The Morality Of Paul's Converts
, by Freed,Edwin D.Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.
- ISBN: 9781845530228 | 1845530225
- Cover: Hardcover
- Copyright: 8/8/2014
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.
Edwin D. Freed is Emeritus Professor of Religion, Gettysburg College, having taught biblical studies for thirty-six years.
Preface | p. xv |
Abbreviations | p. xix |
Introduction | p. 1 |
Paul the Jew and Jewish Influence on his Ideas | p. 1 |
Paul and the Author of the Fourth Gospel | p. 2 |
Judaism and Christianity | p. 4 |
Paul and Jesus the Messiah (Christ) | p. 4 |
Hebrew Covenantal Ideas | p. 5 |
God and his People, the Hebrews | p. 6 |
Covenantal Ideas and the Members of Paul's Churches | p. 8 |
The Community at Qumran | p. 11 |
Entrance into the Community or Covenant | p. 11 |
Living within the Community | p. 12 |
Baptism | p. 14 |
Vindication from Sins | p. 15 |
Organization of the Community | p. 16 |
Summary and Observations | p. 17 |
The Renewed Covenant Community of God | p. 19 |
'Church(es)', according to Paul | p. 19 |
Assemblies Set Apart as Communities of God | p. 21 |
How Paul Addresses Members of the Assemblies | p. 21 |
Not as Christians | p. 21 |
Brothers | p. 22 |
Communities of Brothers: Brotherhoods | p. 23 |
Those Who Believe or Believers | p. 24 |
Holy Ones | p. 25 |
Called or Chosen | p. 26 |
Clarification and a Preview of Life within the Renewed Community | p. 27 |
Baptism: The Rite of Entrance into the Renewed Community | p. 31 |
1 Corinthians 6.9-11 | p. 31 |
Paul's Use of Hagiazo | p. 32 |
Paul's Use of Dikaioo | p. 33 |
Use of Dikaioo in 1 Corinthians 4.4 | p. 34 |
Use of Dikaiosune | p. 36 |
Romans 6 | p. 37 |
The Symbolism of Baptism | p. 39 |
Paul on Baptism and Christians Today | p. 41 |
Preparation for Baptism and Moral Life | p. 43 |
Didache ('Teaching') | p. 43 |
Baptism and the Salvation of Converts | p. 47 |
1 Thessalonians: The Place to Begin | p. 50 |
Polytheism, Antithesis of Paul's Theology and Moral Teachings | p. 50 |
Believers and what They Believed | p. 51 |
Faithfulness toward God | p. 51 |
Faithfulness toward God and Receiving the Spirit | p. 54 |
Spirit of God or Spirit of Christ? | p. 56 |
Faithfulness toward God and Beliefs about Jesus | p. 58 |
The Morality of Paul and Converts | p. 60 |
Determining Different Groups of Believers at Thessalonica | p. 62 |
The Case for Leaders or Presiding Persons | p. 63 |
The Leaders and Other Believers | p. 64 |
The Mood of the Letter | p. 66 |
The Mood of the Letter and Role of the Leaders | p. 67 |
The Challenge to Be Blameless in Holiness | p. 69 |
Paul's Ideas of Forgiveness and Those of the Author of Hebrews | p. 72 |
1 Thessalonians: The Place to Begin, Continued | p. 74 |
Work of the Leaders and Purpose of the Letter | p. 74 |
Instructions for the Unbaptized Group | p. 75 |
Called for Holiness of Life | p. 76 |
Faithfulness Is More than Belief | p. 78 |
Becoming Worthy of the Kingdom of God | p. 79 |
Imitate Paul's Behavior | p. 80 |
Paul Defends his Own Behavior | p. 81 |
Paul Pleases God, not Humans | p. 81 |
Further Instructions for Unbaptized Converts | p. 82 |
Refrain from Illicit Sexual Activity | p. 83 |
Men and their Sex Life | p. 84 |
Love of Brothers | p. 84 |
'Those on the Inside' and 'Those on the Outside' | p. 86 |
Instructions Specifically for the Leaders | p. 90 |
Concerning Brothers Who Have Died | p. 90 |
Concerning Those Who Cause Problems | p. 92 |
The Ataktoi | p. 92 |
The Oligopsychoi | p. 93 |
The Astheneis | p. 93 |
Final Exhortations to the Leaders and Prayer | p. 95 |
Converts as Moral Persons in an Idolatrous, Immoral World | p. 96 |
1 and 2 Corinthians: Morality Comes to an Immoral City (1 Corinthians 1-6) | p. 98 |
