Justification by Faith: The Origin and Development of a Central Pauline Theme (SUPPLEMENTS TO NOVUM TESTAMENTUM)

This study offers a fresh analysis of the place which "justification by faith" held in Paul's life and thought. In distinction from past attempts to define "justification" in relation to a logical "center", the investigation proceeds by assessing the relationship between this theme and two significant points in Paul's career: his conversion and his letter to Rome. The first chapter surveys a number of interpreters of Paul from William Wrede through E.P. Sanders. In an attempt to overcome the deficiencies of earlier proposals, the work then explores the soteriology of two early Jewish writings proximate to Paul, 1QS and Pss. Sol. Paul's references to his preconversion life reveal a connection between these forms of Judaism and that which Paul knew, making it likely that within a short time after his conversion Paul's soteriology underwent a radical change involving his adoption of ideas inherent to his later arguments on "justification by faith". Paul's aim in writing to Rome discloses that he came to regard "justification" as indispensable to his Gospel and relevant to issues beyond Jew-Gentile relations. This research challenges the "new perspective on Paul" (Dunn) while providing a historical and theological description of Paul's understanding of "justification by faith." JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH Copyright Page Table of Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1 THE PLACE OF 'JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH' IN PAUL'S THOUGHT: BASIC LINES OF INTERPRETATION i An Orientation to the Problem and the Method of this Study ii Paul as an Independent Theologian: William Wrede iii Paul as a Jewish Apocalyptic Mystic: Albert Schweitzer iv Paul as Believer: Rudolf Bultmann and the Justification of the Individual as the Center of Paul's Thought a Bultmann's Early Description of Pauline Soteriology b Bultmann's Mature Description of Pauline Soteriology v Justification as Christ's Saving Lordship: Ernst Käsemann vi Salvation in Christ for All as the Essence of Pauline Soteriology: E. P. Sanders and Current Pauline Research a Sanders's Description of Pauline Soteriology b Sanders's Description of Early Judaism c Sanders's Work and Current Pauline Research 1 Krister Stendahl 2 James D. G. Dunn 3 Lloyd Gaston 4 Francis Watson 5 Gerd Lüdemann 6 Heikki Räisänen 7 Recent Challenges to Sanders's Portrait of Paul a Stephen Westerholm b Frank Thielman vii Summary and Prospectus 2 THE SOTERIOLOGY OF APOCALYPTIC JUDAISM: THE COMMUNITY RULE AND THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON AS BACKGROUND TO THE JUDAISM OF PAUL i The Selection of Sources and the Aim of the Discussion ii 1QS: The Community Rule a Introduction b The Covenant c Election d Atonement e Purity and Righteousness f Summary Excursus: Evidence for a Technical Usage of 'the Righteousness of God' a 1QS 10:25 b 1QS 11:3 c 1QS 11:12 d 1QM 4:6 e Test. Dan. 6:10 f Psalm 142 (LXX) g Targum Jonathan (Isaiah) iii The Psalms of Solomon a Introduction b Divine Righteousness c The Pious and the Sinners d Israel e Mercy f Summary iv Synthesis Excursus: An Assessment of Longenecker's Treatment of 4 Ezra 3 'JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH' AND PAUL'S CONVERSION i The Aim of the Discussion and the Problem of the Reconstructing Paul's Conversion from His Self References ii Paul's References to His Life as a Jew and His Conversion a Romans 7:7-13 i Textual Analysis ii Historical Reconstruction b Galatians 1:10-24 i Textual Analysis ii Historical Reconstruction c Philippians 3:2-11 i Textual Analysis ii Historical Reconstruction iii Paul's Conversion and the Development of His Understanding of 'Justification by Faith' in Light of His Self-References Excursus: Obedience and Grace in the Theology of Paul's Letters 4 THE FUNCTION OF 'JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH' IN THE LETTER TO ROME i Introduction ii The Purpose of the Letter to Rome a Appeals and Disclosures of Intent 1 Rom 1:1-15. 