Israel and the Mercy of God: A Re-reading of Galatians 6.16 and Romans 9–11

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Grove Eastman
Keyword(s):  
New Creation ◽  
In Christ ◽  
The Law

Noting the conjunction of ‘mercy’ and ‘Israel’ in Galatians 6.16 and Romans 9–11, this article argues that in both letters ‘Israel’ denotes the Jews. In Galatians 6.16, with an on-going mission to the Jews in view, Paul invokes peace on those who live according to the new creation, and mercy on unbelieving Israel. In Romans 9–11, he draws on both Scripture and his own experience of mercy to revisit the question of Israel's destiny, discerning therein a providential pattern of a divine call that is interrupted by obduracy under the law, and ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

scholarly journals If anyone is in Christ – new creation!

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-541
Author(s):  
BEN PAGE
Keyword(s):  
New Creation ◽  
In Christ ◽  
Christian Thought

AbstractThis article investigates the metaphysical transformation that occurs when a believer becomes a new creation, something which hasn't yet been explored in the literature. I start by setting out what this ontological transformation involves, and then provide two models as to how it might go. The first is a type of substratism, based on a theory of mixing, while the second thinks about this transformation in terms of replacementism. Throughout the article I seek to resolve difficulties that both of these models bring, while also showing how other aspects of Christian thought can be explained by these models.

scholarly journals Christ has Broken the Barrier Between Nations (Eph. 2:11-22): Challenge to Nigerian Christians As Peace Initiators

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Ikechukwu Ezeogamba ◽  
Francis Chuks Madukasi
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Difference ◽  
Library Research ◽  
In Christ ◽  
The Law ◽  
The One ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The Church

The fundamental difference between the Jews and Gentiles is circumcision. This fact introduced a serious barrier between them. This is to the extent that they could not mingle or relate cordially. Thus, their relationship was like the one that exists between lepers and the healthy. Hence, Gentiles were excluded from membership of Israel, aliens with no part in the covenants of the fatherhood. Christ is the unifying force between the circumcised and the uncircumcised. With his blood, he absolved the Gentiles of all that used to distance them and made the circumcised to know that he is the end of the Law (Rom 10:4). Thus, through his blood he destroyed the hostility that used to be between them. Vv 19-22 expresses the value of this newly founded unity in Christ. Despite the above, there is still divisions in the Church today, hence, absence of peace in Christendom. This article therefore answers why it is so. It aims at showing that rivalry that exists among believers, exposes their insincerity and hypocrisy. It argues that if all Christians understand the mind of Christ in destroying the barrier that existed between nations (Gentiles and Jews), then the whole Christendom would have remained peaceful and truly under one head. Unless this happens, there will be no end to sectarianism, tribalism, and nepotism among Christian believers in Nigeria. The outcome of this article will be significant to all Christians. The method will be exegetical analysis of Ephesians 2:11-22 and Library research.

scholarly journals Wczesnochrześcijańskie rozważania o imieniu Jezus

2019 ◽  
pp. 129-161
Author(s):  
Mieczysław Celestyn Paczkowski
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Christian Literature ◽  
In Christ ◽  
The Law

This study opens with a brief reflection on the typological value of the person and name of Josh- ua in the ancient Church. Christians saw the figure of Joshua as a foreshadowing of the saving work of Jesus Christ. According to patristic vision the order of grace in Jesus Saviour replaces the ancient order of the Law. On the basis of homonymy Joshua is associated with Christ. The intent of the study was also to present the historical beginning of the practice to invocate the Lord’s Name. To express the faith in Christ symbolically, the first Christians recurred to the use of numerology and to the nomina sacra. This article argues that the ancient Christian literature contains sustained and substantial references to the name of Jesus as ‘Saviour’. It is possible to find the theological finality in the interpretation of Lord’s name. At every point of the discussion in the Patristic tradition it is found a considerable richness and significance of the name of Jesus (biblical, doctrinal and spiritual).

