deissmann's foundational study ofthe phrase over 100 years ago scholars have suggested many theories seekingto explain Paul's meaning in its use. Their findings range over several disciplines, but are inconclusive. Our study takes a fresh theological look at the phrases, and seeks to test the hypothesis that "Paul uses the 'in Christ' phrase principally in a mystical sense". Christian mysticism is defined as "union with God through Christ in the power ofthe Holy Spirit". Firstly, eight models ofmysticism are constructed from various disciplines and examined to give an overview ofmysticism, i.e. historic (Judaism and Apocalyptic, Neoplatonic), anthropology (Synderesis), ecclesiastic (Eastern Orthodox, Holy Spirit / Charismatic), personal (Schweitzer, Calvin), and Postmodern. Jewish mysticism is found to exist from about 300BC in two forms - contemplative and chariot. Christian mysticism derives from Jewish mysticism and has the same goal- union with God. Secondly, a study ofPaul's background reveals parallels in his theology showing possible influences from contemporary sources. Thirdly, Paul's 'in Christ' phrase and its variants with different prepositions indicate that the phrase probably derives from the early church's baptism liturgy and focuses in particular upon the new creation which replaces the old. Fourthly, ofthe many theories advanced to account for the 'in Christ' phrase five are examined, all ofwhich can make a contribution towards understanding the phrase better. Fifthly, an original theory which is mystical is proposed in which Paul's 'in Christ' phrases are divided into those that relate to God's Work in Christ 66 (40%), and to Believers' Work in Christ 101 (60%) . The first category phrases are indicative, objective and positional; the second are imperative, subjective and practical. The twofold division is typical ofPaul's letter - writingstyle, with encouragement and practice following doctrine. Both categories are further subdivided. Paul's theology is Christocentric as revealed to him after hisconversion and call by Christ. The 'in Christ' phrase may be said to be the answer to all the problems ofthe early church for it is axiomatic that God can accept nothing that is not in Christ. This is evident from Paul's outline ofGod's pre - history plan for His creation which is fulfilled when all things in heaven and on earth are united 'in Christ' . Since Christology takes precedence over other theological doctrines which are derived from it, so the 'in Christ' phrase may be seen as central to Paul's theology in pre - history, through time and into eternity again. As the analysis ofmysticism reveals, it has many similarities with the 'in Christ' phrase, and both doctrines could be defined in the same way. The mystical interpretation seems to provide the fullest understanding of scripture, and thus when Paul's phrase is examined mystically its true intentions seem to be revealed for the believer's lifestyle, for maintaining church unity and fellowship with fellow believers, and for providing the closest relationship with God through the beatific vision, mystical union, spiritual marriage or deification. In church history the 'in Christ' phrase and the mystical element were slowly replaced by scholasticism and institutionalism, but from the beginning ofthe twentieth century the world -wide charismatic revival is restoring them hence the present . phenomenal church growth and ecumenical outreach. The hypothesis that Paul uses the 'in Christ' phrase principally in a mystical sense may be said to be confirmed. IV "All great religions have given rise to their own particular form ofmysticism, which they have first ofall attacked as a menace to the social order and then finally sanctified" (Berdyaev 1939: 131). "In myself, apart from Christ, I am a sinner: in Christ, apart from myself, I am not a sinner" (Luther). "It seems to follow that we have no right to dispute what the mystics tell us that they have seen, unless we have been there ourselves and not seen it" (Inge 1947: 161). "His Majesty is not accustomed to paying poorly for His lodging,if the hospitality is good" (Teresa 1976/80: 2: 172). "I dearly love two little words, their names are out and in - Out ofBabel, out of me; in