Perspectives On Paul The Sinner -- By: Patrick Gray

Journal: Bulletin for Biblical Research
Volume: BBR 24:1 (NA 2014)
Article: Perspectives On Paul The Sinner
Author: Patrick Gray


Perspectives On Paul The Sinner

Patrick Gray

Rhodes College

Among other aspects of his writings, the New Perspective reexamines Paul’s moral self-evaluation in light of his Jewish background and his faith in Jesus as Messiah. Many scholars follow Krister Stendahl’s lead in finding a “robust” conscience in Paul and take this as one more element distinguishing the undisputed letters from the disputed letters. This article reconsiders the key texts in this construal of Paul’s spiritual career and explores the broader implications for understanding his thought.

Key Words: Paul, New Perspective on Paul, Pastoral Epistles, conscience, conversion, Titus 3:3–7, 1 Timothy 1:12–16

The New Perspective on Paul reexamines several different aspects of the apostle’s theological context, the development of his thought, and the later reception of his writings: his views on the Jewish law, the rhetorical strategies by which he articulates these views, the nature of justification, the relationship between faith and works, and Jewish attitudes toward Gentiles in the Second Temple period, among others. Two special features of this perspective are closely related in that they focus on Paul’s own view of his past and present self. Namely, it is claimed that (1) he was not a “convert” in the proper sense and that (2) he experiences no angst over past sinfulness and evinces little frustration in meeting the moral demands of Torah. Augustine and Luther typically receive the credit (or, the blame) for establishing the “Old Perspective” portrait of Paul as the paradigmatic Christian convert formerly wracked with guilt over his inability to merit God’s grace. A more precise chronology for the emergence of this paradigm has proven to be more elusive. Does it spring fully formed from the mind of Augustine? Or does it appear in any form during the three centuries separating the author of Romans and the author of the Confessions?

Put this way, the question is rarely addressed. But the New Perspective’s characterization of the Old Perspective portrait of Paul the sinner appears to rest on a particular way of reading the Acts of the Apostles and the Pastoral Epistles that is by no means peculiar to the New Perspective. The New Perspective duly notes Paul’s clear conscience. It correctly delineates, furthermore, the way in which Paul’s self-regard in this respect

problematizes the Old Perspective’s characterization of Paul’s view of the Jewish law. But it is very difficult to find significant differences between the undisputed Pauline letter...

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