Unity and Diversity in Christ: Interpreting Paul in Context: Collected Essays
Ebook
Overview
These essays represent William Campbell’s ongoing challenge over the last two decades to a residual aspect of the paradigm of Paulinism, namely that of interpreting Paul in antithesis to his Jewish roots. Campbell has proposed a new approach to Paul focusing on such themes as diversity, identity, and reconciliation as the basic components of transformation in Christ. The stance from which Paul theologizes is one that recognizes and underpins social and cultural diversity and includes the correlative demand that since difference is integral to the Christ-movement, the enmity associated with difference cannot be tolerated. Thus reconciliation emerges as a fundamental value in the Christ-movement. Such reconciliation respects and does not negate the particularities of the identity of Jews and those from the nations. This paradigm transformation implies the reevaluation of all things in Christ, whether of Jewish or Gentile origin. An underlying trajectory permeates these essays. What unites them is the emphasis on continuity between Judaism and the Christ-movement, particularly as exemplified in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Such continuity is vitally important not only for understanding the past and present of Christ-followers, but even more significantly for the contemporary understanding of the identity of both Judaism and Christianity.
”Bill Campbell has led the challenge to traditional approaches
on a number of topics arising in Romans and throughout the Pauline
corpus. Anyone interested in Paul’s Jewish roots, diversity within
the Christ movement, and the formation of identity in the Pauline
communities will be richly rewarded for making Campbell a
conversation partner. His style is clear and readable, informed by
the most recent research, and always thought-provoking."
--Mark D. Nanos, University of Kansas
“With particular attention to Paul’s letter to the Romans,
Campbell’s work is deeply informed by modern theorists and is
methodologically sophisticated. His explorations of the
relationship between theology and context often lead to original
insights. This is one of the best works available today on the
nature of Paul’s theology."
--Margaret Y. MacDonald, St. Francis Xavier University
"Rigorously insistent on reading Paul’s letters in their historical
and rhetorical contexts, yet ever aware of the consequences for us
as we deal with issues of identity and diversity today, these are
important essays. They show a supple mind at work and present a
coherent and compelling understanding of the apostle. No reader of
Paul can afford to miss them."
--Neil Elliott, author of The Arrogance of Nations
- Title: Unity and Diversity in Christ: Interpreting Paul in Context
- Author: William S. Campbell
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Print Publication Date: 2013
- Logos Release Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781621896722, 1621896722
- Resource ID: LLS:9781621896722
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T13:17:43Z
William S. Campbell is Reader in Biblical Studies at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, UK. He is the author of Paul and the Creation of Christian Identity (2006) and numerous other publications on Christian origins.