The Morality Of Paul's Converts

by Freed,Edwin D.

• ISBN13: 9781845530235
• ISBN10: 1845530233
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2014-08-08
• Publisher: Acumen Pub Ltd

Summary

A careful analysis of the texts of Paul's letters shows that in every church there were two main groups of converts: those who were haptized and those being instruted for baptism. Baptized converts became members of a renewed covenant community of God from which persons who continued to sin were expelled. Paul was always after he became a member of the the group of Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah. Consequently, his primary message of Gentiles was faithfulness toward God, along with the moral probity of those who believe. Paul eventually developed beliefs about Jesus the Messiah as the Son of God and Lord, in order to win Gentile converts to faithfulness toward God. Being made righteous, the original meaning of Paul's word usually translated as 'justified, ' brings out the depth of Paul's emphasis on the morality of converts.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Abbreviations	xix
INTRODUCTION	1	(18)
Paul the Jew and Jewish Influence on his Ideas	1	(1)
Paul and the Author of the Fourth Gospel	2	(2)
Judaism and Christianity	4	(1)
Paul and Jesus the Messiah (Christ)	4	(1)
Hebrew Covenantal Ideas	5	(6)
God and his People, the Hebrews	6	(2)
Covenantal Ideas and the Members of Paul's Churches	8	(3)
The Community at Qumran	11	(6)
Entrance into the Community or Covenant	11	(1)
Living within the Community	12	(9)
Baptism	14	(1)
Vindication from Sins	15	(1)
Organization of the Community	16	(1)
Summary and Observations	17	(2)
Chapter 1 THE RENEWED COVENANT COMMUNITY OF GOD	19	(31)
'Church(es)', according to Paul	19	(2)
Assemblies Set Apart as Communities of God	21	(1)
How Paul Addresses Members of the Assemblies	21	(6)
Not as Christians	21	(1)
Brothers	22	(2)
Communities of Brothers: Brotherhoods	23	(1)
Those Who Believe or Believers	24	(1)
Holy Ones	25	(1)
Called or Chosen	26	(1)
Clarification and a Preview of Life within the Renewed Community	27	(4)
Baptism: The Rite of Entrance into the Renewed Community	31	(1)
1 Corinthians 6.9-11	31	(6)
Paul's Use of HagiazO	32	(1)
Paul's Use of DikaioO	33	(1)
Use of DikaioO in 1 Corinthians 4.4	34	(2)
Use of Dikaiosune	36	(1)
Romans 6	37	(4)
The Symbolism of Baptism	39	(2)
Paul on Baptism and Christians Today	41	(2)
Preparation for Baptism and Moral Life	43	(4)
Didache ('Teaching')	43	(4)
Baptism and the Salvation of Converts	47	(3)
Chapter 2 1 THESSALONIANS: THE PLACE TO BEGIN	50	(24)
Polytheism, Antithesis of Paul's Theology and Moral Teachings	50	(1)
Believers and what They Believed	51	(9)
Faithfulness toward God	51	(3)
Faithfulness toward God and Receiving the Spirit	54	(4)
Spirit of God or Spirit of Christ?	56	(2)
Faithfulness toward God and Beliefs about Jesus	58	(2)
The Morality of Paul and Converts	60	(2)
Determining Different Groups of Believers at Thessalonica	62	(4)
The Case for Leaders or Presiding Persons	63	(3)
The Leaders and Other Believers	64	(2)
The Mood of the Letter	66	(3)
The Mood of the Letter and Role of the Leaders	67	(2)
The Challenge to Be Blameless in Holiness	69	(3)
Paul's Ideas of Forgiveness and Those of the Author of Hebrews	72	(2)
Chapter 3 1 THESSALONIANS: THE PLACE TO BEGIN, CONTINUED	74	(24)
Work of the Leaders and Purpose of the Letter	74	(1)
Instructions for the Unbaptized Group	75	(7)
Called for Holiness of Life	76	(2)
Faithfulness Is More than Belief	78	(1)
Becoming Worthy of the Kingdom of God	79	(1)
Imitate Paul's Behavior	80	(2)
Paul Defends his Own Behavior	81	(1)
Paul Pleases God, not Humans	81	(1)
Further Instructions for Unbaptized Converts	82	(8)
