tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378025299582121922.post3748958297336389987..comments2023-10-26T06:30:14.934-04:00Comments on New Testament Perspectives: James Dunn on the 'center' of Paul's TheologyMatthew D. Montoninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16771037323124064875noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378025299582121922.post-776273773978305152007-12-06T01:31:00.000-05:002007-12-06T01:31:00.000-05:00James,Good to hear from you!The "in Christ" motif ...James,<BR/><BR/>Good to hear from you!<BR/><BR/>The "in Christ" motif also is attested in Paul's partcipatory suffering language (cf. 2 Cor 1.5; Col 1:24). <BR/><BR/>I think a good case can be made here as well. One thing these posts have shown is a lack of consensus for Paul's center!Matthew D. Montoninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16771037323124064875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378025299582121922.post-37245517361949894972007-12-05T22:43:00.000-05:002007-12-05T22:43:00.000-05:00I like this way of putting it - Paul's various sta...I like this way of putting it - Paul's various statements are practical applications of core beliefs and convictions. Although I am not in favor of imposing consistency where it seems clearly to be lacking, it certainly makes sense to look for an underlying coherence before jumping to the conclusion that someone is contradicting themself. <BR/><BR/>If I had to pick one particular idea that seems to be part of the core of Paul's thinking, I'd probably go with "in Christ". Nothing new there, of course - this has been suggested by Schweitzer and Sanders, among others. But it certainly seems to be the predominant way that Paul thinks of Jesus salvific significance. Through union with him, Christians have died to the present age and have begun to share in the life of the age to come, not fully but provisionally.James F. McGrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02561146722461747647noreply@blogger.com