The Bible Zetterholm and Pauls Teachings Essay

Tags: faith god human nature judaism modern life

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According to Zetterholm (2009), God’s covenant with the people of Israel entails a bilateral relationship. In exchange for special status, the Jewish people agree to obey God’s commandments to the best of their ability. Lapses in judgment due to human nature or sin can be rectified via atonement and divine intervention. Thus, God always intended for faith to be a prerequisite for salvation. The endeavor to live by the commandments is itself insufficient.



Paul’s transformative message of faith alone being the key to salvation appears to run contrary to contemporary living in a consumer society. Likewise, Paul’s message appears, at least on the surface, to conflict with ancient Jewish teachings. It is possible to reconcile Paul’s teachings with both Judaism and modern life. For one, God did intend for mercy and grace to be embedded into the bond of the covenant. Second, no amount of mundane effort can replace the spiritual mechanisms of divine grace and mercy. Furthermore, faith requires the effort of selflessness and willingness.



Our culture sometimes conditions us to “do it on our own,” and not develop a relationship of interdependence with our God. We live in a fiercely independent, selfish society and one that eschews anything that exposes our weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

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As important as it is to remain strong, we need to reconsider our place and role in the world. There will always be points of weakness in the human spirit. Not to acknowledge our weaknesses and vulnerabilities is the definition of pride. Therefore, believers often have to swim against the tide of modern society and cultural norms.



In our day-to-day spirituality, it remains our responsibility to pursue proper moral behavior out of thankfulness to God, an emblem of gentle gratitude. Following His law to become all that He calls us to be in the fullness of our humanity requires both faith and works. We can develop deep spiritual values and still maintain our commitment to learning and secular social and intellectual development. God never intended for there to be a conflict between our spiritual lives and any other part of our existence.



Paul expands and retranslates God’s covenant, just as Jesus renegotiated it. Zetterholm (2009) shows how Paul’s teachings conflict less with Judaism than has been commonly assumed. Christians and Jews share in common the original covenant with God, the covenantal nomism….....

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References

Zetterholm, M. (2009). Approaches to Paul, A Student’s Guide to Recent Scholarship. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, Passim
 

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