"In Christ" in Paul: Explorations in Paul's Theology of Union and Participation

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Nearing thirty-five years ago, E. P. Sanders famously stated that the center of thought within Paul's theology is participatory in nature - which, of course, caused no small debate within broad strands of Pauline scholarship. Sanders also suggested that we have no modern conception of what this thought might mean for us today. These two axioms of Sanders loosely organize the essays in this volume which seek to explore the complex notions of union and participation within Pauline theology through exegesis, highlights in reception history, and theological reflection. This collection of essays aims at teasing out the complex web of meaning conveyed through Paul's theological vision of union and participation - both in their relationship and in their distinction with one another. Taken as a whole, this edited volume constitutes a multi-disciplinary reflection and exploration of Paul's theological vision of participation and union. But it is precisely as a multi-disciplinary exploration that this volume hopes to chart new ground and make new connections within Pauline thought with the hope that further research might contest and/or clarify its findings. Cover Preface Table of Contents A Theological Introduction KEVIN J. VANHOOZER: From “Blessed in Christ” to “Being in Christ”: The State of Union and the Place of Participation in Paul’s Discourse, New Testament Exegesis, and Systematic Theology Today A. Introduction: the mystery of “in Christ” I. A man in Christ? Giotto’s “Stigmatization of St. Francis” II. Modern New Testament studies: recontextualizing Paul’s “in Christ” III. Systematic theology: “in Christ” in Reformation soteriology IV. Mapping the mystery B. “In Christ”: prepositions, history, and biblical exegesis C. “Blessed in Christ”: metaphor, redemptive history, and biblical theology I. Redemptive history and biblical theology 1. Election 2. Incarnation 3. Death and resurrection 4. Ascension and session II. Metaphor and biblical theology 1. Body 2. Temple 3. Marriage 4. Adoption D. “Being in Christ”: concept, reception history, and systematic theology I. Reception history and historical theology 1. Cyril of Alexandria 2. Jonathan Edwards 3. Herman Bavinck II. Concept and systematic theology 1. Formal concepts 2. Material concepts E. Conclusion: “In Christ” as eutopic theater Bibliography Part One: Pauline Theology and Exegesis DOUGLAS A. CAMPBELL: Participation and Faith in Paul A. Introduction B. Faith in Paul as confessional C. Faith in Paul as comprehensive, ethical, and ecclesial D. Participation and believing in Paul E. Believing and ethics F. The critical implications Bibliography CONSTANTINE R. CAMPBELL: Metaphor, Reality, and Union with Christ A. Introduction B. The power of metaphor C. Paul’s corporate metaphors I. Body II. Temple and Building III. Marriage IV. New Clothing D. Creating meaning I. Body II. Temple and Building III. Marriage IV. Clothing E. Spiritual Reality I. Body II. Temple and Building III. Marriage IV. Clothing F. Material reality I. Body II. Temple and Building III. Marriage IV. Clothing G. Conclusion Bibliography GRANT MACASKILL: Incarnational Ontology and the Theology of Participation in Paul A. James D.G. Dunn and Pneumatological Christology B. Paul and Participation I. 1 Cor 10 – 12: Eucharist and Participation II. Romans 8: Participating in Sonship C. Conclusions and Further Reflections Bibliography SUSAN G. EASTMAN: Oneself in Another: Participation and the Spirit in Romans 8 A. From Condemnation to Communion: Judgment and Participation in Christ and the Spirit B. The Spirit-filled Community: oneself in another I. The Relational Spirit II. Second-personal Identities III. The Spirit With and Between and Among Us IV. Kinship and the Kindness of God V. The Gracious Bond of Love C. The Cradle of Thought D. “Spiritual Experience” Revisited Bibliography MATTHEW CROASMUN: “Real Participation”: The Body of Christ & the Body of Sin in Evolutionary Perspective A. Introduction B. The Body in Evolutionary Perspective I. What is a Body? II. The Parousia of Group Selection III. The Body as “Adaptive Unit” C. The Body of Christ as Adaptive Unit D. Group-Level Cognition and the Mind of Christ I. Group-Level Cognition II. The Mind of Christ E. The Moral Ambivalence of Participation I. Descriptive vs. Evaluative Ethics II. The Body of Sin III. The Dominion of Sin F. Overlapping Worlds G. Conclusion Bibliography ISAAC AUGUSTINE MORALES, O.P.: Baptism and Union with Christ A. Baptized into Christ’s Death B. “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified” C. Baptized by one Spirit into one Body D. Crucifying the Flesh through Baptism for the sake of Unity E. Conclusion Bibliography MICHAEL J. GORMAN: Paul’s Corporate, Cruciform, Missional Theosis in 2 Corinthians A. Is “Theosis” the Right Language? B. Why We Should Expect Theosis in Paul, and Specifically in 2 Corinthians C. Theosis as Future Resurrection Glory and Present Cruciform Glory: 2 Cor 3:18 D. Theosis as Becoming the Cruciform Justice of God in Christ: 2 Cor 5:21 E. Theosis on the Ground: Cruciform Economic Justice in 2 Corinthians 8–9 F. Conclusion Bibliography MICHAEL J. THATE: Paul