Refrain from Illicit Sexual Activity	83	(1)
Men and their Sex Life	84	(1)
Love of Brothers	84	(2)
'Those on the Inside' and 'Those on the Outside'	86	(4)
Instructions Specifically for the Leaders	90	(5)
Concerning Brothers Who Have Died	90	(2)
Concerning Those Who Cause Problems	92	(7)
The Ataktoi	92	(1)
The Oligopsychoi	93	(1)
The Astheneis	93	(2)
Final Exhortations to the Leaders and Prayer	95	(1)
Converts as Moral Persons in an Idolatrous, Immoral World	96	(2)
Chapter 4 1 AND 2 CORINTHIANS: MORALITY COMES TO AN IMMORAL CITY (1 CORINTHIANS 1-6)	98	(29)
Polytheism in the City of Corinth	98	(1)
Determining the Groups of Believers	99	(4)
Where to Begin	99	(1)
A Letter Fragment in 2 Corinthians 6.14-7.1	100	(1)
The Converts Addressed in 1 Corinthians 5.9-13	101	(2)
'Those on the Inside' and 'Those on the Outside'	102	(1)
Groups of Believers in the Brotherhood at Corinth	103	(11)
Paul's Greeting (1 Corinthians 1.1-3)	103	(1)
Called to Be Holy Ones	104	(1)
The Baptized Group, including the Leaders	104	(6)
Paul's Thanksgiving (1 Corinthians 1.4-9)	104	(1)
Being in Christ	104	(2)
God Responsible for the Status of Being in Christ	106	(3)
Being in Christ and 'Christian'	109	(1)
Behavior of the Leaders	110	(1)
The Group with Differences over Baptism and Wisdom	111	(3)
Baptism	112	(1)
Wisdom	112	(2)
Paul's Relationship with his Converts	114	(11)
Conclusion with Respect to Baptism and Wisdom	115	(1)
The Group with the Immoral Man	116	(5)
Punishment of the Sex Offender	116	(1)
Paul's Concern for the Morality of All	117	(1)
Analogy from the Jewish Passover	118	(1)
Instructions for the Leaders Personally	119	(1)
Paul and the Community at Qumran	120	(1)
Brothers Going to Law against Brothers	121	(1)
The Group for Whom Anything Goes	122	(6)
From the Moral Standpoint	123	(1)
From the Theological Standpoint	124	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	125	(2)
Chapter 5 1 AND 2 CORINTHIANS: MORALITY COMES TO AN IMMORAL CITY (1 CORINTHIANS 7-11)	127	(31)
Instructions for the Unbaptized Group	127	(1)
'Concerning the Things about Which You Wrote'	128	(7)
Family Matters	128	(6)
Marriage and Sex	129	(1)
Why not to Marry	130	(1)
Divorce	130	(2)
Children from Mixed Marriages	132	(1)
Ethnic Distinctions	133	(1)
Eating Meats Offered to Idols and Idolatry	134	(1)
Respect for Another's Conscience	134	(1)
Paul as a Jew and Jewish Law	135	(8)
Entole and Entolai	137	(1)
Romans 7.8-13; 13.8-10	137	(1)
1 Corinthians 7.19; 14.37	138	(1)
Dikaioma and Dikaiomata	138	(7)
Romans 1.28-32	139	(1)
Romans 2.25-29	139	(2)
Romans 5.16-21	141	(1)
Romans 8.1-4	142	(1)
Observations and Summary	143	(2)
Paul's Language	145	(2)
1 Corinthians 9.21, Again	146	(1)
Warning against Idolatry and Other Evils	147	(3)
A Moral Lesson from the Israelites in the Desert	147	(2)
Idolatry and the Lord's Supper	149	(1)
Another Group for Whom Anything Goes	150	(1)
Converts at Worship	151	(7)
Converts and the Lord's Supper	152	(7)
Social Distinctions at the Supper	153	(1)
Behavior at the Supper	153	(1)
The Supper as a Remembrance of Jesus	154	(1)
The Supper as a New Covenant	154	(1)
Condemnation for Improper Behavior	155	(3)
Chapter 6 1 AND 2 CORINTHIANS: MORALITY COMES TO AN IMMORAL CITY (1 CORINTHIANS 12-16)	158	(24)
Review	158	(1)
Instructions for Baptized Converts	159	(7)
'Concerning Spiritual Gifts'	159	(1)
Converts' Worship Different from Paganism	160	(1)
Spirit Effective for Individuals and for the Assembly	161	(1)
Love, a Way of Extraordinary Quality	162	(1)
Speaking in Tongues and Prophesying	162	(5)
Moral and Spiritual Upbuilding	162	(1)
Neophytes or Amateurs (Idiotes)	163	(2)
Prophecy Preferred over Tongues	165	(1)
Paul and the Sect at Qumran	166	(1)
Visitors at Worship	166	(1)
Emphasis on God	167	(7)
The Stone of Stumbling (Romans 9.32-33)	168	(2)
