Introducing Paul
Excerpt from page 47: To make the inheritance dependent upon the law is to revoke the promise given to Abraham, a promise rooted in God’s grace. While the law is not strictly opposed to promises, it cannot bring those promises to reality, since law marks out sin as sin. Through faith and baptism, the Galatians are clothed with Christ and are part of the new creation that breaks down ethnic barriers that arose out of the law. If they belong to Christ, then they are part of Abraham’s seed, and full heirs of the promise.
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Without bogging the reader down with technical debates between Reformed theologians and adherents to the New Perspective on Paul, Bird provides a presentation of Paul which, among many other things, highlights the great Christian apostle as an Israelite born into the community which had a covenant relationship with the creator-God; who then realized that covenant membership was no longer the result of being a descendant of Abraham and performing the works of the law. As Bird illustrates so simply, Paul saw the covenant blessings of Abraham being dispensed to the entire (Jew and Gentile) world through the crucified Messiah, Jesus, who was vindicated by Israel’s covenant, creator-God at his resurrection. This book is perfect for the average congregant who desires to know more about the man Paul, who has had such a heavy impact on the Christian faith, and for Pastors looking for an introductory work which reflects the latest scholarly research on Paul, without actually being overburdened by the scholarly research itself.
Bird’s book is a refreshing wide-angle view of Paul. It is less a systematic theology (though there are elements of that), and more a contextual arrangement of Paul’s theology (necessarily including a soteriology, Christology, and eschatology) that allows us to take a glimpse at the portrait of a man so open and laid bare for all to see, who is also enigmatic and hidden. So often, when we hear or think “Paul,” we simply allow this word to stand in for a series of doctrines and assertions about Christ or the Christian life, while forgetting that there is a very real human being that stands behind the writing. This man was working out his salvation with fear and trembling—encouraging others to do the same, as he almost breathlessly attempted to communicate what it meant that God’s new creation had broken into the present, that it was still coming in its fullness, and that there were certain ramifications to the carrying of this knowledge.
A few quotes:
The shape of Paul’s theology depends on whether we understand it as consisting of either apocalyptic themes and patterns that focus on the relationship between this age and the new age, or whether it consists principally of the redemptive-historical progress of salvation from Israel to the church through the coming of Christ. There is no need to make an either/or decision here, though, since Paul’s apocalyptic eschatology and redemptive-historical motifs are linked in the narrative nature of Paul’s theology. In Paul’s letters, the implied stories of creation, Adam, Abraham, and Israel find their definitive resolution in Christ. The story of Christ is really a story about the invasion of the future age into the present. This heavenly invasion brings with it a climax to these various substories, which results in the vindication of the covenant God and his new-covenant people. – Michael F. Bird, Introducing Paul
I am not trying to make Paul out to be some kind of political dissident who spent a vast amount of time orchestrating the downfall of the Roman Empire. A cursory glance at Romans 13:1-7 shows that the apostle instructed Christians to submit to governing authorities because they are instituted by God and promote public order. But Paul did not know of a neat separation between church and state and did not think faith in Jesus meant a purely interiorized spirituality. The gospel of Paul was deeply subversive, and even menacing, in the eyes of the Roman authorities, which is precisely why they persecuted Christians. Nero did not through Christians to the lions because they confessed that “Jesus is Lord of my heart.” It was rather because they confessed that “Jesus is Lord of all,” meaning that Jesus was Lord even over the realm Caesar claimed as his domain of absolute authority. It was unthinkable to the Roman political apparatus that the god of a subjected territory (Yahweh) and a Jew crucified in Judea on charges on insurrection (Jesus) were being afforded devotion, worship and faith, while rites to Caesar were neglected or denounced by these followers of Christ. Paul’s gospel should be situated in terms of the clash of the gods of Rome and the God of Israel. – Michael F. Bird, Introducing Paul
The centre of Paul’s gospel is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Messiah. The death and resurrection of Christ is “for us” or “for” salvation. This gospel is articulated in such a way as to line up with the hopes contained in Israel’s Scriptures that God would become king and restore the fortunes of Israel. The gospel also possesses an eschatological singularity that sets it over and against the good news of the imperial cult. The gospel of Christ is the announcement that God’s saving power exerted in Jesus Christ brings to realization God’s plan for Israel and for humanity: life, hope, peace, and joy. As such, Paul’s gospel is related to the stories of creation and of Israel, and sets forth Paul’s view of God’s rescue plan to renew creation through the salvation that comes through Israel’s Messiah. – Michael F. Bird, Introducing Paul
