The Reverse of the Curse: Paul, Wisdom, and the Law

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C. Marvin Pate examines the undisputed Pauline writings and demonstrates that wherever Paul employs the theme of wisdom, he does so to reverse the Deuteronomic curses and blessings. The covenantal blessings rest on those whose faith is in Christ, the wisdom of God, while the covenantal curses abide on those who attempt to obey the Torah. All of this results from Paul's separation of Christ, God's wisdom, from the law of Moses. In addition, the author deals with two secondary themes. First of all, he calls the 'new perspective' on Paul into question. Secondly, a revised form of the 'Tübingen theory' is put forth. Both of these points call scholarship back to a more Lutheran reading of the subject of Pauline theology, emphasizing the importance of law and gospel therein. Cover Titel Preface Table of Contents Abbreviations Introduction: The Current State of Research: A Survey I. Forschungsbericht A. Wisdom and Law according to Paul 1. Continuity between Wisdom and Law 2. Discontinuity between Wisdom and Law 3. Discontinuity and Continuity between Wisdom and Law B. Paul’s Utilization of the Deuteronomistic Tradition II. The Procedure of This Study Part I Chapter One: Wisdom, Law, and the Deuteronomistic Tradition: Theocratic Interpretations I. Sirach A. Sirach’s Nomism B. Sirach’s Particularism II. Baruch A. Baruch’s Nomism B. Baruch’s Particularism III. Psalms of Solomon A. Psalms of Solomon’s Nomism 1. The Deuteronomic Blessings 2. The Deuteronomic Curses 3. Repentance/Restoration B. Psalms of Solomon’s Particularism Chapter Two: Wisdom and Law in Diaspora Judaism: Apologetic Interpretations I. Wisdom of Solomon A. Wisdom’s Nomism B. Wisdom’s Particularism II. 4 Maccabees A. 4 Maccabees’ Nomism B. 4 Maccabees’ Particularism III. The Third Sibylline Oracle A. Third Sibylline’s Nomism B. Third Sibylline’s Particularism IV. The Letter of Aristeas A. Aristeas’ Nomism B. Aristeas’ Particularism V. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs A. The Nomism of the Testaments 1. The Deuteronomistic Tradition in the Testaments 2. Natural Law in the Testaments B. The Particularism of the Testaments Chapter Three: Wisdom and Law in Jewish Apocalypticism I. 4 Ezra A. 4 Ezra’s Nomism B. 4 Ezra’s Particularism II. 2 Baruch A. 2 Baruch’s Nomism B. 2 Baruch’s Particularism III. Daniel A. The Nomism of Daniel 1, 8-12 B. The Particularism of Daniel 8–12 Chapter Four: Apocalyptic, Sectarian Interpretations of Wisdom and Law: 1 Enoch and the Dead Sea Scrolls I. 1 Enoch A. 1 Enoch’s Nomism 1. The Deuteronomic Framework of the Law in 1 Enoch 2. 1 Enoch’s Apocalyptic, Sectarian Interpretation of the Deuteronomistic Tradition B. 1 Enoch’s Particularism II. The Dead Sea Scrolls A. The Community Rule (1QS) 1. The Nomism of 1QS 2. The Particularism of 1QS B. The Damascus Document (CD) 1. The Nomism of CD 2. The Particularism of CD C. Miqsat Maʾaśe Ha Torah (4Q 394–399) 1. The Nomism of 4QMMT 2. The Particularism of 4QMMT D. Other Dead Sea Scrolls Conclusion to Part I Part II Chapter Five: Wisdom and Law according to the Pre-Christian Paul: A Theocratic Interpretation I. Paul’s Testimony Statements and His Pre-Christian Identification of Wisdom and Law A. Philippians 3:6; cf. Acts 22:3 B. 1 Corinthians 1:20 C. Romans 2:17–20 D. Galatians 1:13–14; cf. 4:4–6 II. Saul’s Nomism A. Galatians 1:13–14 and Saul’s Nomism B. Galatians 3:10–13 and Saul’s Nomism III. Saul’s Particularism A. Galatians 1:13–14 and Saul’s Particularism B. Galatians 3:6–9, 14 (cf. 1:13; 5:11; 6:12) and Saul’s Particularism Chapter Six: The Apostle Paul’s Disassociation of Wisdom and Law in Galatians: An Apocalyptic, Sectarian Interpretation I. Paul’s Apocalyptic, Sectarian Message (Gal. 1:1, 11–12, 15–16; 3:6–4:7) A. Apocalypticism in Galatians B. Galatians and the Deuteronomic Curses and Blessings Excursus: The Deuteronomistic Underpinning of Galatians 5:16–24 C. Galatians and Paul’s Mysticism II. Paul’s Halakhah: The Disassociation of Wisdom and Torah A. Paul’s Wisdom Christology in Galatians 4:4–6 B. Paul’s Negative Statements about the Law in Galatians 4:4–6 1. Paul on the Law: Galatians 4:4–6 2. Galatians 4:1–7 and 2 Corinthians 3:1–4:6 C. Paul’s Apparently “Positive” Statements about the Law in the Christian Life (Galatians 5:14; 6:2) III. Fideism and Universalism as the Two-Fold Result of Paul’s Disassociation of Wisdom and Law (Galatians 3:6–14) A. Galatians 3:10–14 and Paul’s Fideism Excursus: Jesus’ Death as the End of the Law B. Galatians 3:6–9 and Paul’s Universalism 1. Christian Gentiles as the Eschatological