Anthropology of St. Paul

This is the 2nd installment of notes on the 3rd week of the class I am attending on St. Paul. Enjoy!

1) The Anthropology of St. Paul

a) Word vs. Thought

i) Terminology is very GREEK

(1) Uses Greek terms

ii) Understanding of humanity is very HEBREW

iii) The term GREEK in reference to philosophy is such a misnomer because it means anything from Plato to Aristotle to anything in between

b) Examples

i) Idea that human beings are born a mixture of good and bad

(1) E.g. Good angel, bad angel

(2) Good things come from the heart

(a) Jesus referenced this idea.

2) Jesus’ and Paul’s understanding of humanity

a) Goes back to Genesis 1 and 2

i) Genesis 1

(1) God created by use of word

(2) Story is designed to portray a royal procession

(a) Most important last

(b) “In image and likeness of God”

(i) Crowning point of creation

ii) Genesis 2

(1) Less transcendent than Gen 1

(2) Soul and Body embodied

(3) Much more simple than Gen 1

(4) Adam names animals

(a) Naming controls destiny

(b) Shows authority.

3) The Words of St. Paul

a) Image=Selem (or Greek Ikon)

i) In ancient world, statues would be used as authority reminders

ii) Therefore, we externally represent God.

b) Dominion-not dominion but radah, which means “to cherish”

i) We are to run the earth like God would run it, to cherish it.

c) Likeness=demut

i) We share in God’s glory

ii) He made us interior like himself.

d) What this all means

i) We participate in God’s glory.

ii) We exercise dominion.

4) St. Pauls understanding of Image and Likeness.

a) Lost in the fall

i) In fall, we only have a faint flicker, if anything at all, of God’s glory.

ii) Humanity, by its own choice, turned over dominion to satan as “god of the earth”

(1) Notice the lowercase g.

iii) These two characteristics are very general.

5) Divisions

a) Flesh is not equal to Body

b) Spirit is not equal to Soul

c) 1 Corinthians

i) 2 heresies of equal yet opposite intensity here.

(1) One went to total license

(a) Anything goes, the body is of no consequence.

(b) The body walks the soul around.

(c) Notice the incestuous relationship in 1 Corinthians

(2) One went to extreme asceticism

(a) We go beyond the body to the point of irreversible harm

6) More Anthropology of Paul

a) Kardia=heart

i) Has a very specific meaning

ii) This is the one where a person chooses to accept or reject God

b) Synedesis=conscience

i) Religious understanding

ii) Ability to discern religious truth because of knowledge of Christ

c) Nous=mind

i) The ability to understand

ii) Loosely connected to synedesis

d) The difference of synedesis and nous

i) Mind knows doctrinal stuff (nous)

ii) Conscience places doctrine into practical use (synedesis)

7) Utilizing control in our lives

a) The only way to hold these things in check (kardia, nous, synedesis, etc) is by some sort of external control on the unity.

b) 2 types of control

i) Everyone is controlled by something

ii) Everyone is a slave to something.

iii) See crappy graphic below for explanation

iv) If by self…

(1) Paul says you are in “disintegration”

(a) Mind, emotion, etc. is supposed to work as one

(b) Ends up being that mind says one thing, body another

(c) Death is final dissolving.

v) If by evil…

(1) It is self+evil

(2) Deeper struggle

(3) Try to do good, but reality falls short

(a) Romans 7

8) Final 2 terms of Anthropology of Paul

a) Sarx=Flesh.

i) Literally, of death things, a corpse.

b) Pneuma=Spirit

c) Putting it all together

i) Body/Soul describe person in how they operate

ii) Flesh/Spirit describes the moral/spiritual

(1) Flesh:Moral, Spirit:Spiritual

iii) Flesh does not mean body, spirit is not ethereal

(1) Describes relationship with God.

(2) Flesh=anything one does in living in dominion of sin

(3) Signifies human person in weakness and sin

(a) Dies and falls away

iv) To rely on oneself means one does not have the Spirit.

