Forensic Metaphors in Romans and their soteriological significance
Previous studies on legal references in Paul concentrated almost exclusively on matters of civil law. A study� of� five� important� passages� in Romans and an overview of the rest of Romans� indicate� that� this� letter contains an unusual number of forensic metaphors and� that� Paul,� in Romans, pa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2003-10-01
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| Series: | Verbum et Ecclesia |
| Online Access: | http://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/VE/article/view/311 |
| Summary: | Previous studies on legal references in Paul concentrated almost exclusively on matters of civil law. A study� of� five� important� passages� in Romans and an overview of the rest of Romans� indicate� that� this� letter contains an unusual number of forensic metaphors and� that� Paul,� in Romans, packaged his soteriology within a forensic setting. This� suggests that he deliberately created an implicature, inviting his readers to compare the iustitia Dei with the iustitia romana. Contrary to the latter, which was� expected� to function on the basis of equity and with which Paul�s addressees were all too well acquainted, the iustitia Dei proves to be astonishingly unconventional. This judge operates with grace. Ironical as it may seem, exactly by using� forensic� imagery, Paul completely delegalized the Christian message. |
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| ISSN: | 1609-9982 2074-7705 |