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  • From: "Mark D. Nanos" <nanosmd AT home.com>
  • To: Corpus-paul <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: the role of the law in salvation-history
  • Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2001 09:51:31 -0500


on 10/3/01 9:10 AM, Billy LeJeune at billyl AT wcs.edu wrote:

> Dear Mark,
>
> Thank you for engaging me in the discussion; I learned quite a bit.
>
> To everyone else,
>
> Am I reading Wright wrong (pun) about Paul equating non-believing Israel
> as being no better than pagans. I mean "Is that what Wright says;" not
> "Is Wright right" though I would like to hear about that as well. I gave
> the Colossians commentary as a source; I have also heard it on tape. I
> also see the same idea in Richard Hays's "Echos of Scripture In Paul." I
> think it's in Chapter 2 where from Romans he says Paul equates Israel
> with Esau and Pharoah.

Billy,
It is likely that you are reading Wright right, but in my view Wright is
wrong on this matter, and sadly, perpetuates the supercessionism of the
traditional anti-Jewish readings of Paul in his scheme (imagine if you
would, substituting Christianity for Israel/Judaism in what you and Wright
have written, and tell me how this strikes you, and you will understand how
it strikes me to read such things; that does not make is wrong per se, if it
can be proven to be Paul's meaning, but it has proven to be harmful, and
should be, in my view, avoided, if possible).

I am less interested in what Wright has to say about Colossians for
understanding Paul (this is a methodological problem I have with engaging
your discussion), and still challenge what you have understood to be Paul's
arguments in Galatians equating Judaism and paganism. I do not find it in
the undisputed Pauline writings. Nor do I find the church equated with a new
or true Israel; Paul still knows empirical Israelites, and lives on their
behalf (Rom. 9-11), even in his mission to non-Israelites (11:13-15), and in
his letters to non-Israelite believers in Christ.

Regards,
Mark
--
Mark D. Nanos, Ph.D.
313 NE Landings Dr.
Lee's Summit, MO 64064
USA
nanosmd AT home.com






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