Paul on the Cross
Overview
Even as theologians have become more critical of classic theories of atonement, biblical scholars have continued to rely upon such theories as a basis for interpreting Paul's teaching regarding salvation and the cross. In this vital volume, Brondos looks to the recent advances in New Testament scholarship to argue for an alternative understanding of Paul's doctrine of salvation and the cross.
Paul, says Brondos, understood Jesus' death primarily as the consequence of his mission: to serve as God's instrument to bring about the long-awaited redemption of Israel, in which Gentiles throughout the world would also be included. For Paul, Jesus' death is salvific not because it satisfies some necessary condition for human salvation, as most doctrines of the atonement have traditionally maintained, nor because it effects some change in the situation of human beings or the world in general. Rather, Jesus' God responded to Jesus' faithfulness unto death by raising him, thereby ensuring that all the divine promises of salvation would be fulfilled through him.
Jesus' death forms part of an overarching story culminating in the redemption of Israel and the world. It is this story, and in particular what preceded and followed Jesus' death on the cross, that makes that death redemptive for Paul.
- Bibliographical references
- Indexes
Top Highlights
“Here I will argue that the story behind Paul’s language regarding the cross is essentially the same simple story we find in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts, which in turn developed out of the foundation story running throughout the Hebrew Scriptures and other ancient Jewish writings.1 This involves the claim that Paul understood Jesus’ death primarily as the consequence of his dedication and faithfulness to his mission of serving as God’s instrument to bring about the awaited redemption of Israel, which would also include Gentiles throughout the world.” (Page xi)
“Through Jesus’ death, a new covenant-community (the church) has been established, in which people from all nations may now find salvation and forgiveness of sins as they live under his lordship, led by the Holy Spirit. For Paul, this is what Jesus lived and died for, and what he attained by giving up his life and consequently being raised and exalted to God’s right hand. It is in this sense that Jesus died for others and for their sins. In short, Paul regarded Jesus’ death as salvific because for him it formed part of an overarching story culminating in the redemption of Israel and the world; it is this story, and in particular what precedes and follows Jesus’ death on the cross, that makes that death redemptive.” (Pages xi–xii)
“an idea that reflects the false notion that one has to be perfectly sinless in order to be declared righteous by God” (Page 88)
“The fact that righteousness for Paul is not simply forensic is evident from the fact that in a passage such as Rom 6:13–19, he contrasts righteousness with ‘sin,’ tells the Roman Christians to yield their members to God as ‘instruments of righteousness,’ and calls them ‘slaves of righteousness.’ Righteousness here obviously involves something more than a right standing before God. it is something one does.” (Page 87)
Brondos offers a fresh rereading of the Gospels, Acts, and the Pauline letters that will spur others to reread and rethink these texts. His argument raises significant challenges to those who caricature Paul as the inventor of Christianity, as will as to those who follow the 'New Perspective on Paul.' This book will serve as a valuable stimulus for exegetical and theological clarification regarding the atonement, the story of redemption, and the Christian view of time.
—Mark Reasoner, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, Bethel University; author of Romans in Full Circle: A History of Interpretation
- Title: Paul on the Cross: Reconstructing the Apostle’s Story of Redemption
- Author: David A. Brondos
- Publisher: Fortress Press
- Print Publication Date: 2006
- Logos Release Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. N.T. Epistles of Paul › Theology; Bible. N.T. Epistles of Paul › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Jesus Christ › Person and offices; Redemption
- ISBNs: 9780800637880, 0800637887
- Resource ID: LLS:PAULONCROSS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:09:29Z