Today, we find many seeking to understand Paul through the lens of the writings of his day. This is especially true of the NPP and its emphasis upon the theology of 2nd Temple Judaism. However, Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. Again, Rom. 3:21 states, But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Speaking on this, Herman Ridderbos, Paul in his An Outline of His Theology (Eerdmans), p.36, states, In order to understand Paul, therefore, one must not call in the assistance of the gnostic Systems, the mystery religions or the Hermetic writings, but rather seek in the knowledge of God in the Old Testament the source from which Paul has drawn even for the formulation of his proclamation. Let us not be impressed with such scholarship. But let us take Paul at this word, and let us allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. The Gospel is clear enough in the Bible (perspicuity of Scripture) that even a plow boy may understand it; we do not need the corrections of some special elite, whether from the Romish Magisterium or the Protestant academia.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:33:27 +0000
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