The proposed paper will argue that τῶν θλίψεων τοῦ Χριστοῦ in Colossians 1:24 should be read with the natural force of a subjective genitive, as afflictions imposed by Christ upon the apostle. This interpretation is commended by the words of the exalted Christ concerning Paul in Acts 9:16, “For I will show him how many … Read more
Plērōma appears four times in Ephesians, with each instance suggesting the idea of completeness. In 1:10, Paul refers to God’s “plan for the fullness of time,” which refers to the completeness of time. The same word appears in reference to the “fullness of him who fills all in all” (1:23), the “fullness of God” (3:19), … Read more
Paul’s statement in Romans 5:18 concerning the universal sin of Adam has prompted frequent speculation about the scope of salvation in Romans 5:18b: “And likewise, through the righteous act of one human has come justification and life for all (οὕτως καὶ δι᾽ ἑνὸς δικαιώματος εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους εἰς δικαίωσιν ζωῆς). Apocalyptic interpreters of Paul like … Read more
If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, do I speak with the mind of Christ? The spiritual gifts of prophecy, tongues, and interpretation are gifts are often considered in debates between cessationists and continuationists, but seldom in the full context of 1 Corinthians. Particularly, how is Paul’s teaching on the gifts in … Read more
Paul’s statements in Rom 5:13-14 have long perplexed commentators. The fact that they constitute a parenthesis tempts the interpreter, if not to bypass them, to marginalize their place and importance within the broader argument of Rom 5:12-21 and of Rom 5:1-8:39. In fact, Paul’s three references to Moses and to the law in these verses … Read more
Paul’s words in Galatians 2:19 have been described as “paradoxical” and “without parallel” (Moo 2013), even “breathtaking” (Barclay 2015). Whereas νόμος and ‘life’ are consistently drawn together throughout the LXX and Apocrypha (Das 2014), Paul instead describes νόμος as an agent of death. In this paper I survey the agency of νόμος in the LXX/Apocrypha, … Read more
This paper asks whether pseudonymous letters can be used to form a Pauline theology. To find an answer to this question, the author considers letters as substitutes for one’s actual physical presence, examines the unique authority of the apostles of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, and looks at the available documentary evidence on pseudonymity … Read more
The debate around what roles women can and cannot fill in the church appears to have reached a stalemate with both sides often supporting their positions based on texts in the Pauline corpus. Those advocating for greater inclusion of women frequently focus on Romans 16 and Galatians 3:28; those who limit women’s roles tend to … Read more
Paul’s counsel to Timothy to “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Tim 5:23 ESV) has puzzled scholars. While the instruction is straightforward, its relevance to the immediate context remains a mystery. Key questions of this text are: What situation precipitated … Read more
This paper will argue that Acts 27:8–28:14 offers a plausible historical setting for the composition of Paul’s letter to Titus. After a concise review of the reasons why it is unlikely that Paul survived the appearance before Nero that Acts 27:24 anticipates, the paper’s argument will proceed in three steps. First, it will use the … Read more