The Word Refreshed

2021 ◽  
pp. 358-374
Author(s):  
Jeremy Begbie
Keyword(s):  
Physical Environment ◽  
Human Freedom ◽  
New Creation ◽  
The World ◽  
In Christ ◽  
Theological Language ◽  
The Way

This chapter takes its cue from the vision of music adumbrated by the previous three essayists: in which music is seen as depending on a ‘faith in an order of things that exceeds the logic of statement and counterstatement’, arising from an embodied dwelling in the world which is pre-conceptual, pre-theoretical. As such, music has the capacity to free us from the kind of alienating relation to our physical environment that an over-dependence on instrumental language brings, and free us for a more fruitful indwelling of it that has been largely lost to modernity. This resonates with broadly biblical-theological view of humanity’s intended relation to the cosmos, as exemplified in the concept of New Creation in Christ. This essay returns to language, considered in this light: how can music, and thinking about music, enrich language? Specifically, how might music facilitate a deeper understanding of the way ‘God-talk’ operates? It is argued that music can offer a powerful witness to the impossibility (and danger) of imagining we can grasp or circumscribe the divine (the antithesis of human freedom). More positively, it can greatly enrich our use (and understanding) of existing theological language, and generate fresh language that enables a more faithful perception of, and participation in the realities it engages.

scholarly journals The requirement of the law fulfilled in Romans 8:4

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk J. Venter
Keyword(s):  
Moral Aspect ◽  
The Gift ◽  
In Christ ◽  
The Law ◽  
Point Of Reference ◽  
Romans 8

God effects the fulfilment of the requirement of the law through the agency (mission) of Christ. Those ‘in him’ are the point of reference in whose favour the law’s requirement is fulfilled, with the effect that they are no longer obligated to Torah. Being ‘in Christ’ they, nonetheless, are also envisioned as living in a way that corresponds to what Torah would have required of them, had they still been subject to it, but they are now being governed and empowered by the Spirit. Consequently their lives give expression to the ultimate (singular) requirement and intention (δικαίωμα) of Torah. The fulfilment of the requirement of the law refers to the purpose of the law as a whole, and not only of the ‘moral’ aspect, often anachronistically separated from the ‘cultic’ aspect. Ultimately, God who originally gave Torah now effected the fulfilment of its intention − something that had been unrealised before the mission of Christ and the gift of the Spirit due to the incapability of the law.Die vervulling van die wet se vereiste in Romeine 8:4. God bewerk die vervulling van die wet se vereiste (δικαίωμα) deur die bemiddeling van (die sending van) Christus. Dié wat ‘in Christus’ is, is die begunstigdes van die feit dat die vereiste van die wet vervul is, met die gevolg dat hulle nie meer aan die bepalinge van Tora as sodanig onderhewig is nie. Aangesien hulle ‘in Christus’ is, word dit egter voorsien dat hulle steeds sodanig sal leef dat dit ooreenstem met wat Tora in beginsel van hulle sou vereis indien hulle steeds daaraan onderhewig was, maar dat hulle dit nou vanweë die heerskappy en bekragtiging van die Gees uitleef. Gevolglik gee hulle lewens gestalte aan die uiteindelike (enkelvoudige) doel en vereiste (δικαίωμα) van Tora. Die vervulling van die wet se vereiste verwys nie na die vervulling van slegs die ‘morele’ vereistes nie, maar ook na dít wat dikwels op anachronistiese wyse as die ‘seremoniële’ wet afgesonder word. Uiteindelik het God, wat Tora oorspronklik daargestel het, die vervulling van die wet se bedoeling gerealiseer − iets wat vanweë die onvermoë van die wet ongerealiseerd gebly het in die epog voor die koms van Christus en die gawe van die Gees.

scholarly journals Van vyandigheid na versoening: Kolossense as narratief van kosmologiese verhuising

2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Fritz Krüger
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
New Creation ◽  
Ethical System ◽  
Ethical Discussion ◽  
Peace And Justice ◽  
The Common ◽  
In Christ ◽  
Peace And Reconciliation ◽  
The Church