9) Bible verses

a) 1 Thes 5:23

i) Person has 3 aspects and only if Christians

(1) Soma

(2) Psyche

(3) Numa

(4) Non-believers get the sarx

(a) Will pass away into eternal death

b) Heb 4:25

i) Word of God like a sword

(1) Bone from flesh

(2) Soul from Spirit

ii) Shows dichotomy

10) Why Paul says what he says

a) Paul had to move out of Judaism to save people and as such had to explain things in a different manner

b) He had to explain why people needed a savior.

11) Ideas of God

a) Infinitely personal

i) God’s “wrath” is a personal term

(1) God is personally offended at sinners

b) “Good news”

i) Paul made this term

ii) Mark took term and made literature genre out of it.

iii) God sent son to show mercy, etc.

(1) Our personhood is just a shadow of God’s mercy.

12) How Paul describes sin.

a) Three tier process

i) Act

(1) Spoken of the least

ii) State/Condition

(1) Getting into original sin with this concept

iii) Power

(1) Why sin exerts the influence it does is because of the power it has over us.

b) The acts we commit are manifestations of the enslaved condition we are in to those over us.

c) One is either for God or for Satan, there is no neutrality before God.

d) Three Temptations

i) Of the Devil

(1) Pleasure

(2) Power

(3) Possessions

ii) John’s view

(1) Flesh

(2) Pleasing to eyes

(3) Pretentiousness of the world

iii) Examples of the 3 temptations

(1) Eve

(2) Golden calf

(3) Desert temptation of Christ.

e) Sin is a choice and an imposition upon us that exists

f) Sin is a personal choice, inherent nature and external power

g) Paul sums up all sin as being essentially IDOLATRY

i) Goes back to Mt. Sinai

(1) You shall love God ENTIRELY

13) Romans analysis

a) Paul, james and John say that if we love this world, one’s life will disintegrate

b) Anything can be an idol if we don’t understand them properly.

c) Bible verses

i) Rom 1:16-17

(1) One cannot live by the law and have no faith

ii) Rom 1:18-25

(1) Outlining adultery.

(2) The Gentile world in a nutshell

iii) Romans 1:31

(1) Senseless

(a) Plain stupid

(2) Faithless

(a) Lose faith in God

(b) Claim what you do is OK with God.

(3) Heartless

(a) From no faith to uncaring

(b) Careless of what others think of you or what you are doing

(4) Ruthless

(a) Passive hate to active hate.

iv) Rom 1 was about Gentiles

v) Rom 2 was about Jews and Greeks being in the same boat

(1) Not having the law doesn’t excuse those transgressions against morality.

(2) But, transgressions under the law are worse.

14) Paul’s view of God.

a) Paul had always viewed God in terms of Employee/Employer relationship

i) By serving and obeying, he would get something

ii) Unfortunately, obedience=perfection

(1) Can’t be done

(2) No one is perfect

15) Insights of Paul into purpose of the Law

a) Enumerates sin

b) Show it can’t be done (perfection)

c) Press to ask God for mercy.

16) Law eventually changed to the Beatitudes

a) Active charity required.

b) One who does charitable acts is good

c) If one does nothing, one just doesn’t break the law

i) No charitable acts committed

d) Commandments can’t save because they are mandatory

i) They are the core of being a human being.

Greetings and peace to you all, readers of this blog! As of late, my Bible studies have been temporarily suspended and have now gone into 6 week analysis of St. Paul and his Epistles. Needless to say, it is a totally cool class and I am learning a TON from it. Unfortunately, I accidentally missed the first class so here are my notes on the second class now.

1) Paul is a unique character

a) Born a Roman citizen

b) Practicing Jew

c) Educated

i) Trained in the best Rabbinical school

ii) Studied Greek logic and rhetoric

iii) Spoke 2-3 languages

(1) Greek, Aramaic, possibly Latin

d) Basically, he was a go-between the Jews and the Romans.

i) Could bridge both cultures.

e) Centers everything that he does around his meeting with Christ at Damascus.

i) Looks at Isiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel to understand his own vocation.

