The “With Christ” Motif In Paul’s Thought -- By: John D. Harvey

Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 35:3 (Sep 1992)
Article: The “With Christ” Motif In Paul’s Thought
Author: John D. Harvey


The “With Christ” Motif In Paul’s Thought

John D. Harvey*

Although Paul uses the “with Christ” motif 36 times in his letters, few extended treatments of the theme have been attempted. Some authors have touched on the idea in passing, but more attention has been given to Paul’s use of “in Christ.”1 When the “with Christ” concept is addressed, it is frequently associated with Paul’s eschatology. There is evidence, however, that the phrase relates equally well to the Christian’s redemption and new life in Christ. The following study will seek to examine the available data and reach some conclusions about how Paul uses the phrase “with Christ.”

I. Survey Of Previous Work

Lohmeyer has written the premier study on the subject.2 Although he acknowledges the presence of the syn-compounds he chooses to work primarily with the phrase “to be with Christ” (syn Christōœ einai ). For Loh-meyer this phrase does not speak of one happening but of an existence. It expresses the certainty of being removed from this world and of breaking into another world of time and space.

For Schnackenburg the true idea of “with Christ” is sacramental. He thinks that Paul used the phrase to express a double idea: “present sacramental unity with Christ, and the fulfillment with him of his once-for-all death.”3 Schnackenburg concedes that in certain passages there is a future idea attached to “with Christ,” but he believes that it is part of a pre-Pauline eschatological tradition.

Schweizer seeks to strike a balance between the preceding positions.4 He places the “with Christ” idea in three categories: (1) uses found in apocalyptic contexts, (2) uses found in baptismal contexts, and (3) uses found in combined apocalyptic-baptismal contexts. For Schweizer the key is that baptism is an anticipation of eschatological life. As such it anticipates the change of eons by transferring the believer into the coming kingdom.

*John Harvey is a teaching fellow at Columbia Biblical Seminary, P.O. Box 3122, Columbia, SC 29230–3122.

With the apparent variety of ideas expressed by “with Christ” it is not surprising that there are many other suggestions for understanding it. E. P. Sanders, in keeping with his concept of participationist eschatology, sees it as a “transfer term” and focuses on the transfer of lordship that takes place by participation in Christ’s death.

visitor : : uid: ()