Harris, Stephen L

Deborah Nixon

14 March 2006

Review of : Harris, Stephen L. “Chapter 14: Paul, Apostle to the Nations.” The New Testament: A Student’s Introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. 320-331.

In Chapter 14 Paul, Apostle to the Nations, Harris introduces Paul, a Pharisee, who persecuted the early Christians before he had an experience with the risen Jesus. Paul was a man of “religious zeal” p. 321, before and after his encounter with Jesus. Paul’s encounter with the risen Jesus is life altering. During Paul’s “revelation [apokalypsis] of Jesus Christ” p. 322, he receives a message from Jesus revealing “the one true gospel” p. 322. His conversion to Christ astounded the Jews and Christians. Because of his unique vision, Paul was able to spread the good news in new areas of the Roman Empire. He pursued his mission with great stamina. Information about Paul is gathered from two sources, the letters that Paul wrote to the Christian communities he established and Acts. Through Paul’s letters and historical references, scholars are able to place Paul’s conversion around 32-34 CE and his execution in Rome around 62-64 CE.

Because Paul established many Christian communities, he needed to be connected to those communities so that when they needed help in a crisis, with a particular problem, or a belief or behavior that needed to be addressed he would be there for them. Paul communicated with those communities by letter. A letter is a powerful and effective tool of communication. Paul used it to influence the people he ministered to. Of the 27 canonical books of the New Testament 21 are letters. Most scholars believe that seven of the letters are Pauline. The letters that are believed to be Paul’s are Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon. It is not known the exact order of the letters that Paul wrote, but it is believed that 1 Thessalonians is the first of his letters. Some of his letters may have also been written from prison.

The last section of the chapter deals with Paul’s assumptions and concerns and is the most interesting and challenging part of the whole chapter. Paul’s spiritual encounter with Jesus shaped his views of God, Jesus, and the spiritual world. Some scholars believe that “Paul may have belonged to an apocalyptic brand of Pharisaism that included mystical beliefs” p. 329. This mysticism that Paul may have had helps explain why he saw things differently with regard to Jesus.

“Jesus now exists in two separate but related dimensions: the great world of God’s spiritual domain and the little world of human consciousness. This dualism, characteristic of apocalyptic thought, expresses Paul’s conviction that Christ possesses both an objective and a subjective reality. Christ is at once a cosmic figure who will soon return to judge the world and a being who also mysteriously dwells with the individual believer.” p. 328-329.

Paul saw time divided into two ages: the present age which would be replaced with a “New Age” in which God will reign. Paul believed that the End would be coming soon and this influenced the letters he wrote to his communities.

Jesus is central to Paul’s message. Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross the world is saved. If you believe in Christ, then you are a part of Christ’s body, fulfilling Christ’s work here on earth. Christ became the liberator for everyone by his death on the cross. He freed us from sin, the laws of the Torah, and death. Although the believer will still die physical death, they will not die spiritually. They will live forever with God.

Justification by faith is Paul’s concept where faith in Christ delivers mankind from sin more effectively than obedience to the Mosaic Law did. Through faith in Jesus we have been “made right” or justified before God.

Harris’ seven terms and concepts to remember at the end of the chapter help convey the meaning and key ideas of the chapter:

Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles. His mission was to bring the good news mainly to the Gentiles.
apokalypsis (the “revelation” that changed Paul’s life), Paul’s encounter with post resurrection Jesus, changed Paul from a persecutor of Christians to an apostle and evangelist. This was a life altering event for Paul.
Paul’s use of the letter form, Paul used letters as a communication tool with his Christian communities, which was highly effective. Those that survived are still used today and are still relevant even now.
Paul’s eschatology, Paul believed that the End was near and his letters reflect that belief.
Torah and faith, faith in Jesus liberates the believer from the Torah, which represents “the old order of sin and punishment.” p. 330.
Christ’s role in human redemption, Paul sees Christ’s role as central to human redemption. Jesus died for all of human sin and is the sole instrument of human redemption.
Justification by faith, Paul’s revelation of Jesus convinced him that through faith in Jesus we have been “made right” before God p. 330.

I thought that Paul’s dualism of Christ, as stated above, is an interesting point. That Christ can be both an objective and subjective reality, cosmic and also dwelling with a believer at the same time. Another interesting point was Paul’s heavenly Christ in three roles as God’s revealed Wisdom, as the divine Lord through whom God rules, and as the means by whom God’s Spirit dwells in believers p.329. This concept reminded me of the Trinity, even though it is not discussed in the chapter.

In the scripture passages the citing Paul’s experience with the risen Jesus, Harris states that Acts is not as reliable as Paul’s letters. However, if Luke wrote Acts and was said to be a friend of Paul wouldn’t Luke give more details about a friend’s conversion. There is also Ananias’ account of the event, since he was the one sent by God to visit Paul. He saw the scales come off of Paul’s eyes and he also baptized Paul (Acts 9:1-22). Paul’s letters give a modest account Paul’s version of the events (Gal. 1:12).

Paul, Apostle to the Nations, gives the reader a background and understanding of Paul and his mission to bring Gentiles to Christ.