The Holy Spirit and Ethics in Paul: Transformation and Empowering for Religious-Ethical Life

Description

Volker Rabens answers the question of how, according to the apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit enables religious-ethical life. In the first part of the book, the author discusses the established view that the Spirit is a material substance which transforms people ontologically by virtue of its physical nature. In order to assess this "Stoic" reading of Paul, the author examines all the passages from the Hebrew Bible, early Judaism, Hellenism and Paul that have been put forward in support of this concept of ethical enabling. He concludes that there is no textual evidence in early Judaism or Paul that the Spirit was conceived as a material substance. Furthermore, none of these or any of the Graeco-Roman writings show that ethical living derives from the transformation of the "substance" of the person that is imbued with a physical Spirit. The second part of the study offers a fresh approach to the ethical work of the Spirit which is based on a relational concept of Paul's theology. Rabens argues that it is primarily through initiating and sustaining an intimate relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and with the community of faith that the Spirit transforms and empowers people for ethical living. The author establishes this thesis on the basis of an exegetical study of a variety of passages from the Pauline corpus. In addition, he demonstrates that Paul lived in a context in which this dynamic of ethical empowering was part of the religious framework of various Jewish groups.Reviews of the first edition:"Rabens's book is a model of thorough research, lucid argument, and careful exegesis."Peter Orr in Themelios 35 (2010), pp. 452-455"Overall Rabens has provided us with a fascinating and convincing account of how the process of 'walking in the Spirit' takes place."Gary W. Burnett in Journal for the Study of the New Testament 33.5 (2011), p. 84"To conclude, I recommend this monograph for three reasons. One, it is truly a 'model' thesis in that it accomplishes its aims with clarity and simplicity. Secondly, it provides an excellent survey of Pauline pneumatology and ethics. Lastly, another benefit of this monograph is the intentional bridging of continental and English NT scholarship."Carsten Lotz in LST - InSight Spring 2011, p. 17"This is a beautifully written book, detailed, stimulating and fresh. Its central thesis is strongly argued and makes an important contribution to understanding Paul's ethics, theology and pneumatology."Jane Heath in The Expository Times 123 (2011), p. 138"R.'s study is remarkably comprehensive and well-informed."Gitte Buch-Hansen in Theologische Revue 108 (2012), pp. 118-119"Rabens's relational approach is carefully argued and will be of particular use to specialists in Pauline pneumatology and ethics, although the implications [...] will cause this study to be of interest to other specializations within Pauline studies in particular and biblical studies in general (e.g., cosmology, anthropology, soteriology)."Matthew P. O'Reilly in Religious Studies Review 38 (2012), pp. 20-21"And here is the strength Rabens' work offers us. Not only is The Holy Spirit and Ethics in Paul the work of a competent Neutestamentler who is able to realistically place Paul in both his traditional and contemporary context, but it is also a model of what effective biblical theology can offer the Church in a wider conversation."Mark Saucy in Journal of Biblical and Pneumatological Research 4 (2012), pp. 109-122"Overall, R. provides a fascinating and convincing account of the work of the Spirit in the ethical transformation of the individual."Archie T. Wright in Journal for the Study of Judaism 44 (2013), pp. 117-118"Systematisch klar, begrifflich hochpräzise und mit einem Interesse weckenden Spannungsbogen im Aufbau seiner Arbeit nähert sich Rabens einem 'Glaubensthema' und beschreitet dabei den Weg von der Frage zu den Texten. […] Von der Gründlichkeit des Autors zeugt schließlich ein über 50-seitiger Appendix, der die Forschungsgeschichte der letzten 140 Jahre zum Thema 'Paulus und Ethik' aufarbeitet." Hildegard Scherer in Biblische Zeitschrift 56 (2012), S. 306"In der Paulus-Forschung wird die Beziehungs-Dimension in jüngerer Zeit zu Recht stärker wahrgenommen. In diesem Rahmen bietet Rabens' Arbeit eine wichtige und meines Erachtens notwendige Auseinandersetzung mit einem Paradigma der Paulus-Forschung, die zu Korrekturen nötigt."Stefan Schreiber in Biblische Notizen 152 (2012), S. 141 Cover Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition Acknowledgements Table of Contents Abbreviations Chapter 1: Introduction 1. Rationale 2. Overview of Contemporary Scholarship with Specific Reference to the ‘Infusion-Transformation Approach’ to Spirit and Ethics in Paul 2.1. Diverging Explanations 2.2. The ‘Infusion-Transformation Approach’ to Spirit and Ethics in Paul 2.2.1. Ernst Käsemann 2.2.2. Peter Stuhlmacher 2.2.3. Friedrich Wilhelm Horn 2.3. Conclusion 3. Definition of Terms 4. The Thesis Part I: Religious-Ethical Empowerment