This dissertation argues that Paul’s apostolic mission to the Gentiles was the definitive expression of his divine vocation as an Israelite, and thus of his Jewish identity. For many of Paul’s Jewish contemporaries, Israel’s divine vocation was to keep and to teach the precepts of the Law of Moses as an exemplary witness to God’s power and wisdom. For Paul, however, Jewish identity was expressed primarily by preaching the gospel of Christ, as the fulfilment of the Law of Moses, to the Gentiles. This is seen most clearly in Paul’s letter to the Romans.
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My SBL 2019 Paper on Ephesians 2:19–22November 13, 2019I’ll be presenting a paper on Ephesians 2:19–22 at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting on 23 November 2019: Lionel Windsor, “Plural Constructions and Post-supersessionist
Submitting to one another (Ephesians 5:21)November 13, 2019In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul says to “submit to one another through respect for Christ”. What does he mean? What does he not mean? And how can we do it?
Christian singing: Why and how? (Ephesians 5:19–20)November 6, 2019Why do Christians sing together? How should we do it? Christian singing should involve several dimensions: horizontal, personal, and vertical.
What’s wrong with drunkenness? (Ephesians 5:18)October 30, 2019Believers in Christ have a profound reason to avoid drunkenness. That’s because believers in Christ have a reason to live, hope, and act wisely.
Watch how you walk (Ephesians 5:15–17)October 23, 2019It’s good to have ambitious goals for our Christian lives. But we mustn’t be naïve or unprepared. We need to be deliberate and careful about how we walk.
Living light (Ephesians 5:11–14)October 16, 2019How should Christians relate to the world around us? Should we withdraw, or should we engage? How do we know which action to do when?
The test that matters (Ephesians 5:10)October 9, 2019We live in a world full of tests and measurements. Believers in Christ should also test our lives. But when we do, we need to use the right standard.
Children of light (Ephesians 5:8–9)October 2, 2019Believers in Christ have had their very identity changed: once darkness like the world, but now light. The challenge is to believe it, and to live it.
What do you want to become? (Ephesians 5:5–7)September 25, 2019Our dreams drive our daily actions. In 5, 10, 20 years, what will you have become? Living in grace as an imitator of God, or a partner with the world?
Holy talk (Ephesians 5:3–4)September 18, 2019Often we try to fit in with others by the way we speak. But God calls believers to be holy, not filthy, in our speech, even if it sounds strange to others.