a modern view: Sanders

in which book does Sanders present his argument?

Paul and Palestinian Judaism

what does Sanders argue?

the Jewish religion, in which Paul had been brought up, was not simply a salvation by works religion

what was there in Judaism? what does Sanders call this?

there was in Judaism ‘a pattern of religion’ which Sanders calls covenantal nomism

define the term covenantal nonism

God’s election of the Jews as a chosen nation provided they obeyed his commandments

what is the covenantal nomism?

Jewish belief that God had instigated a covenant of grace with them, which made them a ‘chosen nation’ and gave them a special status

how did the Jews maintain their status in the covenant?

only by obeying God’s commandments

what was the purpose of keeping God’s law?

to maintain the status

what was the status?

a gift, not a reward for obedience

what does Sanders argue?

Jews entered the covenant by grace and stayed in by works - this was the normative Jewish view in Paul’s time

what view does Sanders maintain about Paul?

Paul worked his way from solution to problem. The solution is that in Jesus God has acted to save the world

what is the problem?

the world is need of salvation. But God also gave the mosaic law. If Jesus is given for salvation, it must follow that the mosaic law was not

what was the problem of the mosaic law?

was not that it failed to make those who kept it righteous, but that it gave them the wrong kind of righteousness

what did the mosaic law exclude?

Gentiles and led the Jews to boast in their ethnicity and election as the people of God

what did Paul realise about how people are justified?

people are justified not through the mosaic law but through the cross of Jesus

what was an act of God’s grace?

the justification that Jesus achieved for men and women. it was not earned by humankind

how can God’s grace be maintained?

when men and women respond in gratitude, keeping God’s commandments and entering into a mystical participation in Jesus

How does Sanders word this?

‘Christ came to provide a new Lordship for those who participate in his death and resurrection’, be they be Jews or Gentiles

how do Christians enter the new covenant?

by baptism, but must thereafter be made righteous by faith

how have some theologians criticised Sanders’ theory? (1)

it uses non-biblical rabbinic sources to override biblical teaching

define the term rabbinic.

relating to the teachings of Jewish rabbis

how have some theologians criticised his theory? (2)

it explains away contradictory evidence e.g. the rabbinic literature of Paul’s time contains ample evidence of a Jewish belief in righteousness by works

how have some theologians criticised his theory? (3)

fails to address the problem os self-righteousness - people who believe themselves morally superior to their peers because they adhere strictly to God’s commandments