2 Rom 11:13,25-27. 3 Rom 12:1-3. 4 Rom 15:15, 16. 5 Rom 15:23, 24. 6 Rom 15:30-33. 7 Rom 16:1. 8 Rom 16:17-20. b Jew-Gentile Tensions within the Congregation c Summary iii 'Justification by Faith' and the Disposition of Paul's Argument a Romans 1: 16, 17 b Romans 3:21-5:21 c Romans 7:14-25 d Romans 9:30-10:21 iv Summary Excursus: The Unity of Chapter 16 with the Body of the Letter 5 'JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH': A CENTRAL PAULINE THEME i Summary of the Investigation ii Toward a Synthesis of Paul's Thought iii Conclusion SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX OF AUTHORS INDEX OF PASSAGES CITED FROM ANCIENT LITERATURE I. The Place Of 'justification By Faith' In Paul's Thought: Basic Lines Of Interpretation -- A. An Orientation To The Problem And Th Method Of This Study -- B. Paul As An Independent Theologian: William Wrede -- C. Paul As A Jewish Apocalyptic Mystic: Albert Schweitzer -- D. Paul As Believer: Rudolf Bultmann And The Justification Of The Individual As The Center Of Paul's Thought -- Bultmann's Early Description Of Pauline Soteriology -- Bultmann's Mature Description Of Pauline Soteriology -- E. Justification As Christ's Saving Lordship: Ernst Kasemann -- F. Salvation In Christ For All As The Essence Of Pauline Soteriology: E. P. Sanders And Current Pauline Research -- Sander's Description Of Pauline Soteriology -- Sanders's Description Of Early Judaism -- Sanders's Work And Current Pauline Research -- Krister Stendahl -- James D. G. Dunn -- Lloyd Gaston -- Francis Watson -- Gerd Ludemann -- Heikki Raisanen -- Recent Challenges To Sanders's Portrait Of Paul -- Stephen Westerholm -- Frank Thielman -- G. Summary And Prospectus Ii. The Soteriology Of Apocalyptic Judaism: The Community Rule And The Psalms Of Solomon As Background To The Judaism Of Paul -- A. The Selection Of Sources And The Aim Of The Discussion -- B. Iqs: The Community Rule -- Introduction -- The Covenant -- Election -- Atonement -- Purity And Righteousness -- Summary -- Excursus: Evidence For A Technical Usage Of 'the Righteousness Of God' -- C. The Psalms Of Solomon -- Introduction -- Divine Righteousness -- The Pious And The Sinners -- Israel -- Mercy -- Summary -- D. Synthesis -- Excursus: An Assessment Of Longenecker's Treatment Of 4 Ezra Iii. 'justification By Faith' And Paul's Conversion -- A. The Aim Of The Discussion And The Problem Of The Reconstruction Paul's Conversion From His Self References -- B. Paul's References To His Life As A Jew And His Conversion -- Romans 7:7-13 -- Galatians 1:10-24 -- Philippians 3:2-11 -- C. Paul's Conversion And The Development Of His Understanding Of 'justification By Faith' In Light Of His Self-references -- Excursus: Obedience And Grace In The Theology Of Paul's Letters Iv. The Function Of 'justification By Faith' In The Latter To Rome -- A. Introduction -- B. The Purpose Of The Letter To Rome -- Appeals And Disclosures Of Intent -- Jew-gentile Tensions Within The Congregation -- Summary -- C. 'justification By Faith' And The Disposition Of Paul's Argument -- Romans 1:16, 17 -- Romans 3:21-5:21 -- Romans 7:14-25 -- Romans 9:30-10:21 -- D. Summary -- Excursus: The Unity Of Chapter 16 With The Body Of The Letter V. 'justification By Faith': A Central Pauline Theme -- Summary Of The Investigation -- Toward A Synthesis Of Paul's Thought -- Conclusion. By Mark A. Seifrid. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [271]-286) And Indexes. This study offers a fresh analysis of the place which "justification by faith" held in Paul's life and thought by reexamining Paul's conversion and his letter to Rome. It challenges the "new perspective on Paul" (Dunn), while providing a historical and theological description of Paul's understanding of forensic justification.