As I have studied the Apostle Paul over the last few years there are two books that I think everyone must read to understand his gospel and mission:
(1) The Book of Genesis
(2) The Book of Isaiah
You’re welcome.
Two books to read for those who want to understand the Apostle Paul
March 8, 2011 at 1:33 pm
nicely done
March 8, 2011 at 1:54 pm
@Jim: Thanks!
March 8, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Brian,
Yes indeed we see Paul quoting and using Genesis and Isaiah in Romans certainly. Note in chap. 9 thru 11. And also Galatians. Also Paul likes to quote from the Psalms toward Christ & the Gospel, Rom. 15:3/Ps.69:9 ; Rom. 15:9/Ps.18:49 (Sept.), etc. (About 12 Psalms in Romans)
Btw, Brian, you might enjoy Steve Moyise’s lastest book: Paul and Scripture, Studying the New Testament Use of the Old Testament? Also Paul quoted eight times I believe from Deuteronomy in Romans!
March 8, 2011 at 2:55 pm
@Fr. Robert: I did read some of Moyise’s book and it looks very good. I plan on giving it more attention in the near future. And you are right, Deuteronomy is another very important book for Paul.
March 8, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Yes, indeed.
March 8, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Brian,
It seems the Law, though fulfilled in Christ as Paul states (Rom. 10:4), is always still a subject of much interest for Paul! Part of my theological return to a Reformed soteriology, is this reality of Law and Gospel; which we see in both Luther and Calvin. As I have said, no Law..no Gospel!
March 8, 2011 at 4:09 pm
I’d add Deuteronomy to understand his ethics and Christology.
March 8, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Amen Nick! It is all wound tight for St. Paul! Oh how he loves and sees the whole so-called “end of the commandment” (1 Tim. 1:5-11).
March 8, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Brian,
It is here, “Deuteronomy”.. in and from Paul, that Calvin really pronounced his “theonomy” if you will. And as Richard Muller notes, “chaos” and “anxiety” were central in the exegetical basis of Calvin’s theology. I am once again, drawn back close to Calvin’s Pauline Christ & Christology. With Luther, here we see and have a christology of Christ-Cruciform, and all Christian life and ethics flow from here!
March 8, 2011 at 5:47 pm
@Nick: Indeed, Deuteronomy is very important. I was just talking with Josh Smith, who also blogs here, and I said that if I had three books the next one would be Deuteronomy.
March 8, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Nicely done. Second Nick as well.
March 8, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Brilliant!
March 10, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Genesis I kind of get from Romans. But, why?
March 10, 2011 at 12:35 pm
@Dave: In chapters 1-3 the discussion centers around human sinfulness and humanity’s relation to the created order. In 1.18-32 I see Adam as the character behind Paul’s description. In chapter 2-3 Paul argues that Jews and Gentiles share the same predicament, which I see as being Adamic based on 1.18-32 and 5.12-21. In chapter 4 we have the sin and death (Gen 3) and Abraham. In chapter 5 the aforementioned Adam-Christ contrast with more discussion on death. In chapters 6-7 the discussion is framed what by what it means to now be set free from sin and death, which are categories Genesis provided to this discussion. In chapter 8 the Spirit and resurrection hearkens back to Gen 1 with God’s Spirit hovering over Creation, Gen 2 with God breathing into Adam, and Gen 6 where the Spirit’s departure shortens humanities lifespan. In 9-11 it is back to Genesis because of the question of being descendants from Abraham and why Gentiles are now “adopted” while some of Israel is apostate. In chapter 12-16 it is more discussion like chapter 6-7 regarding what it means to be in the sphere of Christ as children of God, which was framed in chapter 5 by the Adam-Christ juxtaposition. So for me, I see Genesis from start to finish.
In other epistle Abraham is central to Galatians, Christ’s role in creation to Colossians, creation categories with gender roles in 1 Corinthians and the pastoral epistles.