Corpus-Paul

["Dieter Mitternacht" <dieter.mitternacht AT teol.lu.se>]

I agree that the emphasis of 1:1 is on the divine source and that Paul put
himself on a par with the Jerusalem leaders. What I find more difficult is
the assumption that usually accompanies this view, namely that Paul REacted
against opponents that questioned his authority. Rather, it seems to me,
Paul was convinced of his exceptional calling from the outset to such a
degree that there was no need for an opposition in order for him to proclaim
the divine source of his calling from the very outset of the letter. 1:16
("immediately I did not consult flesh and blood, nor go up to Jerusalem...")
illustrates the point. There was neither time nor need for dissent or
opposition in order for Paul to act unwarrantedly (so it seems to me)
independent.

Dieter Mitternacht
Lund University




----- Original Message -----
From: "Hyam Maccoby" <h.z.maccoby AT leeds.ac.uk>
To: <corpus-paul AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2003 8:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Corpus-Paul] Paul, an apostle, not from humans nor through a
human?


> When Paul claims that his doctrine is not from humans, he is denying that
he
> owes it to the teaching of the Jerusalem Church.  He is denying that he
has
> the status of a convert, since his source is divine.   In Acts 9, on the
> contrary, he is represented as a convert who received instruction, after
his
> Damascus experience from first Ananias and the other disciples of
Damascus,
> and then from the leaders of the Jerusalem Church.  Paul says nothing
about
> these human instructors, and claims he was taught by Jesus himself, thus
> putting himself on a par with the Jerusalem leaders. He is certainly not
> saying that he received his doctrine from the heavenly rather than the
> earthly Jesus, characterizing the latter as 'human'.  Such a concept would
> reduce all Jesus' earthly teaching to merely human status.
>
> Hyam Maccoby
> ----------------------------------
> Dr.Hyam Maccoby
> Research Professor
> Centre for Jewish Studies
> University of Leeds
> Leeds.LS2
> Direct lines: tel. +44 (0)113 268 1972
>                    fax +44 (0)113 225 9927
> e-mail: h.z.maccoby AT leeds.ac.uk
>                hyam.maccoby AT btopenworld.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark D. Nanos" <nanosmd AT comcast.net>
> To: <corpus-paul AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2003 6:14 PM
> Subject: [Corpus-Paul] Paul, an apostle, not from humans nor through a
> human?
>
>
> > Dear participants,
> > I am working on the topic of Paul's relationship to the Jerusalem
> apostles.
> > Virtually all contemporary interpreters understand Paul's oblique
> references
> > in Gal. 1:1 (also 1:10-11) to his apostolic identity being "not from
> humans"
> > (apparently meaning, "human agents") "nor through a human" (apparently
> > meaning, "human agency") to indicate clearly to his audience the (other)
> > apostles based in Jerusalem, since they (presumably) received their
> > commissions directly from Jesus when among them (when a human),
something
> > Paul cannot (does not) claim. Paul never explicitly makes this
connection
> > (human/s = Jerusalem apostles), but there are obviously certain comments
> > made in the text or in other NT texts that are understood to make this
> > conclusion clear enough that it is not generally questioned.
> >
> > Although it is clear to me how this connection is made in the
commentaries
> > and monographs on the topic (have consulted many), I am interested in
the
> > reasons why list members may find this to be so, or if not, what those
> > reasons may be. In response, I intend only to probe, perhaps with
relevant
> > questions, but nothing more. It is not my intention to discuss my own
> view.
> >
> > If open to the idea, I would like to solicit explanations (preferably
> > without reference to the work of others) to what texts or arguments make
> > this association of human/s = the Jerusalem apostles compelling, or
> > alternatively, not compelling, for you?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Mark
> > --
> > Mark D. Nanos, Ph.D.
> > 313 NE Landings Dr.
> > Lee's Summit, MO 64064
> > USA
> > nanosmd AT comcast.net
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Corpus-Paul mailing list
> > Corpus-Paul AT lists.ibiblio.org
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/corpus-paul
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Corpus-Paul mailing list
> Corpus-Paul AT lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/corpus-paul
>