week 7 theo interpretation of the church

THE THEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURELECTURE SEVEN: CHURCH

The Metanarrative

Creation Fall Israel Jesus Church New Creation

The Metanarrative

Jesus:

Great Commission:- Mt. 28

Matthew 2816 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 2816 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

It is difficult to express how crucial this passage is for Christian theology.

Jesus:

Great Commission:- Themes:

‣Worship coexists with doubt.‣Cross and Resurrection grant Christ “all authority”

‣The movement turns toward “nations” (first time)

‣Baptism (not circumcision) is the initiatory rite.

‣The three-fold Name [note the singularity].‣A continued presence promised -“with you always”

Jesus:

Ascension:- Q: What is its purpose (or function)?

Acts 14 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 19 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Jesus:

1.Enthronement of Son of Man / Great High Priest‣Daniel 7

Daniel 713 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Perhaps the MOST important OT text for NT Christology.

Hebrews 10But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God

This too is a reference to Daniel 7…

Jesus:

1.Enthronement of Son of Man / Great High Priest‣Daniel 7 (Heb. 10)

2.Enables the Spirit’s sending.

‣John 16.7: “Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” [speaking of cross, but not limited to that]

Jesus:

‣John 16.7:

3.Emphasizes Christ’s eternal humanity / physicality

‣Douglas Farrow

DOUGLAS FARROW

“Our choice is between a doctrine of the Ascension that truly affirms our humanity in Christ and one that secretly or openly denies it…Our future involves incalculable transformations, but a real man will be there, and a real garden too, though we know not what will grow there, or how.”

GREATEST LIVING SCHOLAR OF THE ASCENSION.

Jesus:

‣John 16.7:

‣Douglas Farrow

Jesus:

‣John 16.7:

‣N.T. Wright: God always intended to have human being at the helm of his creation.

The Metanarrative

Church:

Pentecost- Acts 2

Acts 21When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Church:

Pentecost- The church is born as God’s Spirit fills human bodies, making them his temple.‣Three Signs:

1.Wind (Symbolism?)

2.Fire (Symbolism?)

Flames on lamp-stands symbolize God’s

presence in his temple:

See especially the use in Revelation

Church:

Pentecost- The church is born as God’s Spirit fills human bodies, making them his temple.‣Three Signs:

1.Wind (Symbolism?)

2.Fire (Symbolism?)

3.Languages (Symbolism?)• The overcoming of the effects Babel• Note how redemption is never a mere reversion (Garden > City; Diversity but with understanding)

Church:

Pentecost- OT Promises on the Pouring out of the Spirit:‣Upon the Servant Messiah (Isa. 42.1)

Church:

Pentecost- OT Promises on the Pouring out of the Spirit:‣Upon the Servant Messiah (Isa. 42.1)

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

and he will bring justice to the nations.

Church:

Pentecost- OT Promises on the Pouring out of the Spirit:‣Upon the Servant Messiah (Isa. 42.1)‣Upon Israel (Ezek. 37.14)

13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”

Church:

Pentecost- OT Promises on the Pouring out of the Spirit:‣Upon the Servant Messiah (Isa. 42.1)‣Upon Israel (Ezek. 37.14)‣Upon All People (Joel 2)

Church:

28 “And afterward,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams,

your young men will see visions.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Church:

29 Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Church:

The New Testament follows this exact progression.Yet in Acts 2 we are still dealing exclusively with Jews.

Church:

Two Symbols of the New Covenant- Baptism

‣Significance?‣Key Question: Its relationship to circumcision

- Eucharist‣Significance?‣Key Question: Its literal and/or symbolic nature

Church:

The Spirit falls on Gentiles:- Key Text: Acts 10 - Peter and Cornelius

‣Artistic Representations:

Church:

‣Sheet contains clean and unclean animals together.

Acts 1011 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.

12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

Acts 1011 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.

12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

God doesn’t simply say that it’s okay for Gentiles to eat

“unclean animals”He commands Peter to do so too.

Church:

‣Sheet contains clean and unclean animals together.๏ In the Torah, clean and unclean animals were always symbolic of clean and unclean people.

‣When the Spirit fills uncircumcised, non-kosher Gentiles, this is proof that such practices must not be required.๏Acts 10.44

Acts 1044 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Church:

‣Sheet contains clean and unclean animals together.๏ In the Torah, clean and unclean animals were always symbolic of clean and unclean people.

‣When the Spirit fills uncircumcised, non-kosher Gentiles, this is proof that such practices must not be required.Yet the church will resist the Spirit here;

It will take a very unlikely convert to drive this point home.

Church:

Paul’s Gospel:

PAUL OF TARSUSTHE INVENTOR(?) OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

Church:

Paul’s Gospel:- N.T. Wright’s Description:

N.T. Wright Paul and the Faithfulness

of God

My proposal is that Paul actually invents something we may call “Christian theology,” in this particular way (Jewish beliefs about God, reworked around Messiah and Spirit), for this particular purpose (maintaining the new messianic people in good order).

Note:He is NOT claiming that Paul invents Christianity.He is claiming that Paul was the first to engage in

a rigorous Christian “theologizing.”Remember:

Paul wrote his letters BEFORE the Gospels were written.

Church:

Paul’s Gospel:- N.T. Wright’s Description: “The Paul Cube”

The Paul CubeN.T. Wright: Paul and the Faithfulness of God

Jewish Theology:• Monotheism• Election • Eschatology

For the:Gentile world

Redefined by:

• Jesu

•Spirit

Foundation: Hebrew Scriptures

Wright: This explains ALL that Paul does and writes.