Belief that Jesus is Lord	170	(4)
Peace and Order in the Assembly at Corinth	174	(2)
A Possible Interpolation	176	(1)
The Resurrection of the Dead	177	(2)
Effectiveness of Christ's Death and Resurrection	178	(1)
Instructions for the Whole Brotherhood or Assembly	179	(3)
Be Alert and Steadfast	180	(2)
Chapter 7 1 AND 2 CORINTHIANS: MORALITY COMES TO AN IMMORAL CITY (2 CORINTHIANS 10-13)	182	(16)
The Corinthian Correspondence	182	(1)
Group of Believers according to 2 Corinthians 10-13	183	(4)
Baptized Converts, Especially the Leaders	183	(1)
Three Passages Provide the Clue	183	(2)
Leaders to Test Themselves	185	(2)
Paul Defends Himself against his Adversaries	187	(6)
Living 'according to the Flesh'	187	(2)
Charges against Paul as a Person	189	(1)
Paul's Qualifications as an Apostle	190	(3)
Excursus: Obedience and Authority	193	(5)
Chapter 8 1 AND 2 CORINTHIANS: MORALITY COMES TO AN IMMORAL CITY (2 CORINTHIANS 1-9)	198	(14)
Groups of Believers according to 2 Corinthians 1-9	198	(2)
Key Passages	198	(2)
Instructions for the Leaders	200	(1)
Paul's Thanksgiving	200	(1)
Why Paul Did not Visit Corinth	201	(1)
Instructions for 'All of You'	201	(11)
Paul and the Brotherhood at Corinth	202	(1)
The Renewed Covenant Community	203	(2)
The Transformation of the Body	205	(2)
Baptized Converts as New Creations	207	(3)
God Responsible for the New Beings	208	(1)
The Righteousness of God	208	(2)
The Collection for the Poor Holy Ones in Jerusalem	210	(2)
Giving and Sharing as Service	210	(2)
Chapter 9 GALATIANS: THE MORALITY OF FAITHFULNESS, THE SPIRIT, AND JEWISH LAW	212	(20)
The Problem in the Churches of Galatia	212	(3)
For Jews in General	213	(1)
For Paul Himself	213	(1)
For Gentiles	213	(1)
For Paul and Other Jewish Converts	214	(1)
Paul's Response to the Judaizing Problem	215	(5)
Works of the Law	216	(2)
Paul's Own Religious Experience	218	(2)
Galatians 2.20-21	218	(1)
Crucified with Christ	219	(1)
Living in Christ	219	(1)
'Save' and 'Salvation' in Paul	220	(6)
Salvation in Paul Compared with John	222	(1)
Salvation in Paul Compared with Ephesians and Colossians	223	(3)
Repentance and Forgiveness according to Paul	226	(3)
Review and Preview	229	(3)
Chapter 10 GALATIANS: THE MORALITY OF FAITHFULNESS, THE SPIRIT, AND JEWISH LAW, CONTINUED	232	(18)
Groups of Believers in Galatia	232	(1)
Instructions for the Unbaptized Group	233	(2)
Paul's Salutation (Galatians 1.1-5)	233	(1)
'Another Gospel' (Galatians 1.6-10)	234	(1)
Instructions for the Baptized Group	235	(7)
The Basis of Paul's Apostleship	235	(1)
Paul Defends his Position	236	(2)
Abraham's Example of Faithfulness	238	(4)
Righteousness through Faithfulness toward God	238	(2)
Abraham's True Posterity	240	(2)
Instructions for the Unbaptized Converts	242	(5)
Circumcision, the Law, and Freedom in Christ	242	(2)
Living by the Spirit and Freedom	244	(3)
Final Reminder to Baptized Converts	247	(3)
Chapter 11 PHILIPPIANS: MORAL LIFE IS COMPLETE	250	(17)
The Unity and Tone of the Letter	250	(1)
The Brotherhood at Philippi	251	(1)
Paul's Satisfaction with the Converts	251	(2)
Paul's Idea of Sacrifice, the Scriptures, and Qumran	253	(1)
Groups of Believers at Philippi	253	(7)
The Larger Group, Those not Leaders	254	(6)
Salutation of the Letter (Philippians 1.1-2)	254	(1)
Paul's Prayer for All the Holy Ones (Philippians 1.3-11)	255	(2)
Paul's Imprisonment and its Effects	257	(1)
The Pauline Moral Ideal	258	(2)
Instruction Especially for the Leaders	260	(5)
Autobiographical: Paul's Religious Experience	260	(3)
Being Imitators of Paul	263	(1)
Final Exhortations	264	(1)
Conclusion	265	(2)
What Paul Does not Say	265	(1)
Paul and the Scriptures	265	(2)
Endnotes	267	(16)
Bibliography	283	(30)
Index of References	313	(21)
Index of Authors	334