and the Anxieties of (Imperial?) Succession: Galatians and the Politics of Neglect A. Introduction B. The Political Ideology of Pater C. Fictive or Familial Continuity? The Example of Britannicus and Nero D. Paul’s Radical Recast? Father, Son(s), and Heirs E. Some (Theo)(Political) Conclusions Bibliography JOSHUA W. JIPP: Sharing the Heavenly Rule of Christ the King: Paul’s Royal Participatory Language in Ephesians A. Χριστός as a Royal Figure in Ephesians B. Pauline Participation as Sharing in the Messiah’s Royal Rule in Ephesians I. God’s Enthronement of His Anointed King in Israel’s Psalter II. Participating in the Rule of the Resurrected-Enthroned King in Ephesians III.Participating in the Benefits of the Messiah’s Rule 1. Participating in the Messiah’s Election 2. Participating in the Messiah’s Body 3. Participating in the Messiah’s Reconciliation and Peace C. Conclusion: The Royal Roots of Paul’s Participatory Soteriology in Ephesians Bibliography MICHAEL J. THATE: Paul, Φρόνησις, and Participation: The Shape of Space and the Reconfiguration of Place in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians A. Thieving Spaces and Placing this Study I. Φρόνησις and an Alternative Civic Template: Wayne Meeks II. Paul’s ‘Mixed’ Messages of Christic Being: Adela Yarbro Collins III. The Christ-Pattern: Luke Timothy Johnson IV. Ideological Re-mapping at Philippi: Peter Oakes V. A Place for civitas: Steven J. Kraftchick B. Theorizing Space and Place in Philippians I. Spatial Imaginaries and Contested Places: Laura S. Narallah II. Definition and Imagination: Space and Place III. Paul’s Spatial Imaginary C. Φρόνησις as Spatial Reasoning I. Revisiting the Archive II. Paul’s Spatial Reasoning D. Conclusions I. Φρόνησις as Spatial Reasoning II. Christic Being and the Spatiality of Christ III. The Field of Christ IV. Alternatives to Center and Periphery V. The Social Body Bibliography Part Two: Some Highlights from Reception History BEN C. BLACKWELL: Two Early Perspectives on Participation in Paul: Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria A. Introduction B. Irenaeus and Clement: Setting the Stage C. Irenaeus: Communion between God and Humans I. Union of Divine and Human in Christ (AH 3.17–19) 1. Divine Christ as Human (AH 3.17–18) 2. Human Christ as Divine (AH 3.19) II. Union of the Flesh with the Life-Giving Spirit (AH 5.6–14) III. Conclusion: Participation according to Irenaeus D. Clement of Alexandria: Assimilation to God I. Likeness to God as the Chief “End” of Humans (Strom 2.22) II. Gnostic Martyrdom: The Soul Drawn to God (Strom 4.6–7) III. Likeness to the Creator God (Strom 4.26) IV. Conclusion: Participation according to Clement E. Conclusion Bibliography DARREN SARISKY: Augustine and Participation: Some Reflections on His Exegesis of Romans I II III I. Propositions from the Epistle to the Romans II. Grace of Christ IV Bibliography STEPHEN CHESTER: Apocalyptic Union: Martin Luther’s Account of Faith in Christ A. Introduction B. The Human Plight: Luther’s Apocalyptic Anthropology C. Christ Present in Faith: Justification and Union with Christ D. Union with Christ: Receiving Christ’s Righteousness E. Union with Christ: Living an Alien Life F. Union with Christ: Faith and Good Works G. Union with Christ: Faith and Love H. Conclusion and Implications Bibliography JULIE CANLIS: The Fatherhood of God & Union with Christ in Calvin A. Fatherhood in Calvin: literary theme or cosmic reality? B. The Old Covenant: The Father’s Search for a Son C. The New Covenant: The Sonship of Christ D. Union with the Son: “our salvation consists in having God as our Father” E. Fatherhood, Union, and the Church F. Conclusion Bibliography T. ROBERT BAYLOR: “One with Him in Spirit”: Mystical Union and the Humanity of Christ in the Theology of John Owen A. Grace of Union B. Personal Grace C. Capital Grace D. Mystical Union E. Conclusion Bibliography KEITH L. JOHNSON: Karl Barth’s Reading of Paul’s Union with Christ A. Objectivity and Subjectivity in Covenantal Perspective B. Election, Christology, and Humanity C. Union with Christ as Vocation Bibliography Part Three: Theological Reflection ASHISH VARMA: Fitting Participation: From the Holy Trinity to Christian Virtue A. Ontology of Virtue I. Holiness of God II. The Economy of Virtue: Holiness of Christ III. Situating Our Holiness: In Christ B. Excellence in Christ I. Right Orientation: Simulacra vs. Participation in God’s Action II. Gratitude and Faithful Obedience III. Habits of Excellence C. Conclusion Bibliography MARY PATTON BAKER: Participating in the Body and Blood of Christ: Christian Kοινωνία and the Lord’s Supper A. A Mutual Communion with the Triune God through the Holy Spirit B. The Quality of Kοινωνία C. Participation in the Personal History of Jesus Christ D. Fellowship Embodied in Generosity E. Meals with Idols Versus a Meal with Christ F. The Lord’s Supper in Corinth: 1 Cor 11: 7–34 G. Conclusion Bibliography DEVIN P. SINGH: Until We Are One? Biopolitics and the United Body A. Of bodies and biopolitics B. Ancient bodies and the body of Christ C. From Christ’s body to the king’s two bodies D. The church and the machine Bibliography List of Contributors Index of References Old Testament Pseudepigrapha New Testament Ancient Authors Index of Names Subject Index