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  • From: "Roy E. Ciampa" <Roy_Ciampa AT compuserve.com>
  • To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Jewish origins of apostle
  • Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 11:22:51 -0500


I recommend K. O. Sandnes’ study, Paul – One of the Prophets? A Contribution
to the Apostle’s Self-Understanding (WUNT 2.43; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck,
1991). I offer here, mainly for bibliographical suggestions, the following
from pages 38-39 of my book The Presence and Function of Scripture in
Galatians 1 and 2 (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1998):

1:1–2. Paul’s reference to himself as an “apostle” most likely reflects the
Jewish concept of the SALIAH but evidently goes beyond that to suggest that
Paul is conscious of having something of a prophetic identity. [Footnote 3:
For a full study of Paul’s prophetic self-concept see K. O. Sandnes’ study,
Paul – One of the Prophets? A Contribution to the Apostle’s
Self-Understanding. The relationship between Paul’s claim to the title
“apostle” in 1:1 and his description of God’s call in prophetic terms in
1:15–16 suggests a somewhat fluid relationship between the two concepts in
Paul’s mind. See also Karl Heinrich Rengstorf, “APOSTOLOS” in TDNT
1:414–20, 438–41, J.-A. Bühner, “APOSTOLOS” in EDNT 1:144, Craig A. Evans,
“Prophet, Paul as” in DPL 762–65, and David E. Aune, Prophecy in Early
Christianity and the Ancient Mediterranean World, 248–62. Note especially
Evans’ comment on the prophets as “those who have been ‘sent’ (Heb SALACH;
Gk APOSTELLW) by Yahweh” (763). See Isa 6:8; Jer 1:7; 7:25; Ezek 2:3; Mal
3:1; 4:5 and Evans’ comment: “Similar language is employed in the NT, in
reference both to OT prophets and to Jesus’ disciples/apostles (Matt 23:37;
Mark 1:2; Luke 9:2; 10:3; 13:34; 22:35; John 1:6; 3:28; Rom 10:15)” (763).
See also Francis H. Agnew’s discussion of the “growing consensus on the
connection of apostleship with the OT sending-convention expressed by use of
the word group SLCH-APOSTELEIN" (“The Origin of the NT Apostle-Concept: A
Review of Research,” 96). Wayne Grudem’s study, The Gift of Prophecy in 1
Corinthians also argues strongly for an identification between apostolic
authority and inspiration in the New Testament and prophetic authority and
inspiration in the Old Testament. For the contrary view that “Paul’s own
concept of apostleship has its closest parallels, and most probably its
antecedents, in Syriac gnosticism,” see Betz, 75. In this particular text
the prophetic element is highlighted by the unusual syntactic relationship
that exists between APOSTOLOS and the rest of the clause.]

"Usually APOSTOLOS is connected to a genitive (2 Cor 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1)
or to a participle (KLHTOS) (Rom 1:1; 1 Cor 1:1). In all these examples it
is beyond doubt that APOSTOLOS is a title. In Gal 1:1, however, APOSTOLOS
is used differently, namely immediately followed by the prepositions APO and
DIA, and preserves its verbal meaning “one being sent” (cf. 1 Cor 1:17
APESTEILEN ME CHRISTOS ... EUANGELIZESQAI)." (Sandnes, Paul - One of the
Prophets?, 66)

Thus the stress here is on Paul being one who is sent not by men but by God.
Since the context makes it clear that God has sent Paul with a message (1:15
ff.) the scriptural background on God’s sending of his prophets clearly
becomes relevant. Although God sends other people in the Scriptures besides
prophets, that language is most typically applied to prophets, and it is
usually and characteristically prophets who are sent with a message. Paul’
s concern to show that he was sent by God rather than men reflects a
biblical concern for assurance that a prophetic message is of divine rather
than human origin.

-------------------------

All the best,

Roy Ciampa

_____________________________________
Dr. Roy E. Ciampa
Associate Professor of New Testament
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
130 Essex Street
South Hamilton, MA 01982
USA

E-mail: RCiampa AT gcts.edu
Phone: (978) 646-4083
Fax: (978) 646-4567





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