Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

corpus-paul - Stendahl and "two-covenant" interpretations of Paul

corpus-paul AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Corpus-Paul

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Terence Donaldson <terry.donaldson AT utoronto.ca>
  • To: Corpus-paul <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Stendahl and "two-covenant" interpretations of Paul
  • Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 12:12:14 -0400

While Krister Stendahl has often been linked with Lloyd Gaston and John Gager in a "two-covenant" reading of Paul, it is worth pointing out that in his recent book, Final Account: Paul's Letter to the Romans, he distances himself from such a position, expressing himself in a much more nuanced way. Referring to his essay "Paul among Jews and Gentiles,"  he says in the preface:

"The way I then expressed my thinking about Romans 11 has repeatedly been referred to as representing a two-covenant model, or two ways of salvation, one for Jews and one for Gentiles. In rereading [the relevant pages] I can see how readers could get that impression, especially so because I noted the similarities with the thoughts of Franz Rosenzweig (Star of Redemption). I should have spelled out how and why I felt -- and now more clearly see -- the two covenant model to be an _expression_ of `misplaced concreteness.' . . . My point is the mystery by which `the mission urge to convert Israel is held in check.' . . . To say more is to say too much. To say less is to miss Paul's insight" (p. x).

A little further:

"Paul foresaw the apparition of supersession and contempt for the Jews, and he called it a mystery. When I teach this, many Christian theologians say: `You teach two ways of salvation, one for Jews and one for Christians.' But I do no such thing. I would just call this arrangement God's `traffic plan.' And Paul called it a mystery" (p. 7)."

There can be no doubt that Stendahl's comments in Paul among Jews and Gentiles did much to stimulate two-covenant readings of Paul. But while such readings may seem to be the logical next step to his comments, he himself does not take this step.

Terry Donaldson
Wycliffe College
Toronto



Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page