Paul's 'Works of the Law' in the Perspective of Second Century Reception (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen Zum Neuen Testament 2.Reihe)

Paul writes that we are justified by faith apart from 'works of the law', a disputed term that represents a fault line between 'old' and 'new' perspectives on Paul. Was the Apostle reacting against the Jews' good works done to earn salvation, or the Mosaic Law's practices that identified the Jewish people? Matthew J. Thomas examines how Paul's second century readers understood these points in conflict, how they relate to 'old' and 'new' perspectives, and what their collective witness suggests about the Apostle's own meaning. Surprisingly, these early witnesses align closely with the 'new' perspective, though their reasoning often differs from both viewpoints. They suggest that Paul opposes these works neither due to moralism, nor primarily for experiential or social reasons, but because the promised new law and covenant, which are transformative and universal in scope, have come in Christ.This work was named "Jesus Creed Book of the Year 2018" on Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed blog."Thomas's work on second-century interpreters is a significant contribution to reception or effective-history in general and certainly will have a transformative effect on the character of contemporary interpretation of Paul's texts."Timothy Gombis in Bulletin for Biblical Research Vol. 29, No. 4, 2019 Preface Table of Contents Abbreviations Part I: Introduction Chapter 1: Introduction, Theory and Methodology 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Theory: Effective history and living memory 1.3. The early reception of Paul 1.4. Methodology 1.5. References and terminology 1.6. Scope and outline Part II: The Old and New Perspectives on Works of the Law Chapter 2: The Old Perspective on Works of the Law 2.1. Martin Luther 2.1.1. Meaning: What works of what law? 2.1.2. Significance: What does the practice of these works signify? 2.1.3. Opposition: Why are these works not necessary for the Christian? 2.2. John Calvin 2.2.1. Meaning 2.2.2. Significance 2.2.3. Opposition 2.3. Rudolph Bultmann 2.3.1. Meaning 2.3.2. Significance 2.3.3. Opposition 2.4. Douglas Moo 2.4.1. Meaning 2.4.2. Significance 2.4.3. Opposition 2.5. Conclusion Chapter 3: The New Perspective on Works of the Law 3.1. E.P. Sanders 3.1.1. Meaning: What works of what law? 3.1.2. Significance: What does the practice of these works signify? 3.1.3. Opposition: Why are these works not necessary for the Christian? 3.2. James Dunn 3.2.1. Meaning 3.2.2. Significance 3.2.3. Opposition 3.3. N.T. Wright 3.3.1. Meaning 3.3.2. Significance 3.3.3. Opposition 3.4. Conclusion Part III: Early Perspectives on Works of the Law Chapter 4: The Didache (C) 4.1. Introduction 4.1.1. Introduction and background 4.1.2. Text and translation 4.2. The Didache and Paul 4.2.1. Knowledge and use of Paul 4.3. The Law and Works in the Didache 4.3.1. Meaning: What works of what law? 4.3.2. Significance: What does the practice of these works signify? 4.3.3. Opposition: Why are these works not necessary for the Christian? 4.4. Conclusion Chapter 5: The Epistle of Barnabas (C) 5.1. Introduction 5.1.1. Introduction and background 5.1.2. Text and translation 5.2. The Epistle of Barnabas and Paul 5.2.1. Knowledge and use of Paul 5.3. The Law and Works in the Epistle of Barnabas 5.3.1. Meaning 5.3.2. Significance 5.3.3. Opposition 5.4. Conclusion Chapter 6: Ignatius of Antioch (B): Epistle to the Magnesians and Epistle to the Philadelphians 6.1. Introduction 6.1.1. Introduction and background 6.1.2. Texts and translations 6.2. Ignatius and Paul 6.2.1. Knowledge and use of Paul 6.2.2. Ignatius as Pauline interpreter 6.3. The Law and Works in Epistle to the Magnesians and Epistle to the Philadelphians 6.3.1. Meaning 6.3.2. Significance ???da?sμ??: A brief digression 6.3.3. Opposition 6.4. Conclusion Excursus I: Second Century Fragments Preaching of Peter Dialogue of Jason and Papiscus Acts of Paul Conclusion Chapter 7: The Epistle to Diognetus (B) 7.1. Introduction 7.1.1. Introduction and background 7.1.2. Text and translation 7.2. The Epistle to Diognetus and Paul 7.2.1. Knowledge and use of Paul 7.2.2. Diognetus as Pauline interpreter 7.3. The Law and Works in the Epistle to Diognetus 7.3.1. Meaning 7.3.2. Significance 7.3.3. Opposition 7.4. Conclusion Chapter 8: The Apology of Aristides (C) 8.1. Introduction 8.1.1. Introduction and background 8.1.2. Text and translation 8.2. The Apology of Aristides and Paul 8.2.1. Knowledge and use of Paul 8.3. The Law and Works in the Apology of Aristides 8.3.1. Meaning 8.3.2. Significance 8.3.3. Opposition 8.4. Conclusion Excursus II: The Ebionites, Marcion, and Ptolemy The Ebionites Marcion Ptolemy Conclusion Chapter 9: Justin Martyr (A): Dialogue with Trypho 9.1. Introduction 9.1.1. Introduction and background 9.1.2. Text and translation 9.2. Justin and Paul 9.2.1. Knowledge and use of Paul 9.2.2. Justin as Pauline interpreter 9.3. The Law and Works in Dialogue with Trypho 9.3.1. Meaning 9.3.2. Significance 9.3.3. Opposition 9.4. Conclusion Chapter 10: Melito of Sardis (B): Peri Pascha 10.1. Introduction 10.1.1. Introduction and background 10.1.2. Text and translation 10.2. Melito and Paul 10.2.1. Knowledge and use of Paul 10.2.2. Melito as Pauline interpreter 10.3. The Law and Works in Peri Pascha 10.3.1. Meaning 10.3.2. Significance 10.3.3. Opposition 10.4. Conclusion