God and Jesus in" (Deissmann 1957: 296). "The nearer we come to Christ, the nearer we come together" (Moltmann 1976 The Passionist p.133). "The soul that is united with God is feared by the devil as though it were God Himself' (John ofthe Cross 1964: 3: 231). v ABBREVIATIONS The Revised Standard Version is used and also the 1993, 21st edition ofNestle's Novum Testamentum Graece, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. See Bibliography for additional works. AEOR 1964 An Encyclopaedia of Religion (ed) V. Ferm Paterson, N. 1. Littlefield Adams CEDT 1991 Concise Evangelical Dictionary ofTheology (ed) W. Elwell Rapids Baker DBT 1973 Dictionary ofBiblical Theory (ed) X Leon - Dufour London Geoffrey Chapman DNTT 1975 The New International Dictionary ofNew Testament Theology (eds) S. Burgess and G. McGee, Grand Rapids Zondervan DPCM 1993 Dictionary ofPentecostal and Charismatic Ministries (eds) S. Burgess and G. Mcfiee, Grand Rapids Zondervan DPL 1993 Dictionary ofPaul and His Letters (eds) G. Hawthorne and R. Martin Leicester IVP EB 1998 Encyclopedia Britannica (ed) P. Goetz Chicago Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. EOT 1975 Encyclopedia ofTheology: The Concise Sacramentum Mundi (ed) K. Rahner, NY Seabury ERE 1911 Encyclopedia ofReligion and Ethics (ed) 1. Hastings Edinburgh T & T Clark GBWW 1952 Great Books ofthe Western World (ed) R. Hutchins Chicago Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. INST 1962 John Calvin's Institutes ofthe Christian Religion, London, lames Clarke IOCB 1972 The Interpreter's One Volume Cortunentary on the Bible (ed) C. Laymon, London Collins VI mc 1968 The Jerome Biblical commentary (eds) R. Brown, 1. Fitzmyer, R. Murphy, Englewood Cliffs, NJ Prentice Hall LBB /FBE 1974 The Lost Books ofthe Bible / The Forgotten Books of Eden N.Y. New American Library NCHS 1928 A new Commentary on Holy Scripture (eds) C. Gore, H. Goudge, A. Guillaume, London SPCK NDCE 1995 A New Dictionary ofChristian Ethics (eds) J. Childress and 1. Macquarrie, London SCM OAB 1962 The Oxford Annotated Bible (eds) H. May and B. Metzger, N.Y. OUP ODCC 1974 The Oxford Dictionary ofthe Christian Church (eds) F. Cross and E. Livingstone London OUP OS 1968/9 Bouyer, L. History ofChristian Spirituality vol.3 1982/7 Oriental Spirituality .. Tunbridge Wells, Bums and Oates PCB 1962 Peakes Commentary on the Bible (ed) M . Black London, Thomas Nelson SOED 1974 The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (ed) C. Onions Oxford Clarendon ST 1947 Aquinas Summa Theologica, N.Y. Benziger Brothers TDNT 1974 Theological Dictionary ofthe New Testament (ed) G. Kittel Grand Rapids Eerdmans TEOR 1987 The Encyclopaedia ofReligion (ed) M . Eliade N.Y. Macmillan TWBB 1963 A Theological Word Book ofthe Bible (ed) A. Richardson.N. Y. Macmillan urn 1948 Universal Jewish Encyclopaedia (ed) 1. Landman N.Y. Universal Jewish Encyclopaedia Company Vine's 1991 Vine's Amplified Expository Dictionary ofNew Testament Words (ed) S. Renn Iowa Falls World Bible VII CONTENTS Page No. Chapter One INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Focus 1 1.2 Historical Background 2 1.3 Scholarly Survey and Problematisation 4 1.3.1 Holy Spirit Revival 5 1.3.2 Pauline Theology 7 1.3.3 Mysticism 7 1.3.4 Cultic Influences la 1.4 Procedure 10 Chapter Two MODELS OF MYSTICISM 13 2.1 Jewish and ApocalypticMysticism Models 13 2.1.1 Jewish MysticismModel - Definitionand Division 13 2.1.2 Mystical Interpretation ofThe Old Testament / Torah 18 2.1.2.1 The Psalms 19 2.1.2.2 The Song ofSolomon 21 2.1 .3 God and God's Name 22 2.1.3 .1 God's Names in Judaism 23 2.1.4 God's Presence (Immanence) 25 2.1.4.1 God Appearing in Person 26 2.1.4.2 God Appearing in other Revelations 27 2.1.4.3 God's Glory 28 2.1.5 God's Intermediaries 31 2.1.5.1 Definitions 31 2.1.5.2 Angels · 35 2.1.5 .3 God's Word 36 2.1.5.4 Wisdom 38 2.1.5.5 Spirit 39 2.1.6 Union with God 42 2.1.6.1 Clinging to God 42 2.1.6.2 Knowing and Seeing God 44 2.1.6.3 Union with God 44 2.1.7 Conclusion 46 2.1.8 Merkabah Mysticism 48 2.1.8.1 Initiatory Model 50 2.1.8 .2 Ascent - Descent Model 51 2.1.8.3 Metatron 52 2.1.8.4 Conclusion 54 2.1.9 ApocalypticMysticismModel 55 2.1.9.1 Definition "55 2.1.9.2 ApocalypticLiterature 56 2.1.9.3 Origin ofthe