In Paul’s view, one’s intellectual and practical lives are necessarily intertwined. There is no room to accommodate a dry cerebral faith that does not issue forth in action; nor is there a place for a Christian lifestyle that is not at once rooted in theological reflection of the gospel. What will ultimately separate the sheep from the goats at the final assize will not be a theology exam, but whether our walk matched our words, and whether we have deeds born out of faith. While we are not saved by works, we shall not be saved without them. Justification at the final day will exclusively be due to the work of Christ, but the same Christ works his works in us, and these demonstrate the integrity of our faith… What ultimately defines one’s true beliefs is not words or pithy slogans, but a life lived before God among other human beings. Paul, therefore, urges the churches with severe warnings and warm encouragements to live a life worthy of the gospel and to render loyal and faithful service to their Lord. – Michael F. Bird, Introducing Paul
Bird’s introductory on the Apostle Paul is ideal for the budding biblical student in reference to the heated debates between the “Old” and “New” Perspectives on Paul. Bird takes a cautious middle path allowing detailed exegesis to guide his conclusions. I greatly enjoyed his occasional humorous remarks, allowing his personality to shine all the more through his work (I also got to experience this first hand at last year’s SBL) and which serves nicely in breaking-up the mundane arguments that naturally accompany books of this topic. I was however, rather unconvinced on his reasoning for an “implicit” concept of imputation, complete with its fancy diagram that didn’t help much in proving his point. It smacked of pleasing both sides of the current debate, though I am sure this was not his intent. Michael F. Bird in the end, manages to remain one of the exciting up and coming Biblical scholars; one whose work I highly recommend.
Lawrence,
I can sympathize with your point that my take on imputation is a convenient “fudge” between old and new perspectives. However, I think it is a genuine way of holding the biblical evidence and theological interpretation together. Kevin Vanhoozer gives it a plug at the NT Wright Wheaton conference, so I’m hoping it will catch on. I think “incorporation” is a good way to explain the participatory and forensic aspects of justification which is kinda like and kinda not like traditional views of imputation.
Grace
Mike Bird
The book Introducing Paul was a very insightful read that grab your attention to gravitate your mind to Paul’s mission, his message and the man himself. The book written by Michael F. bird accomplishes its point in a way that does not bog you down if you want to get a quick read about the Apostle Paul. Im sure that there is a plethora of books over 300 hundred pages long that describe Paul in great detail. Bird summarizes it in less than 170 pages, giving you no excuse to get to know and understand Paul.
The best way to understand Bird’s point of view to the reader is an actual quote from this book…”It has been my aim in the preceding pages to lead readers on a brief exploration of Paul: his biography, his letters and the building blocks of his theology as revealed in his letters. However, we do not have the complete story on Paul by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, what we have through the letters is something like a clip oh highlights from a film that played on the big screen long ago.” If this small excerpt of Bird’s book does not get you interested in reading it, than I don’t know what will.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when Bird compares Adam and Christ to Anakin and Luke Skywalker, one deciding to follow the Dark side of the force while the other chose the Jedi vocation. In all, I enjoyed reading the book. It was from somebody else’s perspective and you (meaning the reader) have an open mind, then you wont hesitate to see what Michael F. Bird has written about Paul.
I have yet to read an exclusive book on the Apostle Paul this would be the first. I found it very enlightening. Full of thought provoking teaching and study on the new perspective. The person of Paul is intriguing to say the least. His convictions runs so deep that it propells him into complete passionate surrender to God to accomplish through His divine call an outstanding work for Christ. His letters reflect his undying devotion, and his fatherly instincts filled him with determinaton to see them rise above the obstacles of the age simply by the fooliness of preaching about the cross at the same time building a sure foundation based on the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Bird moves the reader to look at these letters again and see something different, not new but with a different prescription. It was a intense read…I need to read it again.
Michael Bird,
Thanks for taking a moment to respond, I must say it is an honor to have you do so, as I do highly respect your work. I recently read on the “incorporation” concept in McKnight’s “A Community Called Atonement”; I was certainly more satisfied with this approach than the traditional doctrine of “imputation” championed by some corners. I’m presently preparing to read your work on the “faith of/in Jesus” debate; thanks for your contribution!