God's Saving Grace: A Pauline Theology

by Frank J. Matera

Overview

Distinguished biblical scholar Frank Matera here views the theology of the Pauline letters through the lens of the saving grace that Paul experienced at his call and conversion. Focusing on Christology, soteriology, theology, anthropology, ecclesiology, ethics, and eschatology, Matera explores both the unity and the diversity of the thirteen Pauline letters.

Written in a clear and coherent style, God's Saving Grace presents students, professors, and pastors with a comprehensive yet concise and accessible overview of the theology found in the entire corpus of Paul's letters.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802867476
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	11/17/2012
Pages:	283
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Frank J. Matera is Andrews-Kelly-Ryan Professor of Biblical Studies at Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. His previous books include New Testament Ethics: The Legacies of Jesus and Paul and commentaries on Galatians, 2 Corinthians, and Romans.

Table of Contents

Preface xiii

Abbreviations xv

1 A Pauline Theology of God's Saving Grace 1

Introduction 1

The Nature and Challenges of Writing a Pauline Theology 2

The Character and Method of This Pauline Theology 5

"Paul" and "the Pauline Letters" 13

For Further Reading 14

2 Paul's Experience of God's Saving Grace 16

Introduction 16

Paul's Call and Conversion according to the Letters 19

The Letter Openings 20

The Grace Given to Paul 21

Paul's Ministry 23

In Defense of Paul's Gospel and Apostleship 24

The Change in Paul's Life 27

Paul's Call and Conversion according to Acts 30

The First Account 30

The Second Account 32

The Third Account 34

Paul's Gospel 35

Ways of Speaking about the Gospel 35

The Content of the Gospel 37

Paul's Apostleship 41

Coherence and Meaning in Paul's Call 45

For Further Reading 47

3 Christ the Embodiment of God's Saving Grace 49

Introduction 49

How Paul Identifies the One Whom He Proclaims 51

Son/Son of God 52

Christ/Messiah 56

Christ 58

Christ Jesus/Jesus Christ 60

Lord 62

The One Who Preexisted and Exists with God 66

In the Form of God 69

The Firstborn of Creation 70

Revealed in the Flesh 72

The Corporate Christ 75

Eschatological Adam/New Human Being 75

Living in and with Christ 78

Coherence and Meaning in Pauline Christology 80

For Further Reading 81

4 The Saving Grace of Jesus Christ 84

Introduction 84

Paul's Experience of God's Saving Grace 85

Humanity apart from Christ 88

The Plight of Sinful Humanity 89

Galatians 89

Romans 90

Colossians 93

Ephesians 95

Other Letters 96

Dominant Themes 99

Alienation from God 99

Under the Power of Sin and Death 100

Under the Powers of This Age 100

Under the Law 101

Humanity in Christ 102

Justified and Reconciled to God 103

Galatians and Romans 104

Philippians and 2 Corinthians 110

Colossians and Ephesians 111

The Pastorals 113

Redeemed, Freed, and Forgiven 114

Sanctified, Transformed, a New Creation 118

Waiting for Final Salvation and Glorification 120

Coherence and Meaning in Pauline Soteriology 123

For Further Reading 123

5 Living in the Community of God's Saving Grace 126

Introduction 126

The People of God 127

The Church as a Local Assembly 130

The Local Assembly as the Church of God 132

The Body of Christ 134

The Body and Its Members 134

The Body in Relation to Its Head 138

Ministry and Ministers 142

Gifts of the Spirit 142

Ministry as Office 144

Israel and the Church 147

Israel according to the Flesh 147

The Israel of God 148

The Remnant of Israel 150

The Mystery of Christ 152

Coherence and Meaning in Pauline Ecclesiology 153

For Further Reading 153

6 Living according to God's Saving Grace 156

Introduction 156

A Soteriological Ethic 158

A Spirit-Empowered Ethic 162

A Sacramental Ethic 170

A Love Ethic 176

An Eschatological Ethic 181

Coherence and Meaning in Pauline Ethics 183

For Further Reading 184

7 Waiting for the Final Appearance of God's Saving Grace 186

Introduction 186

Waiting for the Parousia 189

Waiting for the Resurrection of the Dead 194

Waiting for God's Final Victory in Christ 199

Waiting for a Heavenly Inheritance 203

Waiting for the Final Appearance of Christ 207

Coherence and Meaning in Pauline Eschatology 211

For Further Reading 213

8 The God Revealed through the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ 215

Introduction 215

God Who Calls and Elects 218

God Revealed in Weakness and Suffering 221

First Corinthians 221

Second Corinthians 226

God Who Justifies 229

God Who Is Faithful 231

The Righteousness of God 232

The Wrath of God 233

The Impartiality of God 235

God Who Raises the Dead 235

The Love of God 236

The Spirit of God 237

God Who Predestines and Calls 238

God Who Is Incomprehensible 239

God Who Shares His Name 240

God Revealed in Christ 241

God Revealed in the Economy of Salvation 242

God Who Is Savior 244

Coherence and Meaning in Pauline Theology 246

For Further Reading 248

Index of Subjects 250

Index of Authors 255

Index of Scripture Citations 258

Editorial Reviews

John P. Meier
-- University of Notre Dame
"Throughout my years of teaching, I have learned to look to Frank Matera as a sure guide to the thought of Paul. His commentaries on Paul's various epistles are sterling examples of profound thought expressed with clarity and simplicity. This new distillation of Matera's thought on Paul is to be welcomed by all teachers of the New Testament."