Polytheism in the City of Corinth | p. 98 |
Determining the Groups of Believers | p. 99 |
Where to Begin | p. 99 |
A Letter Fragment in 2 Corinthians 6.14-7.1 | p. 100 |
The Converts Addressed in 1 Corinthians 5.9-13 | p. 101 |
'Those on the Inside' and 'Those on the Outside' | p. 102 |
Groups of Believers in the Brotherhood at Corinth | p. 103 |
Paul's Greeting (1 Corinthians 1.1-3) | p. 103 |
Called to Be Holy Ones | p. 104 |
The Baptized Group, including the Leaders | p. 104 |
Paul's Thanksgiving (1 Corinthians 1.4-9) | p. 104 |
Being in Christ | p. 104 |
God Responsible for the Status of Being in Christ | p. 106 |
Being in Christ and 'Christian' | p. 109 |
Behavior of the Leaders | p. 110 |
The Group with Differences over Baptism and Wisdom | p. 111 |
Baptism | p. 112 |
Wisdom | p. 112 |
Paul's Relationship with his Converts | p. 114 |
Conclusion with Respect to Baptism and Wisdom | p. 115 |
The Group with the Immoral Man | p. 116 |
Punishment of the Sex Offender | p. 116 |
Paul's Concern for the Morality of All | p. 117 |
Analogy from the Jewish Passover | p. 118 |
Instructions for the Leaders Personally | p. 119 |
Paul and the Community at Qumran | p. 120 |
Brothers Going to Law against Brothers | p. 121 |
The Group for Whom Anything Goes | p. 122 |
From the Moral Standpoint | p. 123 |
From the Theological Standpoint | p. 124 |
Summary and Conclusion | p. 125 |
1 and 2 Corinthians: Morality Comes to an Immoral City (1 Corinthians 7-11) | p. 127 |
Instructions for the Unbaptized Group | p. 127 |
'Concerning the Things about Which You Wrote' | p. 128 |
Family Matters | p. 128 |
Marriage and Sex | p. 129 |
Why not to Marry | p. 130 |
Divorce | p. 130 |
Children from Mixed Marriages | p. 132 |
Ethnic Distinctions | p. 133 |
Eating Meats Offered to Idols and Idolatry | p. 134 |
Respect for Another's Conscience | p. 134 |
Paul as a Jew and Jewish Law | p. 135 |
Entole and Entolai | p. 137 |
Romans 7.8-13; 13.8-10 | p. 137 |
1 Corinthians 7.19; 14.37 | p. 138 |
Dikaioma and Dikaiomata | p. 138 |
Romans 1.28-32 | p. 139 |
Romans 2.25-29 | p. 139 |
Romans 5.16-21 | p. 141 |
Romans 8.1-4 | p. 142 |
Observations and Summary | p. 143 |
Paul's Language | p. 145 |
1 Corinthians 9.21, Again | p. 146 |
Warning against Idolatry and Other Evils | p. 147 |
A Moral Lesson from the Israelites in the Desert | p. 147 |
Idolatry and the Lord's Supper | p. 149 |
Another Group for Whom Anything Goes | p. 150 |
Converts at Worship | p. 151 |
Converts and the Lord's Supper | p. 152 |
Social Distinctions at the Supper | p. 153 |
Behavior at the Supper | p. 153 |
The Supper as a Remembrance of Jesus | p. 154 |
The Supper as a New Covenant | p. 154 |
Condemnation for Improper Behavior | p. 155 |
1 and 2 Corinthians: Morality Comes to an Immoral City (1 Corinthians 12-16) | p. 158 |
Review | p. 158 |
Instructions for Baptized Converts | p. 159 |
'Concerning Spiritual Gifts' | p. 159 |
Converts' Worship Different from Paganism | p. 160 |
Spirit Effective for Individuals and for the Assembly | p. 161 |
Love, a Way of Extraordinary Quality | p. 162 |
Speaking in Tongues and Prophesying | p. 162 |
Moral and Spiritual Upbuilding | p. 162 |
Neophytes or Amateurs (Idiotes) | p. 163 |
Prophecy Preferred over Tongues | p. 165 |
Paul and the Sect at Qumran | p. 166 |
Visitors at Worship | p. 166 |
Emphasis on God | p. 167 |
The Stone of Stumbling (Romans 9.32-33) | p. 168 |
Belief that Jesus is Lord | p. 170 |
Peace and Order in the Assembly at Corinth | p. 174 |
A Possible Interpolation | p. 176 |
The Resurrection of the Dead | p. 177 |
Effectiveness of Christ's Death and Resurrection | p. 178 |