Church:

Paul’s Gospel:- Background:

‣Perhaps a Shammaite Pharisee (“purity” / “zeal”)

‣Student of Gamaliel (clearly gifted intellectually)

‣Persecution stemmed from his pre-Christian view of (1) monotheism; (2) election; (2) eschatology.

- Damascus Road Experience:‣Seyoon Kim - The Origin of Paul’s Gospel

๏ Apostleship; Gentile Mission; Church as Body of Christ - All stem from Damascus Road Encounter

Church:

Paul’s Gospel: (again borrowing from Wright).- “A Jewish theology for a Gentile world.”

‣Example: 1 Corinthians 10‣Paul sees himself as “apostle to Gentiles” (Rom.11)

‣In this pagan / licentious / Gentile city, Paul’s tactic is to get the Corinthian church to see themselves within the story of Israel.

Ancient Corinth

1 Corinthians 101For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

1 Corinthians 101For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

1 Corinthians 106Now these things occurred as examples [tupoi- types] to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

1 Corinthians 1011 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Church:

‣1 Corinthians 10 ๏ The point: You stand in a position like that of the Exodus generation.- You were in bondage/slavery- Delivered by blood of Lamb- Passed through the waters (baptism)- But…don’t rebel like they did.

1 Corinthians 1011 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Sidenote:One might argue that Paul never got the

memo about “eternal security.” It was possible to leave Egypt and yet fail to

reach the promised land.

Church:

‣1 Corinthians 10 ๏ The point: You stand in a position like that of the Exodus generation.- You were in bondage/slavery- Delivered by blood of Lamb- Passed through the waters (baptism)- But…don’t rebel like they did.

Church:

‣1 Corinthians 10 ๏ “That rock was Christ!” (Terrible exegesis?)

Church:

‣1 Corinthians 10 ๏ “That rock was Christ!” (Terrible exegesis?)- Exod. 17- Israel Grumbles, yet God says:

17.6 I will stand there before you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.”

Church:

‣1 Corinthians 10 ๏ “That rock was Christ!”

- Edmund Clowney: This is a foreshadowing of Penal Substitution.

Church:

‣Abraham and justification by faith (Rom. 4)

Romans 41What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? …3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” […]

9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.

Church:

‣Abraham and justification by faith (Rom. 4)๏ Paul’s point is that justification has ALWAYS functioned thus - By grace, through faith, expressing itself in loving obedience.

Galatians 54 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Church:

‣Abraham and justification by faith (Rom. 4)๏ Paul’s point is that justification has ALWAYS functioned thus - By grace, through faith, expressing itself in loving obedience.

๏ Using Abraham quells Gentile anti-Semitism.

๏ Emphasizing Abraham’s justification apart from Law or circumcision rebuts Jewish legalism

Church:

Paul’s Gospel: (again borrowing from Wright).- “A welcome of Gentiles designed to make Jews jealous (and thus bring them to Christ).”‣Romans 11

Romans 1111 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Church:

Paul’s Gospel: (again borrowing from Wright).- “A welcome of Gentiles designed to make Jews jealous (and thus bring them to Christ).”‣Q: What is Paul’s plan to accomplish this?‣A: His “collection” (A “polite bribe”?)

A problematic, yet partly accurate portrayal of this collection:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg5bATZkoc4

Church:

Paul’s Gospel: (again borrowing from Wright).- “A welcome of Gentiles designed to make Jews jealous (and thus bring them to Christ).”‣Q: What is Paul’s plan to accomplish this?‣A: His “collection” (A “polite bribe”?)‣While Paul’s trip to Jerusalem ends in betrayal…

2 Timothy 416 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them

17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

2 Timothy 416 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them

17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

This may include James and many other Jewish Christians

Church:

Paul’s Gospel: (again borrowing from Wright).- “A welcome of Gentiles designed to make Jews jealous (and thus bring them to Christ).”‣Q: What is Paul’s plan to accomplish this?‣A: His “collection” (A “polite bribe”?)‣While Paul’s trip to Jerusalem ends in betrayal, his imprisonment and suffering become the means by which the gospel spreads.

Church:

Paul’s Gospel: (again borrowing from Wright).- “A welcome of Gentiles designed to make Jews jealous (and thus bring them to Christ).”‣Q: What is Paul’s plan to accomplish this?‣A: His “collection” (A “polite bribe”?)‣While Paul’s trip to Jerusalem ends in betrayal, his imprisonment and suffering become the means by which the gospel spreads.

This is also true for the church at large.

Church:

The Triumph of the Lamb (Victory through Suffering)- A Paradox: Christ’s church conquers, not by worldly power plays, but by sacrificial (suffering) love.‣Example: 2 Cor. 4.12

2 Corinthians 414 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

Romans 121Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Church:

The Triumph of the Lamb (Victory through Suffering)- A Paradox: Christ’s church conquers, not by worldly power plays, but by sacrificial (suffering) love.‣Nowhere is this more clear than Revelation

The triumph of the “Lamb” may be the central theme of Revelation

Giovanni Battista Gaulli (1639-1709)

Revelation 56 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders…

7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:

Revelation 5“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

Note how many biblical-theological themescome together here!

Church:

The Triumph of the Lamb (Victory through Suffering)- A Paradox: Christ’s church conquers, not by worldly power plays, but by sacrificial (suffering) love.‣Revelation

๏To follow the Lamb is to suffer like him.๏Yet through suffering comes redemption.

‣The Lamb is mentioned seven times in Revelation 21-22 alone!Thus we must return to this theme in our final session.

The Metanarrative

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