Corpus-Paul

["rabbisaul" <tim AT rabbisaul.com>]

>----- Original Message -----

From: tiona AT comcast.net

To: corpus-paul AT lists.ibiblio.org

Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2005 9:47 AM

Subject: RE: [Corpus-Paul] Did Paul break the Law?

Tony uses "In Rom.10:4 Paul argues that Christ is the end of the law."   as an example proving that the law no longer exists. 

However, doesn't the word telos, which is translated end here, have a meaning more like "goal" or "point aimed at"?  If sin is defined as missing the mark or point aimed at, isn't Paul saying in Rom 10:4 that following Christ or walking like/as Christ is what satisfies or keeps the law?

It is just that IMO this verse does more to strengthen the argument that Paul was still pro law rather than proving the point that he was anti law.

**********

I don't see how that follows. Telos as goal is still a destination. If Christ is what the law is pointing at as a goal, the most natural understanding is that once "the destination has arrived," the pointer loses its function.

The idea of "fulfillment" would seem to be the underlying thought here, and that involves neither absolute discontinuity nor absolute continuity, but a filling-things-out that were anticipating such filling.

tim

 

Tim Gallant
Pastor, Conrad Christian Reformed Church

http://www.timgallant.org
tim | gallant site group