Corpus-Paul

["David M. Scholer" <dscholer AT fuller.edu>]

Our CP list friend and mentor suggested that we might raise Pauline
questions for discussion (over/during the summer).

I want to enter two, probably small, questions.

1.   In the complete NT Pauline corpus (13 letters) the word "spirit"
(pneuma) occurs about 140 times, often referring to what later Christians
would call the Holy Spirit.  The Pauline literature uses the expression
"holy spirit" (hagios pneuma) only about 16 times (i.e., about 10% of the
time).  Why does Paul strongly prefer "spirit" over "holy spirit"?  why does
he use "holy spirit" at all?  is there any significance to the difference?
I think Galatians, Philippians and 2 Thessalonians never use "holy spirit".  

2.   Paul rarely uses the term "blood" (haima) with reference to the
salvific character of the death of Christ.  It occurs in two "eucharistic"
passages (1 Cor. 10.16; 11.25,27 -- or is this one passage?).  It occurs
twice in Romans (3.25; 5.9; Col. 1.20 and Eph 1.7 and 2.3 would belong here
- if by Paul).  Given the Jewish context of the early church and other
expressions within the early church (e.g., Hebrews), is Paul's use of
"blood" what one might expect? less? more? different? why?

3.   I would like (!) to read Galatians 6.7-10 as a text about Paul's
collection for (the poor/the saints in) Jerusalem.  But, clear evidence or
"proof" always seems elusive to me.  Can someone convince me?

4.   And, closely connected to this Galatians text, would anyone care to
discuss in what ways Galatians 6.6 "fits" into the flow of 6.1-5 and 6.7-10?

Thank you for indulging my questions.  [I will be away from my and all
computers for the next six days -- on a beach in CA, so my responses will be
slow in coming.]

David M. Scholer
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

David M. Scholer
Professor of New Testament and 
Associate Dean for the Center for Advanced Theological Studies
Fuller Theological Seminary
Pasadena, CA 91182
626-584-5288; Fax: 626-584-5251; E-mail: dscholer AT fuller.edu

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++