Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

corpus-paul - Re: Why were Gentiles attracted to Christianity?

corpus-paul AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Corpus-Paul

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "David C. Hindley" <dhindley AT compuserve.com>
  • To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.metalab.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Why were Gentiles attracted to Christianity?
  • Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 11:25:16 -0400


Erick

>>Re. your "The only Gentiles I could imagine responding [to
the appeal of
Paul's gospel of Christ] would be those receiving the least
benefit from the
current [presumably meaning Roman] government"<<

Actually I thought the response was to the kind of messianic
ideas that Hyam attributes to James.

Paul's buddies were already "above" the kind of peasants who
might overtly find the imposition of an alternate
kingdom/empire appealing, in the sense that they were
sub-retainers and functionaries of the elite power structure
and thus enjoyed the material benefits that come with that
association. That is why they include people like city
magistrates, members (slaves?) of the imperial household,
and Herodian princes. I do not think that they would
seriously consider association with a truly subversive
movement (bent upon the overthrow of the empire).

However, I doubt seriously that Paul was thinking so far
down the line as that one day he'd convince a Roman emperor
of the truth of his mystery religion. Actually, in my mind,
Paul did not create the mystery religion-like Christ dogma.
His mission was to promote the equality of Gentiles who
believed in God's promises to Abraham and *observant* Jews
who also had this faith. He knew nothing of Jesus. The
Christ dogma in his epistles was added later as an attempt
by a Gentile oriented Jesus faction to attract Gentile
associates of Judaism. It was this Gentile oriented Jesus
faction that had synthesized the savior Christ dogma out of
Jewish apocalyptic messianism and Hellenistic-oriental
salvation myths engendered by middle-Platonic musings.

Respectfully,

Dave Hindley
12305 Grannis Dr
Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125-4305, USA
216-663-0845 (office) 663-0846 (fax)






Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page