Between Horror and Hope: Paul’s Metaphorical Language of Death in Romans 6:1–11
Overview
The Apostle Paul is the most notable Christian missionary and perhaps the most influential New Testament author. The greatest theologians in the church’s history—Augustine, Calvin, Luther, Karl Barth, and others—have repeatedly turned to Paul, and the central doctrines of the church hinge on the theology found in Paul’s writings. Yet in recent decades, disputes over the historicity of Paul’s letters and the emergence of the New Perspective have led scholars to reevaluate central Pauline texts, leading to controversy, dispute, and a fractured understanding of Paul’s intent.
This book argues that Paul's metaphorical language of death in Romans 6:1–11 conveys two aspects: horror and hope. The horror aspect is conveyed by the crucifixion language, and the hope aspect by burial language. The life of the Christian believer is understood, as relationship with sin is concerned (“death to sin”), between these two realities: horror and hope.
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- Includes bibliographical references and index
- Short preface by the author
Top Highlights
“but that that person was ‘buried with’ someone else.” (Page 91)
“Every day a little of our life is taken away from us’ (24:20). In this sense ‘we die every day’ (cotidie morimur) (24:20). When death finally comes ‘it merely of itself completes the death-process. We reach death at that moment, but we have been a long time on the way’ (24:21). ‘The death of which you are afraid is the last, but not the only death’ (24:22).” (Page 11)
“The difference between the meaning of ὁ παλαιὸς ἅνθρωπος and σῶμα τῆς ἁμαρτίας is that the first interprets our life from the perspective of Adam and the ‘environment’ created by his sin and the second has its focus on the effects of that sin on us as embodied persons in that environment.” (Page 138)
“In this present life the true philosopher prepares himself for that event. He will always be eager to release and separate the soul from the body (67d). In other words ‘the true philosophers practise dying’ (οἱ ὀρθῶς φιλοσοφοῦντες ἀποθνῄσκειν μετελῶσι) (67e).” (Page 10)
“‘condemnation/punishment’ (crucifixion) inflicted upon our past lived in the age inaugurated by the sin of Adam (ὁ παλαιὸς ἅνθρωπος) is such a horrible event that the believers have to stay away from sin, since it is sin that which leads to such a punishment.” (Page 142)
An important resource for scholars and preachers alike.
—Stephen Motyer
- Title: Between Horror and Hope: Paul’s Metaphorical Language of Death in Romans 6:1–11
- Author: Sorin Sabou
- Publisher: Paternoster
- Publication Date: 2006
- Pages: 159