The Center of Paul’s Theology

reformed — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:01:07 +0000

Paul’s theology has a center. In his teachings, some things are more important than others. At the same time, each is not equally important or controlling to him. There is a large circle of interest. Within that circle, each interest is more or less central. Safest ground is best when we identify passages where he is more or less clearly providing summaries that have an overview sweep in his own words or utilizing formalizations of his core concerns.

1 Corinthians 2:2 in the context of 1:18-3:22. Paul’s concern is his defense of his apostolic ministry. “For I did not judge to know anything except Jesus Christ and this Jesus Christ crucified.” This is his basic theological epistemology. He wanted to know nothing except the crucified Christ. In a similar vein, 2 Timothy 2:8 “remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead, this is my Gospel.”

In 1 Cor. 15:1-4 Paul recounts the gospel he preached to them. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. The resurrection of Jesus is not just an aspect of his teaching, it is his teaching in its entirety. This disposes us to say that Paul’s theology is his gospel. Paul preaches a gospel-theology. Or if we view things as concentric circles, the center of these concentric circles is Christ and his death and resurrection.

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The Center of Paul’s Theology