through Infusion-Transformation. An Examination of an Established Approach Chapter 2: Infusion-Transformation through a Material Spirit? An Investigation of Paul’s Context 1. Graeco-Roman Literature 1.1. The Physical Spirit 1.2. Infusion-Transformation 2. Judaism 2.1. The Hebrew Bible 2.2. Qumran 2.2.1. Strategies for Interpreting Metaphors (Demonstrated in the Example of 1QHᵃ 15.6–7) 2.3. Joseph and Aseneth 2.3.1. The Physical Spirit 2.3.2. Infusion-Transformation 2.4. Philo 2.4.1. The Physical Spirit 2.4.2. Infusion-Transformation 3. Conclusion Chapter 3: Infusion-Transformation through a Material Spirit? An Investigation of Paul Excursus 1: The Alleged Concept of the Spirit as Immaterial Substance (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; etc.) 1. The Alleged Material Nature of the Spirit (1 Cor. 15:44) 2. The Alleged Infusion by the Material Spirit through the Sacraments (1 Cor. 12:13; 6:11; 10:3–4) 2.1. Infusion by the Material Spirit at Baptism? (1 Cor. 12:13a; 6:11) 2.2. Infusion by the Material Spirit at the Lord’s Supper? (1 Cor. 12:13c; 10:3–4) 3. Conclusion Part II: Religious-Ethical Empowerment by the Relational Work of the Spirit. A New Approach Chapter 4: Prolegomena to a Relational Approach to the Ethical Work of the Spirit in Paul 1. Definition of Terms 2. The Relational Model 3. The Centrality and the Empowering Character of Relationships in Paul and His Context 4. The Framework of the Relational Model 4.1. Philosophical, Theological and Anthropological Presuppositions 4.2. Pneumatological Presuppositions Chapter 5: Religious-Ethical Empowerment by the Relational Work of the Spirit: A Selective Discussion of Paul’s Context 1. Early Jewish Literature 1.1. Philo 1.2. Qumran 1.3. Traditions Based on Ezekiel 36:25–28 2. Graeco-Roman Literature 3. Conclusion Chapter 6: Religious-Ethical Empowerment by the Relational Work of the Spirit in Paul 1. Introduction: The Fundamentals of Spirit and Ethics in Paul 2. Ethical Transformation through Spirit-Enabled Contemplation of the Divine (2 Cor. 3:18) 2.1. How is the Transformation Achieved? 2.1.1. The Unveiled Face 2.1.2. Beholding as in a Mirror 2.1.2.1. Beholding as Receiving (Cognitive) Revelation 2.1.2.2. Beholding as Encounter 2.1.2.3. Beholding as Contemplation 2.1.3. The Role of the Spirit 2.2. What is the Result of the Transformation? 2.2.1. The Meaning of ‘Being Transformed from Glory to Glory’ 2.2.2. The Ethical Dimension of the Transformation (‘Being Transformed ... into the Same Image’) 2.3. Conclusion 3. Ethical Empowering through a Spirit-Shaped Filial Relationship with God (Rom. 8:12–17; et al.) 3.1. Relationships Individual and Corporate: Romans 8:12–17 and Its Cotext 3.2. Establishing Religious-Ethical Life (Rom. 8:12–14) 3.3. Empowered by the Spirit of Adoption as Sons (Rom. 8:15–16) 3.3.1. Characteristics of Adoption and Sonship in Paul (esp. Rom. 8) and His Context 3.3.2. Empowered by a Filial Relationship with God 3.4. View Ahead (Rom. 8:17) and Conclusion 4. Ethical Empowering through the Communal Work of the Spirit 4.1. Being Built Up by the Gifts of the Spirit 4.2. Participation in the Spirit 5. Conclusion Part III: Conclusions Chapter 7: Conclusion 1. The Results of this Study 2. The Implications of this Study 2.1. Further Implications for the Study of Early Judaism 2.2. Further Implications for Pauline Theology 2.2.1. Implications for Pauline Theology in General 2.2.2. Implications for Pauline Pneumatology 2.2.3. Implications for Pauline Ethics Appendix: 140 Years of Research on Spirit and Ethics in Paul: A Critical Overview 1. The Interplay of Spirit and Ethics in Paul’s Religion: 1868–1930 (From Ernesti to Schweitzer) 1.1. The Interpenetration of Human and Divine Activity (H. Ernesti) 1.2. Two Opposite Principles are at Work in Christian Life at Different Times (O. Pfleiderer) 1.3. The Spirit as Overwhelming Ethical Power (H. Gunkel) 1.4. ‘Dying and Rising with Christ’ as Unity of Passive and Active Ethics (A. Schweitzer) 2. The Interplay of Spirit and Ethics in Paul’s Theology: 1930–1990 (From Bultmann to Dunn) 2.1. ‘Being in the Spirit’ (Indicative) and ‘Walking by the Spirit’ (Imperative) Become One in the Moment of Decision (R. Bultmann) Excursus 1: The Relation of Indicative and Imperative in Paul – V.P. Furnish’s Response to Bultmann 2.2. The Sanctifying Work of the Spirit is the Spirit’s Witness to the Believer’s Acting in Faith (K. Stalder) 2.3. The Eschatological Spirit Enables Obedience from the Heart and Introduces an Intense Battle with the Flesh (J.D.G. Dunn) 3. The Interplay of Pauline Pneumatology and Ethics in Recent Scholarship Since 1990 (Horn & Fee) 3.1. Developmental Approaches to the Relation of Spirit and Ethics in Pre-Pauline and Pauline Writings Excursus 2: The Limited Scope of the Connection of Spirit and Ethics in Paul – F.W. Horn’s Response to Gunkel et al 3.2. By the Spirit Christians are Able to Resist Temptation (G.D. Fee) 4. Summary of Results and Questions Bibliography of Works Cited Index of References Hebrew Bible New Testament Early Jewish Literature Graeco-Roman Literature Early Christian Literature Index of Authors Index of Subjects