RT Article
T1 Cultic Theosis in Paul and Second Temple Judaism
JF Journal for the study of Paul and his letters
VO 5
IS 2
SP 237
OP 256
A1 Barber, Michael Patrick
A1 Kincaid, John A.
LA English
PB Eisenbrauns
YR 2015
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1697743196
AB Since the work of Sanders, the question of participation has been at the center of Pauline soteriological debates. In this article, we argue that the salvation-historical and apocalyptic aspects of Paul's thought can be integrated by means of what might be called "cultic theosis." We begin by looking at the way the cult figured prominently in Jewish eschatological hopes (e.g., Isa 2:2-3; 56:3-7; Ezek 40-48; Mal 3:1-3). We also show that in certain texts it was linked to participation in divine realities or what could broadly be described as "theosis" (e.g., Sir 50:1-22; Philo, Somn. 2.188-89; 2.231-32; 4Q511 XXXV, 3-5; 1QH? XI, 21-22; 4Q400 II, 1). It is against this background that we investigate Paul's cultic language in 1 Corinthians. Not only does Paul view the church as the eschatological temple (1 Cor 3:16-17; 6:19), according to him it is through the ongoing cultic life of the church that believers participate in the body of "the man from heaven" (1 Cor 10:16-17; 15:47-49) and enter into the presence of heavenly realities (1 Cor 11:10). Moreover, our survey of Jewish texts illuminates Paul's account of the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:23-26), which itself evokes cultic imagery (e.g., Exod 24:3-11). Specifically, it explains the way Paul describes participation (κοινωνία) in Christ through the eucharist (1 Cor 10:16-17) in terms of Israel's sacrificial worship, through which the people become "sharers" (κοινωνοί) in the altar (1 Cor 10:18).
K1 Divinity
K1 Eschatology
K1 Eucharist
K1 Judaism
K1 Passover
K1 Priests
K1 Temples
K1 Terminology
DO 10.2307/26371768