Paul vs. Col/Eph vs. Gnostic Christian Theology:

• gospel—truths of salvation (e.g., Col 1:5)
• faith—doctrine
• sacrificial death of Christ: ransom idea but incomplete?
  • Col 1:24: I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.
• redemption—emphasizes cosmic reconciliation more than conquering sin &death; also forgiveness of sins
  • Col 2:13-15: And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, {14} erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. {15} He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.
• baptism—spiritual translation to heavenly realm
  • Col 3:1-3: So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. {2} Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, {3} for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
  • Col 2:12-23: when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. {13} And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses
  • Col 2:20: If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? 

Aims/Central Themes of the Writings in the Pauline Tradition:

• Col—the Lordship of Christ (replacement of Philemon?)
• Eph—treatise on the (nature of the) church
• 2 Thess—refutes realized eschatology (cf. Col & Eph), and perhaps also the Spirit-movement behind legends like the ATh
• Revelation—catharsis in current state of stress, persecution; preparation for the eschaton; refutation of world-compromising theology like that found in the Col-Eph-Pastoral Epistles trajectory)
• Pastorals—refute charismatic authority of Christians, especially of women, as is assumed in Paul and portrayed in ATh
• ATh—claim divine (and Pauline) authority for women apostles (i.e., wandering preachers) and ministers of the sacraments

Four Views of Paul by CE 100:

• Paul of Heavenly Teaching (Col, Eph, Gnostics)
• Ecclesiastical Authority (Pastorals)
• Apocalyptic Retaliation (2 Th)
• Paul the Charismatic Revolutionary (ATh and legend tradition)

Differences between Pauline and Post-Pauline Traditions:

• ekklesia—universal; Christ as head of body, not body as members of Christ
• apostles—dead (Eph 2:20); Paul as only one (no "12")
• gospel—ruths of salvation
• faith—doctrine
• redemption—cosmic reconciliation, not conquering sin & death
• baptism—spiritual translation to heavenly realm
• Pastorals—no sin, promise, righteousness, to believe

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