Evocations of the calf? : Romans 1:18-2:11 and the substructure of Psalm 106 (105)

This study proposes that both constitutively and rhetorically (through ironic, inferential, and indirect application), Ps 106(105) serves as the substructure for Paul’s argumentation in Rom 1:18–2:11. Constitutively, Rom 1:18–32 hinges on the triadic interplay between “they (ex)changed” and “God gave them over,” an interplay that creates a sin–retribution sequence with an a-ba-ba-b pattern. Both elements of this pattern derive from Ps 106(105):20, 41a respectively. Rhetorically, Paul ironically applies the psalmic language of idolatrous “(ex)change” and God’s subsequent “giving-over” to Gentiles. Aiding this ironic application is that Paul has cast his argument in the mold of Hellenistic Jewish polemic against Gentile idolatry and immorality, similar to Wis 13–15. In Rom 2:1–4, however, Paul inferentially incorporates a hypocritical Jewish interlocutor into the preceding sequence through the charge of doing the “same,” a charge that recalls Israel’s sins recounted in Ps 106(105). This incorporation then gives way to an indirect application of Ps 106(105):23, by means of an allusion to Deut 9–10 in Rom 2:5–11. Secondarily, this study suggests that Paul’s argumentation exploits an intra-Jewish debate in which evocations of the golden calf figured prominently. Acknowledgments 5 Preface 11 Contents 13 List of Tables 19 List of Abbreviations 21 Chapter 1: Introduction 25 1.1 Project 25 1.1.1 Constructing Towers and Texts 25 1.1.2 Romans 1:1832 and 2:111: Ethnic Inhabitants on Either Side of Bridge 25 1.1.3 Introducing the Four Pavement Stones 29 1.1.3.1 Problematic Particle: Aio 29 1.1.3.2 Uncertain Similarity: ia aura and ta loiauto 31 1.1.3.3 Unidentified Interlocutor: Gentile, Generic fudge, or Jew 32 1.1.3.4 Possible Dialogue Partner: Romans 1:18-2:11 and Wisdom of Solomon 11-19 37 1.1.4 Interpreting the Four Pavement Stones 40 1.1.4.1 Interlocking Stones 40 1.1.4.2 Textual Context 42 1.1.4.3 Cultural and Historical Context 43 1.2 Proposal 45 1.2.1 Aligning the Pavement Stones 45 1.2.2 Analyzing the Textual Substructure 46 1.2.2.1 Importance of Romans 1:23 46 1.2.2.2 Substructure of Psalm 106(105) 47 1.2.3 Reading the Textual Surface 49 1.2.3.1 Romans 1:1832: Ironic Application of Psalm 106(105) 49 1.2.3.2 Romans 2:14: Inferential Application of Psalm 106 (105) 51 1.2.3.3 Romans 2:511: Indirect Application of Psalm 106 (105) 52 1.2.4 Sketching a Larger Context 57 1.2.4.1 General Confusion: jews and Egyptians in the Roman Empire 57 1.2.4.2 Particular Conversation: Differing Understandings of Jewish Identity in Wisdom of Solomon 1119 and Psalms 105 (104) 107(106) 58 1.2.4.3 Pauline Exploitation: ReReading Romans 1:18-2:11 60 1.3 Approach 61 1.3.1 Hermeneutics 61 1.3.1.1 Metalepsis 61 1.3.1.2 Complex Conversation 67 1.3.2 Texts 68 1.3.2.1 Textual Fluidity in the Post-Qumran Era 68 1.3.2.2 Paul’s Greek Text 69 1.3.2.3 Critical Editions 70 1.4 Plan: Preview of Chapters 73 Chapter 2: Psalm 106(105) 75 2.1 Introduction 75 2.2 Psalm 106(105): Israelite Infidelity Outside and Inside the Land 76 2.2.1 Praise, Penitence, and Concluding Plea (w. 16, 47) 77 2.2.2 Rebellion Outside the Land: Seven Sins (w. 733) 79 2.2.2.1 Overview of Sins One to Three and Five to Seven (w. 718,2433) 80 2.2.2.1.1 Embitterment at Red Sea and Lord’s Salvation (w. 7-12) 80 2.2.2.1.2 Impatient Craving in the Desert (w. 13-15) 82 2.2.2.1.3 Angering Moses and Aaron in the Camp (w. 16-18) 85 2.2.2.1.4 Heedless Grumbling in the Tents of Kadesh Barnea (w. 24-27) 88 2.2.2.1.5 Initiation into Baal of Peor and Phinehas’ Propitiation (w. 28-31) 90 2.2.2.1.6 Inciting Moses at the Water of Strife (w. 32-33) 93 2.2.2.2 Analysis of Fourth Sin: Calf Worship at Horeb and Moses’ Intercession (w. 19-23) 94 2.2.2.2.1 Centrality of Calf Worship: Positional, Terminological, Intertextual, and Thematic 94 2.2.2.2.2 Exegesis, Comparison, Conflation: Exodus 32-34; Deuteronomy 9-10; Psalm 106(105):19-20, 23a,d 99 2.2.3 Rebellion Inside the Land: Cyclical Sin (w. 34-46) 132 2.3 Anticipating