2) Paul’s Journeys

a) Journey one (45-49AD)

i) Shortly after conversion, begins to preach in Syria and Tarsus.

ii) Received many death threats from Damascus people

(1) Didn’t believe his conversion

iii) Goes to Arabia instead of Jerusalem, probably alone

(1) Reflected for 3 years on his life.

(2) Phillipians 3:7-11 reflects on those three years

(a) “rubbish” is literally “shit” in Greek

(3) Comes to conclusion that nothing on this earth is important, only God is.

iv) If Jewish faith was not all that it once was, he has to rework his ideas of salvation.

(1) Paul never believed in “once saved, always saved”

(a) “That I somehow attain it”

(b) Must suffer to conform to Christ

(2) Goes back to Jerusalem

(a) Apostles refuse to see him

(i) Didn’t trust him

(b) Barnabas had to introduce him to Apostles.

(i) Serves as Barnabas’ 2^nd in command.

1. ¼ of Paul’s life was spent not in charge

2. Shows methodology of religious teaching

(ii) Always traveled with 1+ people.

(3) Antioch

(a) Third largest community of Jews in the world.

(i) Strong Petrine influence

(ii) Gospel of Matthew written here

(iii) First place for baptized Gentiles

1. Only at Antioch was a group formed separate of the Jews

(iv) “Here called Christians”

1. Roman name, Christians didn’t call themselves that.

b) Journey Two

i) Fell asleep for this one… crap

c) Journey 3

i) Timothy and Luke with Paul (Cyril leaves)

ii) 2700 mile trip

iii) More relaxed, settles more often, takes time.

(1) Doesn’t just set up a church and leave

iv) Blamed for riot at Ephesus.

(1) Whole Artemis statue debacle

(2) Brought before another proconsul

(a) Arrested, spent time for a while

(b) Wrote to Galatians, Philemon, etc

v) Goes back to Corinth, plans for trip to Spain

(1) While here, wrote letter to Rome.

3) Book differences

a) Galatians deals with same stuff as Romans

b) Romans

i) Peter is still in charge

ii) Paul is very harsh on Peter

iii) Paul organizing collection in Rome to deposit in Jerusalem

(1) Paul is warned not to go to Jerusalem, however

(2) Arrested in Temple area (Jerusalem)

(3) Imprisoned for 2 years awaiting trial

(a) Since Roman, he gets a trial by Emperor

iv) Gets trial by Emperor in Rome

(1) Sent to Rome, waits another 3 years in prison

(a) Writes Ephesians and Pastorals (1&2 Tim, etc)

(2) Nero becomes Emperor around time of trial

(a) Executes Paul

(b) Peter killed 1 yr before Pail

(c) Was beheaded since he was a Roman citizen

(i) Roman citizen couldn’t be tortured.

4) Pauls 1^st view of God.

a) Religion practiced in OT is way different than Judaism

b) Judaism is much different now than then

i) Main function at time of Christ was to sacrifice at the Temple

ii) Modern Judaism actually newer than Christianity since temple was destroyed in 70AD

c) How God is portrayed in the OT

i) This is the summary of a brainstorming session

(1) Jealous

(2) Smiting (my pick, hehe)

(3) Fire

(4) “I am”à YHWH

(5) Creator

(6) Merciful

(7) Rock

(8) Judge

(9) Wrath

(10) Law-Giver

(11) Shield

(12) Holy (the attribute)

d) A note on Hebrew linguistics

i) There are no superlatives in Hebrew

ii) Example is “good, better, best)

(1) Good=good

(2) Better=good good

(3) Best=good good good

iii) This explains why we say “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord” in mass.

e) Paul is thoroughly Jewish

i) Faithful in revelation of God in OT

f) Heart of Jewish understanding of God=EXODUS

i) God reveals self in a personal yet strange way

(1) Bestows a name for Himself on His people (YHWH)

(2) But, he keeps his nature a mystery.