Marion L. Soards
-- Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
"Clarity of thought and expression distinguishes this fresh (and refreshing) contribution to the study of Pauline theology. Matera sets for himself the bold task of explaining how the thirteen different Pauline letters are related to and cohere with one another theologically. . . . This volume is a must for all who are interested in Pauline theology."

Michael J. Gorman
-- St. Mary's Seminary
"For some time now we have needed a contemporary Pauline theology that considers all thirteen letters without overlooking the differences among them. Frank Matera has given us just such a book. It embodies the solid, careful, yet creative scholarship for which he is known. Most importantly, Matera rightly stresses the grace of God in Christ that grabbed hold of Paul and shaped both his life and his theology. This book will enrich our understanding of that amazing grace."

Paul J. Achtemeier
-- Union Presbyterian Seminary
"Written with his usual clarity of organization and thought, Matera here presents a treatment of Pauline theology based on the Pauline material in the New Testament, not a theology of the historic Paul as best as we can recover it. . . . The volume represents a solid discussion of the Pauline theology upon which the church has drawn since its inception. The book is worth a careful reading."

A. Andrew Das
-- Elmhurst College
"Frank Matera's God's Saving Grace is the much-anticipated culmination of a lifetime of work. . . . Students will reap rewards from the comprehensive, yet manageable overview of the coherent message of the letters. Instructors will appreciate the confident, diplomatic course Matera steers through knotty issues. The result is simply elegant."

Theological Studies
"An outstanding example of biblical theology. . . . Matera's Pauline theology is the work of an accomplished scholar. A distillation of many years of studying, teaching, and writing about Paul, the book is a model of erudition made accessible to nonspecialists. . . . I can give no higher recommendation than to say that I have recently used this book with great profit in my course on Paul and his writings."

Trinity Journal
"Frank Matera draws upon his considerable expertise in Pauline studies to create a clear and insightful synthesis of the theology of Paul's letters. . . . Matera's book is characterized by both keen attention to the details of Paul's letters and sufficient interaction with major thinkers in the field. . . . A concise yet enriching overview of the theology of Paul's letters. Readers will glean immediate benefits from the book and find it a resource worth revisiting."

Catholic Library World
"Matera's book addresses the major theological themes of all thirteen epistles attributed to Paul, including those of disputed authorship. . . . Recommended as a Bible study resource for academic and parish libraries."

Interpretation
"For some time, both the academy and the church have needed a Pauline theology that engages all thirteen letters without overlooking the differences among them. This is such a book: not a theology of Paul confined to the seven undisputed letters, but a theological treatment of the entire Pauline corpus, the canonical Paul."

Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
"In this welcome contribution to Pauline studies, Frank Matera gives readers a compendium of Paul's theology that is relatively concise and yet covers the breadth of the great apostle's contribution. . . . If you want a reasonably sized engagement with the thinking reflected in Paul's letters, you could hardly go astray with this book. It is clearly the product of a mature scholar who has thought long and reflected deeply on the words of Paul and their implications for understanding the Christian faith. It is well organized and clearly written. He lets Paul's letters speak for themselves in a thoroughly engaging way."

Journal of Theological Studies
"I hope this affordable volume from Eerdmans will find its way into the hands of many readers of Paul and New Testament theology. In a masterly way Matera has again demonstrated his ability of conveying theology from the pages of the New Testament into a handy format for student on all levels."

Theology
"A wonderful treatment, which I would recommend as an introduction to the theology of Paul's letters for students, pastors and theological minded laypeople. . . . An accessible book written in a straightforward manner that avoids bulky discussions on esoteric topics within Pauline interpretation and is to be commended as a valuable resource."

Choice (American Library Association)
"A biblical theology of the Pauline epistles. . . . The book is well-written, well-argued, and well-indexed. Recommended."

Spirit & Life
"Organized and clearly written, this is a contemporary Pauline theology that looks with skill and scholarship at all thirteen letters attributed to Paul. It is a help toward understanding how Paul lived his life in terms of Christ."

Bible Today
"This is an excellent synthesis of Pauline theology. . . . A valuable resource for a broad, yet biblically and theologically literate audience."

Louvain Studies
"It was a wonderful experience to slowly digest the various insights which Matera's rich and evocative book put before me. There are many thoughtful and reflective readings of Paul's letters to be found here."

Biblical Theology Bulletin
"The task Matera sets for himself in this book is prodigious -- and he accomplishes it masterfully. . . . This is an excellent summary and starting point for understanding the theology of these letters. Theologians, students, and specialists will all benefit from this excellent text."

From the Publisher