Whilst Paul, as can be seen in his writings overall, had worked faithfully in preaching to all particularly the Gentiles, Romans 9-11 reveals his concerns for both the Jewish converts and the Gentiles predominantly in relation to their attitudes towards each other. For instance, the Jewish converts who had returned to Rome following their expulsion by Claudius,(10ce-54ce;Acts.18:2), were specifically concerned regarding the annulment of the Law which they
believed was required to make them ritually pure. While the main function of the Law was to maintain the holiness of Israel and protect its purity it also indicated that the Israelites were a
people called by God and set apart from all other nations.
Then again the Gentile Christians had a tendency to treat the Jewish non-Christians as inferior and rejected the concerns of the Jewish Christians for their non-practice of the Law.
Consequently, and similar to the historian Josephus, Paul in his letter to the Romans related the traditional Jewish story of their origins with radical Christian modification, (cf.Rom 9), to try and wean the Gentile converts away from the latent pride they had in being Romans. In doing so he undermined the story of Rome. However it seems that 9-11 was a clear effort on his part to reconcile the Jews and the Gentiles in their rationale, ensuring that they understood they were both equal in the eyes of God.
Therefore, and for the purpose of this essay, a succinct insight into Paul’s theological thinking will firstly be referred to, followed by a brief portrayal of the beliefs of Judaism as a
singular faith group. Then an in depth discussion of Romans 9-11 will take place which will portray the ingenuity of Paul in using vocabulary in such a way as to challenge his listeners who were both Jewish and Gentile converts. In bringing it all together in the conclusion the reader will finally understand why the issue raised in 9-11 is so important to Paul and why he uses the particular technique that he uses in his response.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Theological Thinking of Paul
- Judaism
- Romans 9-11
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The main objective of this essay is to analyze Paul's perspective on the relationship between Jewish and Gentile Christians, specifically focusing on the arguments presented in Romans 9-11. The essay aims to understand why this issue was so important to Paul and how he responded to the challenges it presented.
- Paul's Theological Thinking
- The Role of the Law in Judaism
- Paul's Argument in Romans 9-11
- The New Covenant and its Implications
- The Status of Jewish Converts in Early Christianity
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This section provides an overview of the context surrounding the issue of Jewish and Gentile converts in early Christianity, specifically focusing on the concerns of Jewish converts returning to Rome after their expulsion by Claudius.
- Theological Thinking of Paul: This chapter delves into Paul's understanding of the law and his views on the relationship between Jews and Gentiles, particularly his emphasis on the universality of God's salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
- Judaism: This section explores the key elements of Second Temple Judaism, particularly the role of the Law and its significance in defining Jewish identity. It highlights the challenges faced by Jewish converts who embraced Christianity, as their beliefs differed from the prevailing Jewish understanding of salvation.
- Romans 9-11: This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of Romans 9-11, examining the structure and arguments presented by Paul in this pivotal passage. It explores how Paul uses language and rhetoric to address the concerns of both Jewish and Gentile converts, highlighting the importance of the new covenant and the universality of God's grace.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary keywords and focus topics of this essay include: Paul, Romans 9-11, Jewish converts, Gentile converts, Law, covenant, faith, justification, salvation, new covenant, Christ, theodicy, hermeneutics, polyvalence, rhetorical suspense, and the New Perspective.
- Citation du texte
- Bernadette O'Connor (Auteur), 2010, Why Is the Issue Raised in Romans 9-11 So Important for Paul and How Does He Respond?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/148426