Chapter 11: Irenaeus of Lyon (A): Against Heresies and Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching 11.1. Introduction 11.1.1. Introduction and background 11.1.2. Texts and translations 11.2. Irenaeus and Paul 11.2.1. Knowledge and use of Paul 11.2.2. Irenaeus as Pauline interpreter 11.3. The Law and Works in Against Heresies and Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching 11.3.1. Meaning 11.3.2. Significance 11.3.3. Opposition 11.4. Conclusion Part IV: Conclusions Chapter 12: Conclusions 12.1. Early perspectives on works of the law 12.1.1. Category A, Direct evidence 12.1.2. Category B, Supporting evidence 12.1.3. Category C, Circumstantial evidence 12.1.4. Unclassed sources 12.1.5. An “early perspective” on works of the law 12.1.6. From Irenaeus to Origen 12.2. Early, old, and new perspectives 12.2.1. Early and old perspectives 12.2.2. Early and new perspectives 12.3. Early perspectives and Paul Bibliography Index of References Index of Modern Authors Index of Subjects Paul writes that we are justified by faith apart from'works of the law', a disputed term that represents a fault line between'old'and'new'perspectives on Paul. Was the Apostle reacting against the Jews'good works done to earn salvation, or the Mosaic Law's practices that identified the Jewish people? Matthew J. Thomas examines how Paul's second century readers understood these points in conflict, how they relate to'old'and'new'perspectives, and what their collective witness suggests about the Apostle's own meaning. Surprisingly, these early witnesses align closely with the'new'perspective, though their reasoning often differs from both viewpoints. They suggest that Paul opposes these works neither due to moralism, nor primarily for experiential or social reasons, but because the promised new law and covenant, which are transformative and universal in scope, have come in Christ. This work was named'Jesus Creed Book of the Year 2018'on Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed blog.'Thomas's work on second-century interpreters is a significant contribution to reception or effective-history in general and certainly will have a transformative effect on the character of contemporary interpretation of Paul's texts.'Timothy Gombis in Bulletin for Biblical Research Vol. 29, No. 4, 2019 Paul writes that we are justified by faith apart from 'works of the law', a disputed term that represents a fault line between 'old' and 'new' perspectives on Paul. Was the Apostle reacting against the Jews' good works done to earn salvation, or the Mosaic Law's practices that identified the Jewish people? Matthew J. Thomas examines how Paul's second century readers understood these points in conflict, how they relate to 'old' and 'new' perspectives, and what their collective witness suggests about the Apostle's own meaning. Surprisingly, these early witnesses align closely with the 'new' perspective, though their reasoning often differs from both viewpoints. They suggest that Paul opposes these works neither due to moralism, nor primarily for experiential or social reasons, but because the promised new law and covenant, which are transformative and universal in scope, have come in Christ. This work was named "Jesus Creed Book of the Year 2018" on Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed blog. "Thomas's work on second-century interpreters is a significant contribution to reception or effective-history in general and certainly will have a transformative effect on the character of contemporary interpretation of Paul's texts." Paul writes that we are justified by faith apart from 'works of the law', a disputed term that represents a fault line between 'old' and 'new' perspectives on Paul. Was the Apostle reacting against the Jews' good works done to earn salvation, or the Mosaic Law's practices that identified the Jewish people? Matthew J. Thomas examines how Paul's second century readers understood these points in conflict, how they relate to 'old' and 'new' perspectives, and what their collective witness suggests about the Apostle's own meaning. Surprisingly, these early witnesses align closely with the 'new' perspective, though their reasoning often differs from both viewpoints. They suggest that Paul opposes these works neither due to moralism, nor primarily for experiential or social reasons, but because the promised new law and covenant, which are transformative and universal in scope, have come in Christ. Reihe Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2. Reihe - Band 468 Paul writes that we are justified by faith apart from 'works of the law', a disputed term that represents a fault line between 'old' and 'new' perspectives on Paul. Was the Apostle reacting against the Jews' good works done to earn salvation, or the Mosaic Law's practices that identified the Jewish people? Matthew J. Thomas examines how Paul's second century readers understood these points in conflict, how they relate to 'old' and 'new' perspectives, and what their collective witness suggests about the Apostle's own meaning. Surprisingly, these early witnesses align closely with the 'new' perspective, though their reasoning often differs from both viewpoints. They suggest that Paul opposes these works neither due to moralism, nor primarily for experiential or social reasons, but because the promised new law and covenant, which are transformative and universal in scope, have come in Christ. --! From publisher's description