If Sons, Then Heirs : A Study of Kinship and Ethnicity in the Letters of Paul

Christianity is widely understood to be a ''universal'' religion that transcends the particularities of history and culture, including differences related to kinship and ethnicity. In traditional Pauline scholarship, this portrait of Christianity has been justified by the letters of Paul. Interpreters claim that Paul eliminates ethnicity, or at least separates it from what is important about Christianity. This study challenges that perception. Through a detailed examination of kinship and ethnic language in Paul's letters, Johnson Hodge argues that notions of peoplehood and lineage are not rejected or downplayed by Paul; instead they are central to his gospel. Paul's chief concern is the status of the gentile peoples who are alienated from the God of Israel. Ethnicity defines this theological problem, just as it shapes his own evangelizing of the ethnic and religious ''other.'' According to Paul, God has responded to the gentile predicament through Christ. Johnson Hodge details how Paul uses the logic of patrilineal descent to construct a myth of origins for gentiles: through baptism into Christ the gentiles become descendants of Abraham, adopted sons of God and coheirs with Christ. Although Jews and gentiles now share a common ancestor, they are not collapsed into one group (of ''Christians,'' for example). They are separate but related lineages of Abraham. Through comparisons with other ancient authors, Johnson Hodge shows that Paul is not alone in his strategic use of kinship and ethnic language. Because kinship and ethnicity present themselves as natural and fixed, yet are also open to negotiation and reworking, they are effective tools in organizing people and power, shaping self-understanding and defining membership. If Sons, Then Heirs demonstrates that Paul's thinking is immersed in the story of Israel. He speaks not as a Christian theologian, but as a first-century Jewish teacher of gentiles responding to concrete situations in these early communities of Christ-followers. As such Paul does not reject or critique Judaism, but responds to God's call to be a ''light to the nations.'' ## Abstract Christianity is understood to be a “universal” religion that transcends the particularities of history and culture, including differences related to kinship and ethnicity. This portrait of Christianity has been maintained by an interpretive tradition that claims that Paul eliminates ethnicity or at least separates it from what is important about Christianity. This study challenges that perception. Through an examination of kinship and ethnic language in Paul's letters, this book demonstrates that notions of peoplehood and lineage are not rejected or downplayed by Paul; instead they are central to his gospel. Paul's chief concern is the status of the gentile peoples who are alienated from the God of Israel. Ethnicity defines this theological problem, just as it shapes his own evangelizing of the ethnic and religious “other”. According to Paul, God has responded to the gentile predicament through Christ. Using the logic of patrilineal descent, Paul constructs a myth of origins for gentiles: through baptism into Christ the gentiles become descendants of Abraham, adopted sons of God and coheirs with Christ. Although Jews and gentiles now share a common ancestor, Paul does not collapse them into one group. They are separate but related lineages of Abraham. Kinship and ethnicity work well in Paul's arguments, for at the same time that they present themselves as natural and fixed, they are also open to negotiation and reworking. This paradox renders them effective tools in organizing people and power, shaping self-understanding and defining membership. This analysis demonstrates that Paul's thinking is immersed in the story of a specific people and their God. He speaks not as a Christian theologian, but as a 1st-century Jewish teacher of gentiles responding to concrete situations in the communities he founded. Contents......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 12 Introduction......Page 16 1. Patrilineal Descent and the Construction of Identities......Page 32 2. Jews and Non-Jews: Paul’s Ethnic Map......Page 56 3. Reconstructing Gentile Origins: Adoption by the Spirit......Page 80 4. Descendants of a Faithful Ancestor: Hoi Ek Pisteōs......Page 92 5. "All the Gentiles Will Be Blessed in You"......Page 106 6. Formed after an Image: Procreative God in Romans 8:29......Page 122 7. Negotiating Multiple Identities......Page 130 8. Ranking Ethnic Peoples: "First the Jew, Then the Greek"......Page 150 Conclusion......Page 162 Notes......Page 168 Bibliography......Page 222 B......Page 252 D......Page 253 G......Page 254 I......Page 255 L......Page 256 S......Page 257 W......Page 258 Z......Page 259 Caroline Johnson Hodge Challenges The Perceived Interpretations Of Paul Through A Detailed Examination Of Kinship And Ethnic Language In Paul's Letters. Patrilineal Descent And The Construction Of Identities -- Jews And Non-jews : Paul's Ethnic Map -- Reconstructing Gentile Origins : Adoption By The Spirit -- Descendants Of A Faithful Ancestor : Hoi Ek Pisteōs -- All The Gentiles Will Be Blessed In You -- Formed After An Image : Procreative God In Romans 8:29 -- Negotiating Multiple Identities -- Ranking Ethnic Peoples : First The Jew, Then The Greek. Caroline Johnson Hodge. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [209]-237) And Index. "If Sons, Then Heirs demonstrates that Paul's thinking is immersed in the story of Israel. He speaks not as a Christian theologian, but as a first-century Jewish teacher of gentiles responding to concrete situations in these early communities of Christ-followers. As such Paul does not reject or critique Judaism, but responds to God's call to be a "light to the nations.""--Jacket