Paul's Divine Christology

by Chris Tilling

Chris Tilling makes a fresh contribution to the debate about whether or not Paul's Christology is divine. To this end he analyses the Pauline data that details the relation between the risen Lord and Christians. With reference to contemporary debates regarding 'Jewish monotheism', he argues that the Pauline Christ-relation corresponds - as a pattern - solely to language concerning YHWH's relation to Israel in Second Temple Judaism. This is the case, Tilling maintains, even in texts such as Sirach 44-50, the Life of Adam and Eve and the Similitudes of Enoch. In dialogue both with concerns that one cannot properly speak of a Pauline 'Christology', and recent studies in Paul's epistemology, Chris Tilling presents Paul's Christology as fully divine, but in a particular the Christ-relation is Paul's divine-Christology expressed as relationship. In light of this, he not only reengages arguments deployed by those disputing a Pauline divine-Christology, but also draws additional conclusions relating to the interface between biblical and systematic theological concerns. Did Paul teach that Jesus was divine, and to be worshipped as such? How should this be viewed in relation to Jewish- and Jewish Christian-monotheism? The debate over these and related questions is raging in academic circles, but also has profound implications for church practice. It is a joy and a challenge to read such a clearly written and convincingly argued treatise as Chris Tilling's Paul's Divine Christology. Dr. Tilling enters the discussion of Pauline Christology with a fresh pair of theological eyes, and - perhaps more important - with a heart for the church. Paul's Christology is relational - he uses the language of YHWH's relationship to Israel to describe the Christians' relationship to the risen Lord. The Christ-relation was Paul's way of expressing a divine Christology. This conclusion has implications for understanding Paul's theology from his Damascus Road theophany and conversion onwards, and thus addresses the current debate about whether and how one can describe a 'theology of Paul.' Moreover, addressing modern Christology's version of Lessing's 'broad, ugly ditch' between exegesis and systematic theology, as well as that between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith, Dr. Tilling engages in a dialogue with the major international participants in this discussion with a sympathetic yet critical eye towards a new approach which transcends the old impasses. His handling of methodology already points a way forward. Building on the work of such scholars as Hurtado and Bauckham, he credits their thinking for advancing the discussion, while astutely identifying the weaknesses or limitations of their arguments. The conclusion, that Paul's relational Christology is Divine Christology, spans the 'ditch' and promises to help transcend the distance between exegesis and systematic theology, and between academy and church. This book is an important contribution to the debate over Christology, and will take its place in the history of the discussion as a milestone publication which moves the discipline forward into the 21st century. A 'Must-Read' for anyone interested in Pauline theology and exegesis, as well as those engaged in the current debates over Christology. Thomas Scott Caulley, Dr. Theol. (Associate Professor of Bible at Kentucky Christian University, and until recently director of the Institut zur Erforschung des Urchristentums) 'It is a remarkable fact that divine Christology is not an end product of a development lasting some decades but that high Christology is present and fully developed already in the earliest testimonies of Christianity, in the (undisputed) letters of Paul. Dr.

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2012

Reviews

[Mike Felker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply the best book on Christology to date. Chris Tilling masterfully presents a case for a divine Christology by introducing a "Christ-relation" category. By following drawing upon (as well as critiquing) the works of Fee, Hurtado, and Baukham, Tilling develops an extremely compelling case that Christ is divine in the same way that YHWH is divine. How? By analyzing the patterns of data in the OT and 2nd temple Jewish literature between YHWH and and His relationship with Jewish believers over and against idolatry. This, Tilling argues, is what constitutes monotheism. And even though there are figures other than God that receive worship, are called God (in some sense, receive the divine name YHWH, etc. they don't relate to Jewish believers in the same way as YHWH does. The YHWH-Jew relation is a pattern and set in the context of religious devotion and relationship to that God. This is what makes YHWH unique over and against any other god or divine figure.

Fast forward to the New Testament. Tilling argues that Jesus relates to believers in a way that parallels the YHWH-Jew relation. If that relationship is what makes YHWH unique, then by implication, Jesus must be divine. Even if there are some overlaps between Jesus and 2nd temple divine figures who receive worship, prayer, etc., Jesus has far more in common in his relationship to believers with YHWH and His relationship with Jews.

If you're looking for a fresh new look at divine Christology, then I couldn't recommend this highly enough. While the work is very technical, it is still pretty accessible to someone with a little bit of theological background.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book on the subject since Gordon Fee's work. Rigorous exegesis and well argued. Any reading of 1 Corinthians 8:6, for example and other texts that take a non-divine Christology must reckon with this work.