(3) Third commandment taken to mean that you cannot say the name YHWH in public services

(a) Catholic stance as well, at least as of late

(4) The all capital LORD signifies YHWH in translations

ii) Israel distances self from God and this starts the priesthood in Exodus

(1) All relates to God wanting to meet His people but people were afraid

(2) Sent Moses instead

(3) Levitical line begun

g) Differences in names of God

i) Elohim=God

(1) Used in self-dialogue

ii) YHWH= personal name

h) Bible verse analysis

i) Deuteronomy 6:4-9

(1) If Jews had a creed, this would be it

ii) Deuteronomy 5:6

(1) Extension of 6:4-9

(a) No idolatry

(b) Monotheism is very ADAMANT

(i) This is VERY important later on in these notes

i) God is the creator, the only One

i) Linguistics checkup

(1) Bara= creator, only used for God

(2) Mahal=maker, ONLY human usage

(3) Points 1 and 2 and are descriptions of God’s GLORY

ii) He must be acknowledged

iii) No idolatry

j) Though he had Chosen People, Jews realized that he was the God of all humanity.

i) Shown as light and fire

ii) These are physical manifestations of God’s GLORY

iii) Paul: I have seen the GLORY of the Lord

(1) Paul gives evidence of a physical manifestation

(2) Remember, everything centers around his meeting with Christ.

k) Paul doesn’t change God.

i) Absolutely accepts God as YHWH, the Covenant, etc.

ii) God is faithful and fulfills promises

iii) Christianity is the fulfillment of God’s promise.

iv) God is righteous.

(1) No longer an ethnic distinction

(2) Even in Prophets, we see God is universal.

v) Deeply affirms Monotheism

(1) Doesn’t attempt to lay down the Trinity for people.

(2) “God is One”

vi) God creates all things and is able to direct creation absolutely.

(1) God cant be surprised

l) Scripture stuff

i) Romans 3:1-9

(1) Even sinners glorify God in the eternity of Hell.

ii) Romans 9: 6-25

(1) Explains why Jews rejected savior

(2) Shows universality if Christianity

(3) Paul doesn’t try to explain this.

iii) Paul and Job both reject what they heard before.

iv) Paul never sets out to prove God’s existence

(1) Sees it as self-evident

(2) Romans 1

v) Ephesians 1: 3-14

(1) Most extensive description of God and His plan

(2) He already knew of us before we were conceived

vi) Ephesians 1:15-16

(1) The Jews and Gentiles are One under God

vii) Galatians 4: 4-7

(1) Sets out Trinitarian doctrine

(2) Sets into motion a familial and Trinitarian dichotomy.

(3) See crappy graphic below for explanation

viii) Slight change in nomenclature

(1) “Almighty Creator” is now also “Merciful Father” (Abba)

(a) Jews used Father in a TRANSCENDENT way (distant)

(b) This is because the Jews do not believe they have the Spirit.

m) Roles of God

i) God=Father of Jesus

ii) God=Father of us (saving way)

iii) God= father of all (as in creator)

(1) Not salvific title, so the lowercase is used.

iv) God is no longer transcendent--> is now intimate

(1) Jesus--> God is with us

v) How everything changed

(1) Almighty--> Merciful Abba

(2) Transcendental--> intimate (Jesus)(Son)

(3) Unapproachable-->biding presence (Spirit)

(a) Promise of Pentecost

(i) No longer a few people getting the Spirit

(ii) Every Christian, through Baptism, begins to have the Spirit flow through them.

(4) TRINITY HERE AGAIN

vi) Jesus is the perfect representation of God (Paul)

vii) Use of Abba

(1) Term that one cries out.

(2) Only one time written out fully in the Bible and that is during the Agony.

n) God is one but in some way contains Jesus and Spirit

i) Colossians 1:1-16

(1) Explains Trinity as well.

(2) Jesus becomes Creator in same way as God is Creator.

(3) No explanation given, it just is.

o) Ascension the most important part of Trinity

i) Returns the full glory to the Father but eternally remains human

ii) God humiliated self forever by becoming human.

(1) 1/3 of the trinity is fully human and fully diving

(a) Jesus is a divine person with a human nature.