Instructions for the Whole Brotherhood or Assembly | p. 179 |
Be Alert and Steadfast | p. 180 |
1 and 2 Corinthians: Morality Comes to an Immoral City (2 Corinthians 10-13) | p. 182 |
The Corinthian Correspondence | p. 182 |
Group of Believers according to 2 Corinthians 10-13 | p. 183 |
Baptized Converts, Especially the Leaders | p. 183 |
Three Passages Provide the Clue | p. 183 |
Leaders to Test Themselves | p. 185 |
Paul Defends Himself against his Adversaries | p. 187 |
Living 'according to the Flesh' | p. 187 |
Charges against Paul as a Person | p. 189 |
Paul's Qualifications as an Apostle | p. 190 |
Excursus: Obedience and Authority | p. 193 |
1 and 2 Corinthians: Morality Comes to an Immoral City (2 Corinthians 1-9) | p. 198 |
Groups of Believers according to 2 Corinthians 1-9 | p. 198 |
Key Passages | p. 198 |
Instructions for the Leaders | p. 200 |
Paul's Thanksgiving | p. 200 |
Why Paul Did not Visit Corinth | p. 201 |
Instructions for 'All of You' | p. 201 |
Paul and the Brotherhood at Corinth | p. 202 |
The Renewed Covenant Community | p. 203 |
The Transformation of the Body | p. 205 |
Baptized Converts as New Creations | p. 207 |
God Responsible for the New Beings | p. 208 |
The Righteousness of God | p. 208 |
The Collection for the Poor Holy Ones in Jerusalem | p. 210 |
Giving and Sharing as Service | p. 210 |
Galatians: The Morality of Faithfulness, the Spirit, and Jewish Law | p. 212 |
The Problem in the Churches of Galatia | p. 212 |
For Jews in General | p. 213 |
For Paul Himself | p. 213 |
For Gentiles | p. 213 |
For Paul and Other Jewish Converts | p. 214 |
Paul's Response to the Judaizing Problem | p. 215 |
Works of the Law | p. 216 |
Paul's Own Religious Experience | p. 218 |
Galatians 2.20-21 | p. 218 |
Crucified with Christ | p. 219 |
Living in Christ | p. 219 |
'Save' and 'Salvation' in Paul | p. 220 |
Salvation in Paul Compared with John | p. 222 |
Salvation in Paul Compared with Ephesians and Colossians | p. 223 |
Repentance and Forgiveness according to Paul | p. 226 |
Review and Preview | p. 229 |
Galatians: The Morality of Faithfulness, the Spirit, and Jewish Law, Continued | p. 232 |
Groups of Believers in Galatia | p. 232 |
Instructions for the Unbaptized Group | p. 233 |
Paul's Salutation (Galatians 1.1-5) | p. 233 |
'Another Gospel' (Galatians 1.6-10) | p. 234 |
Instructions for the Baptized Group | p. 235 |
The Basis of Paul's Apostleship | p. 235 |
Paul Defends his Position | p. 236 |
Abraham's Example of Faithfulness | p. 238 |
Righteousness through Faithfulness toward God | p. 238 |
Abraham's True Posterity | p. 240 |
Instructions for the Unbaptized Converts | p. 242 |
Circumcision, the Law, and Freedom in Christ | p. 242 |
Living by the Spirit and Freedom | p. 244 |
Final Reminder to Baptized Converts | p. 247 |
Philippians: Moral Life is Complete | p. 250 |
The Unity and Tone of the Letter | p. 250 |
The Brotherhood at Philippi | p. 251 |
Paul's Satisfaction with the Converts | p. 251 |
Paul's Idea of Sacrifice, the Scriptures, and Qumran | p. 253 |
Groups of Believers at Philippi | p. 253 |
The Larger Group, Those not Leaders | p. 254 |
Salutation of the Letter (Philippians 1.1-2) | p. 254 |
Paul's Prayer for All the Holy Ones (Philippians 1.3-11) | p. 255 |
Paul's Imprisonment and its Effects | p. 257 |
The Pauline Moral Ideal | p. 258 |
Instruction Especially for the Leaders | p. 260 |
Autobiographical: Paul's Religious Experience | p. 260 |
Being Imitators of Paul | p. 263 |
Final Exhortations | p. 264 |
Conclusion | p. 265 |
What Paul Does not Say | p. 265 |
Paul and the Scriptures | p. 265 |
Endnotes | p. 267 |
Bibliography | p. 283 |
Index of References | p. 313 |
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