From animosity to reconciliation: Colossians as narrative of cosmologic migration Ethical discussion concerning the phenomenon of animosity can gain a lot in depth and effectiveness if a strategy is followed of uncovering the cosmological narratives on which worldviews are based. Each worldview generates its own ethical system on the basis of fundamental metaphysical matrices in the form of cosmological narratives. In this article, the letter to the Colos- sians is used to demonstrate how a cosmological narrative of cosmic estrangement results in an ethic of animosity, while a cosmological narrative of reconciliation in Christ results in an ethic of peace and reconciliation. Three cosmological narratives are compared for this purpose: a popular pagan, a Jewish apo- calyptic mystical and a Christ-centred cosmological narrative are read together. In this way it is demonstrated that a new ethic – which ends the common animosity of our world – is only possible if a cosmic migration occurs, from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of the beloved Son, Jesus Christ. In the discussion, the church will play a prominent role as exem- plary community of the new creation, because it is in the church that the peace of Christ, the result of his victory over the powers, rules over and in people, in this way establishing new relationships of peace and justice.

scholarly journals Die messiaanse aard van psalms: hoe dit ’n Nuwe-Testamentiese lees, vertaling en omdigting van die psalms raak

2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Helberg
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
In Christ ◽  
The Law ◽  
Psalm 2

The messianic character of the psalms: how it affects a New Testament reading, translation and re-versification of the psalms The 2001 re-versification of the psalms as well as the 1983 translation in Afrikaans is rejected by some, because the messiah is not rendered in capital letters. This article views the matter from the perspective of Psalm 1 and 2 as an introduction which characterises the whole psalter as messianic. This article explores what this means. The relation between Psalm 2 (re kingship) and Psalm 1 (re the Law/Word of Yahweh) is in- vestigated in able to view the “messianic” concept in its real perspective. The same applies to the relation Old Testament- New Testament and expectation-fulfilment. The regenerative character of the fulfilment in Christ as well as its implication for one’s inclination towards one’s neighbour and how it affects that of the psalmists is explored. The conclusion of the article is that to render the messiah in capital letters in the psalms is to bypass the regenerartive fulfilment by Christ and to ignore the implication thereof regarding enemies.

A Scripture-formed Communion? Possibilities and Prospects after Lambeth, ACC, and General Convention

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Thomas Wright
Keyword(s):  
New Creation ◽  
God's People ◽  
The Law

AbstractThe question of the authority, use and relevance of Scripture in today’s Anglican Communion needs to be addressed more thoroughly. All authority is God’s authority, and the question of Scripture’s authority needs to be reframed in that light: God is not merely providing information and instruction, but taking forward his Kingdom-project, and Scripture is not merely a witness to that but also a necessary agent, equipping God’s people for their tasks. Various questions then emerge in a new light: we need an integrated, layered, and nuanced vision of the whole Scripture, foregrounding the gospel challenge of new creation and recognizing the inadequacy of some standard slogans such as Jesus’ supposed slackening of the law. In particular, the biblical basis of ‘covenant’ needs further exploration, and the whole communion should embrace a much richer practice of Scripture reading and study to face the challenges of tomorrow’s world.

scholarly journals Paul’s Radicalisation of Law-obedience in Romans 2: The plight of someone under the Law

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip La Grange Du Toit
Keyword(s):  
New Era ◽  
New Perspective On Paul ◽  
In Christ ◽  
The Law ◽  
New Perspective

This article re-examines the tension between Paul’s focus on the doing of the Law in relation to justification in Romans 2, and righteousness by faith in Romans 3:21–35. Taking into account current approaches to Romans 2, Paul’s references to the doing of the Law are interpreted as forming part of the conditions for salvation and justification in the old era before Christ. The impossibility of doing the whole Law and the total depravity of all people constitute the plight of the old era under the Law. This plight is set in contrast with faith in Christ and anticipates the solution of faith in Christ, which marks the new condition for justification in the eschatologically new era in Christ.Keywords: Paul; Romans 2; New Perspective on Paul; justification; law

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document