Paul’s Appropriation of Psalm 106(105) 135 2.4 Conclusion 137 Chapter 3: Romans 1:18-2:11 138 3.1 Introduction 138 3.2 Structural Analysis 139 3.2.1 Romans 1:1832: Indictment of Idolatry and Immorality 139 3.2.1.1 Romans 1:1821: Introduction to the Indictment 139 3.2.1.2 Romans 1:2232: ABABAB Structure for the Indictment Proper 141 3.2.2 Romans 2:14: Inferential Incorporation of an Unidentified Interlocutor 143 3.2.3 Romans 2:511: Elaborate Chiasm on Oivine Judgment for Jew First 145 3.3 Substructural Analysis 149 3.3.1 Calf and Creation in Romans 1:23; Psalm 106(105):20 and Genesis 1:20-27 149 3.3.2 Retribution in Romans 1:24, 26a, 28; Psalm 106(105):41a 155 3.3.3 Conflation and Chiasm in Romans 2:511; Psalm 106 (105):23a,d and Deuteronomy 9:27; 10:16,17 157 3.3.3.1 Opening Frame of Romans 2:5a: Deuteronomy 9:27b; 10:16 and Philo, De specialibus legibus 1.304-305 158 3.3.3.2 Closing Frame of Romans 2:11: Divine Impartiality and Deuteronomy 10:17 160 3.3.3.3 Judgment according to Works in Romans 2:6 11 and Sirach 16:9-14 161 3.3.3.4 Multiple Affinities 164 3.4 Surface Analysis 165 3.4.1 Romans 1:18-32: Ironic Application of Psalm 106(105) 166 3.4.1.1 Romans 1:18-21: Revelation of and Basis for God's Wrath 166 3.4.1.2 Romans 1:22-32: Precipitating Cause for and Results of God's Wrath 167 3.4.2 Romans 2:14: Inferential Application of Psalm 106(105) 169 3.4.3 Romans 2:511: Indirect Application of Psalm 106(105) 170 3.5 Conclusion 171 Chapter 4: Sketching a Larger Context 174 4.1 Introduction 174 4.2 General Confusion: jews and Egyptians in the Roman Empire 175 4.2.1 Contributing Factors 176 4.2.1.1 Shared Customs 176 4.2.1.1.1 Circumcision 176 4.2.1.1.2 Abstention from Pork 177 4.2.1.2 Ethnographic Origin 178 4.2.1.3 Golden Ass Libel 180 4.2.2 Cultic Conflation and Calf Exclusion/Inclusion 182 4.2.2.1 Implicit and Explicit Cultic Conflation 183 4.2.2.1.1 Implicit Cultic Conflation in Letter of Aristeas128-71 183 4.2.2.1.2 Explicit Cultic Conflation in Plutarch, Quaestiones convivales 4.5 184 4.2.2.2 Calf Exclusion/Inclusion 187 4.2.2.2.1 Calf Exclusion in Josephus 187 4.2.2.2.2 Calf Inclusion in Philo 189 4.3 Particular Conversation: Differing Understandings of Jewish Identity in Wisdom of Solomon 1119 and Psalms 105(104)107(106) 193 4.3.1 Wisdom of Solomon 11-1952 194 4.3.1.1 Overview of Wisdom of Solomon 11-19: Structure and Hermeneutics 194 4.3.1.2 Analysis of Wisdom of Solomon 13-15: Aberrant Worship and Calf Interpretation 197 4.3.2 Psalm 105(104) as the Substructure of Wisdom of Solomon 11-19 201 4.3.2.1 Overview of Psalm 105(104): Structure and Hermeneutics 201 4.3.2.1.1 Introductory Call to Praise (vv. 16) 202 4.3.2.1.2 Land Inheritance: Promise and Fulfillment (w 711, 4245) 204 4.3.2.1.3 Protection Inside the Land (vv. 1215,1622) 205 4.3.2.1.4 Protection Outside the Land (vv. 2341) 207 4.3.2.2 Psalm 105(104):2341 and Wisdom of Solomon 1119:Reconstructing the Contrasts 212 4.3.3 Psalms 105(104) 107(106): Sin, Exile, Repentance, and Restoration 214 4.3.3.1 Sin, Exile, and Repentance in Psalms 105(104) 106 (105) 218 4.3.3.2 Restoration in Psalm 107(106) 220 4.3.4 Psalm 106(105) as the Antithesis of Wisdom of Solomon 11-19 226 4.3.5 IntraJewish Debate? 227 4.3.6 Liturgy, Pedagogy, and Psalms 105(104)107(106) 228 4.4 Pauline Exploitation: ReReading Romans 1:18-2:11 232 4.5 Conclusion 234 Chapter 5: Conclusion 236 5.1 Summary 236 5.1.1 Primary Proposal 236 5.1.2 Secondary Sketch 240 5.2 Avenues for Future Research 243 5.3 Postscript: Towers and Texts 245 Bibliography 247 Primary Sources 247 Secondary Sources 249 Index of Authors 270 Index of Subjects 274 Index of Ancient Sources 277 Scholars often ask how Paul's polemic against Gentile idolatry and immorality in Romans 1:18-32 prepares for indicting a Jewish interlocutor in 2:1-11. This study proposes that Paul's argumentation draws on the portrayal of Jewish identity in Psalm 106 and that in drawing on this portrayal Paul was participating in a larger discussion, one that included the Wisdom of Solomon and one in which evocations of the golden calf figured prominently