Israel 2. Israel and the Deuteronomic Curses Chapter Seven: The Reverse of the Curse: Wisdom Versus Law in Other Pauline Letters I. Romans 8:3(29); 10:6–8; 11:33–36 A. Romans 8:3(29) 1. Christ as Preexistent Wisdom a. Romans 8:3 and the Sapiential Tradition b. Objections to the Wisdom Tradition in Romans 8:3 (and v. 29) c. Christ as Preexistent Wisdom Incarnate 2. Paul’s Reversal of the Deuteronomic Curses and Blessings a. Paul’s Negative Portrayal of the Law b. The Reversal of the Deuteronomic Curses and Blessings 3. Paul’s Universalism a. 1:5–7 b. 2:12–16 c. 3:27–31/4:16–17 B. Romans 10:6–8 1. Wisdom Influence on Romans 10:6–8 2. Paul’s Reversal of the Deuteronomic Curses and Blessings in Romans 9:30–10:8 a. 9:30–10:4 b. 10:4 c. 10:5 d. 10:6–8 C. Romans 11:33–36 1. Christ, God’s Wisdom: Romans 11:33–36 a. Wisdom and Romans 11:33–36 b. Christ, God’s Preexistent Wisdom 2. Paul’s Negative Portrayal of the Law a. Jewish Usage of Isaiah 40:13 and Job 41:3 b. Paul’s Disassociation of Law and Wisdom with Reference to Isaiah 40:13 and Job 41:3 3. Paul’s Reversal of the Deuteronomic Curses and Blessings in Romans 10:8–11:36 a. Non-believing Jews and the Deuteronomic Curses b. Believing Gentiles and the Deuteronomic Blessings D. Apparently Positive Statements on the Law and the Christian Life in Romans 1. Romans 2:14, 28–29; 3:31 2. Romans 8:4 3. Romans 13:8–13 4. Romans 14:1–15:13 a. The Root Issue in Romans 14:1–15:13 b. Fideism and Universalism as the Results of the Preceding Identification II. 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30; 2:6–10; 8:6; 10:4 A. Christ, God’s Preexistent Wisdom 1. 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30; 2:6–10 2. 1 Corinthians 8:6 3. 1 Corinthians 10:4 B. Paul’s Negative Portrayal of the Law in 1 Corinthians 1. The Peter Party and Paul’s Opposition in 1 Corinthians 2. Paul’s Disassociation of Wisdom and Law in 1 Corinthians 3. Torah-Centered Wisdom Mediated by the Spirit and 1 Corinthians C. 1 Corinthians 1:18–3:20; 8:6; 10:4 and Paul’s Reversal of the Deuteronomic Curses and Blessings 1. 1:18–3:20 a. The Deuteronomistic Tradition as the Textual Underpinning of 1 Corinthians 1:18–3:20 b. Paul’s Redaction of the Deuteronomistic Tradition in 1 Corinthians 1:18–3:20 2. 1 Corinthians 8:6 and Paul’s Reversal of the Deuteronomic Blessings 3. 1 Corinthians 10:4 and Paul’s Reversal of the Deuteronomic Curses a. The Deuteronomistic Underpinning of1 Corinthians 10:1–22 b. Christ, the Wisdom of God, the Law in the Wilderness and Paul’s Reversal of the Deuteronomic Curses III. Philippians 2:6–11/3:2–21 A. Philippians 2:6–11 Excursus: The Background of Philippians 2:6–11 1. Philippians 2:6–11 and the Deuteronomistic Tradition 2. Philippians 2:6–11 and Paul’s Reversal of the Deuteronomistic Tradition B. Philippians 3:2–21 1. The Deuteronomistic Underpinning of Philippians 3:2–21 a. Verses 2–3 b. Verses 4–6 c. Verses 7–11 d. Verses 12–16 e. Verses 17–21 2. Paul’s Reversal of the Deuteronomic Curses and Blessings a. Paul’s Fideism: Philippians 3:2–21 b. Paul’s Universalism Chapter Eight: Christian Apocalyptic Interpretations of Wisdom and Law: The Judaizers and Matthew I. The Judaizers in Galatia A. A Historical Overview of the Crisis in Galatia B. A Theological Reconstruction of the Judaizers’ Message II. Matthew A. The Matthean Jesus: The Wisdom of God as the Embodiment of the Torah B. Matthew’s Nomism Excursus: Matthew 5:17–19 Excursus: Matthew on Paul C. Matthew’s Particularism D. Matthew’s Apocalyptic Orientation Chapter Nine: Christian Apologetic Interpretations of Wisdom and Law: Luke-Acts and James I. Luke-Acts A. Christ, Messenger of Wisdom and Torah 1. Christ, the Envoy of Wisdom 2. Christ, Messenger of Wisdom and the Torah a. Luke’s Reduction of the Torah b. The Apostolic Decree and the Noachian Laws c. The Sitz im Leben of Luke-Acts B. Luke’s Nomism C. Luke’s Particularism II. James A. Wisdom and Law in James B. James’ Nomism 1. James and Deuteronomy 2. James and the Diaspora Ethic C. James’ Particularism 1. The Recipients of the Letter 2. The Destination of the Letter 3. Three Pieces of Data in James 4. The Love Ethic in James Excursus: Deuteronomic and Pauline Influence on Luke 9:51–18:4 Conclusion I. Covenantal Nomism II. The Correlation of Law and Wisdom in the Christian Life III. The Two-Covenant Approach IV. The Eschatological Fulfillment of the Torah Appendix 1: A Critique of Craig C. Hill’s, Hellenists and Hebrews Appendix 2: Covenantal Nomism and Paul’s Qualitative Critique of the Law Appendix 3: The Tübingen School Revisited Selected Bibliography Acknowledgments Index of Sources Index of Authors Index of Subjects