OpenTheo

Q&A#104 How Do We Apply Pauline Teaching Given to Jews as Twenty First Century Gentiles?

Alastair Roberts

Q&A#104 How Do We Apply Pauline Teaching Given to Jews as Twenty First Century Gentiles?

February 14, 2019
Alastair Roberts
Alastair Roberts

Today's question:

"How should Gentile Christians situate themselves when listening to the New Testament's many sections which were originally directed towards Jewish Christians, but seem now in many ways to apply to Gentiles who have been raised in the the faith?

For example, large sections of Romans are clearly directed at Jewish believers (e.g. Romans 2:17-29), with the basic thrust here and elsewhere being the dangers for those who use the law to justify themselves whilst condemning others.

However, with most churches across the world now being predominantly or wholly Gentile, there will be few, if any, converted Jews in the congregation to create this tension. These passages, then, are usually reapplied as a warning to mature Gentile believers not to look down on others.

The logic of this "re-application" is obvious, as mature Gentile believers, standing atop centuries of Christendom, do find the religious Jews addressed by Paul easier to relate to than the recently converted, formerly idolatrous Gentiles he addresses elsewhere - and yet to identify with them seems to do a violence to both the text, and the categories of Jew and Gentile which God has created. Even though the dividing wall has been torn down in Christ, both categories still exist and matter in some sense. As a Gentile Christian, though my felt experience may be as an "older brother", the reality and categories of salvation history inescapably categorise me as a "younger brother".

However, if one preached and taught these sections with exclusive reference to Jewish Christians in congregations where you will never actually have any Jewish Christians, I imagine the result would be a lot of sermons directed at people who aren't there!

How then should we Gentiles situate ourselves when applying these texts?"

I mention John Barclay's 'Paul & the Gift': https://amzn.to/2EcE6oz.

My blog for my podcasts and videos is found here: https://adversariapodcast.com/.

If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curious Cat account: https://curiouscat.me/zugzwanged.

If you have enjoyed these talks, please tell your friends and consider supporting me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zugzwanged. You can also support me using my PayPal account: https://bit.ly/2RLaUcB.

The audio of all of my videos is available on my Soundcloud account: https://soundcloud.com/alastairadversaria. You can also listen to the audio of these episodes on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/alastairs-adversaria/id1416351035?mt=2.

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditCopy Link

Transcript

More on OpenTheo

Our God Contracted to a Span
Our God Contracted to a Span
Alastair Roberts
January 2, 2025
The following was first published on my Substack: https://argosy.substack.com/p/43-our-god-contracted-to-a-span. Follow my Substack, the Anchored Arg
The Person and Work of Christ with Brandon Crowe
The Person and Work of Christ with Brandon Crowe
Life and Books and Everything
January 31, 2025
Kevin welcomes to the podcast Brandon Crowe, a native Alabamian, an SEC fan, a Teaching Elder in the PCA, and a professor of New Testament at Westmins
Jesus' Bodily Resurrection - A Legendary Development Based on Hallucinations - Licona vs. Carrier - Part 2
Jesus' Bodily Resurrection - A Legendary Development Based on Hallucinations - Licona vs. Carrier - Part 2
Risen Jesus
March 12, 2025
In this episode, a 2004 debate between Mike Licona and Richard Carrier, Licona presents a case for the resurrection of Jesus based on three facts that
The Cosmos in a Tent
The Cosmos in a Tent
Alastair Roberts
January 8, 2025
The following was first published on my Substack: https://argosy.substack.com/p/5-the-cosmos-in-a-tent. Follow my Substack, the Anchored Argosy at ht
Called to Freedom (with Brad Littlejohn)
Called to Freedom (with Brad Littlejohn)
Alastair Roberts
January 15, 2025
My friend and colleague Brad Littlejohn has a new book coming out, 'Called to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of License': https://amz
How Should I Pray About Big Decisions If I Can’t Expect a Confirmation from God?
How Should I Pray About Big Decisions If I Can’t Expect a Confirmation from God?
#STRask
January 2, 2025
Questions about how we should pray about big decisions if we can’t expect to hear a “yes“ or “no” from God, what Greg means by “listening prayer,” and
The Idea That I Won’t Be Married to My Wife in Heaven Makes My Heart Hurt
The Idea That I Won’t Be Married to My Wife in Heaven Makes My Heart Hurt
#STRask
February 20, 2025
Questions about what the absence of marriage in Heaven will mean for you and your spouse, thoughts regarding two Christians signing a prenup, whether
Günter Bechly: Explosions in the Fossil Record
Günter Bechly: Explosions in the Fossil Record
Knight & Rose Show
January 7, 2025
Wintery Knight and Desert Rose welcome paleontologist Dr. Günter Bechly to discuss the fossil record. Günter explains why the fossil evidence is more
Jesus' Bodily Resurrection - A Legendary Development Based on Hallucinations - Licona vs. Carrier - Part 1
Jesus' Bodily Resurrection - A Legendary Development Based on Hallucinations - Licona vs. Carrier - Part 1
Risen Jesus
March 5, 2025
In this episode, a 2004 debate between Mike Licona and Richard Carrier, Licona presents a case for the resurrection of Jesus based on three facts that
A Very Special Episode with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
A Very Special Episode with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
Life and Books and Everything
January 16, 2025
There has been some concern that Justin and Collin have been kept out of the “very special guest” designation. In order to make up for past offenses,
A Special Episode from the Doctrine Matters Podcast by Crossway
A Special Episode from the Doctrine Matters Podcast by Crossway
Life and Books and Everything
February 10, 2025
Listen to a special episode of Life and Books and Everything promoting Crossway's new Podcast, Doctrine Matters.
If Christians Believe God Answers Prayer, Then Why Do They Buy Health Insurance?
If Christians Believe God Answers Prayer, Then Why Do They Buy Health Insurance?
#STRask
February 13, 2025
Questions about why Christians buy health insurance if they really believe God answers prayer and whether or not one should end all prayers about desi
Does Scripture Support a Christian Church Joining in Worship Services with an LDS Church?
Does Scripture Support a Christian Church Joining in Worship Services with an LDS Church?
#STRask
February 6, 2025
Questions about whether there’s Scripture to support a Christian church joining in worship services with an LDS church, whether it’s a genetic fallacy
What Tactical Approach Should I Take with Someone Who Says the Trinity Isn’t Biblical?
What Tactical Approach Should I Take with Someone Who Says the Trinity Isn’t Biblical?
#STRask
January 20, 2025
Questions about a good approach to take with someone who says the Trinity isn’t biblical, how to respond to Jehovah’s Witnesses who say Jesus received
Does the Bible Talk About Not Doing Anything That’s out of God’s Timing?
Does the Bible Talk About Not Doing Anything That’s out of God’s Timing?
#STRask
January 6, 2025
Questions about what the Bible says about not doing anything that’s out of God’s timing and whether Amos 4:13 and Isaiah 30:21 point to our hearing sp