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Between Babel and Beast
(America and Empires in Biblical Perspective)
The Glory of Kings: A Festschrift for James B. Jordan
Fyodor Dostoevsky
(Christian Encounters Series)
Athanasius
(Foundations of Theological Exegesis and Christian Spirituality)
The Four: A Survey of the Gospels
Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom
From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John
Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
Paul famously declared that Christ Jesus came to save sinners, adding “Of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15). Paul qualifies as chief of sinners because he was a “blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor” (v. 13). That Jesus would save this sinner is a demonstration of His “perfect patience,” so that Paul becomes a type or pattern (hupotuposis) of the grace of Christ. Other sinners take heart from the fact that Jesus saves even Paul.
Paul, though, means this in a more specific sense. He is not only a type of sinner-saved, but specifically a type of Jewish-blasphemer-and-persecutor-saved. Sinners in general can take heart from Paul’s deliverance; Jews who rejected their Messiah can also find hope in Paul’s salvation. To turn it around: Paul finds hope for Jews in his own experience. He is part of the firstfruits of the harvest of Israel. More: What happened to him is a pattern or type of what will happen to Israel. “All Israel shall be saved” is not some strange appendix to Paul’s gospel. It’s the basic meaning of his conversion.
It’s also worth noting that Paul is aware of the fact that his life functions typologically. He knows that his conversion from blasphemer to apostle sets a pattern for others, and he preaches so that his life experience can be replicated in Israel as a people. If Paul was aware of being a type, isn’t it possible, even likely, that others in Israel’s history recognized the same thing about themselves?
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 4:00 am
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