A Node in the Web of the Emerging Church

Paul: Friend of Christ

Posted Aug 20, 12:15 PM | 0 comments | by Editor | Link

By Steve Fowl, re-posted from reclaimingpaul.org:

I must admit that I am not sure where all of the fault lines in this conversation about Paul and the emergent church lie. Based on the earlier postings it would seem that Justification clearly seems to be one of them. As a way of clarifying some other ones, I offer the following reflection to start discussion:

“Grace to you all and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!” This is the way Paul usually begins his letters. These words are as conventional for Paul as “Dear … ” or “Hi” might be for us. They are tokens of friendship passed between friends who are separated from each other. Such words help remind us of our friends. Such words can even invite us into new friendships. Nevertheless, our eyes and ears can also gloss over these familiar forms because they are so typical.

In the case of Paul’s letters, however, this greeting reveals an important component of Paul’s friendships with his fellow believers scattered around the Roman Empire. Paul’s greeting is not his own personal offering of grace and peace to the Corinthians or the Galatians or anyone else. His wishes them grace and peace “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” At the outset of his letters Paul reminds his readers that they are part of a three-way friendship between them, Paul, and Christ. Unpacking the scope, the nature, the implications, the joys and trials of this three-way friendship comprise the bulk of Paul’s writings.

Continue reading this article on reclaimingpaul.org

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Steve Fowl is Professor of Theology at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland.