The Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12:27

Why does the dominant scholarship about "the body of Christ" in 1 Corinthians emphasize unity, which is the rhetoric of Stoicism? Whose unity? I am very much concerned about such a hegemonic interpretation.

"The body of Christ" was my dissertation topic long ago. I wrote a book about this, "Christ's Body in Corinth: The Politics of a Metaphor" (Fortress, 2008). Since then, I have delved into Paul's letters and sharpened my understanding of Paul's theology. I am still convinced that my alternative view of this metaphor makes sense. I am against the traditional reading that emphasizes unity (homonoia). There are different views of the body of Christ between Paul’s authentic letters and the disputed letters. While the latter clearly underscores the metaphorical organism, the former does not. But still, the traditional reading of the body of Christ even in 1 Cor 12 and Rom 12 is an organism. According to a metaphorical organism, “You are the body of Christ” (1 Cor 12 and Rom 12) is understood as “You are the community of Christ.” The emphasis of the traditional reading is unity; "You are one." But in an alternative reading, the body of Christ can be understood as a way of living; that is, it is a Christic body: Christlike body or living. This use of the genitive case is an attributive genitive and we see this kind of the attributive genitive in "the body of sin” (Rom 6:6), which we understand as "the sinful body." The alternative interpretation underscores the union with Christ and diversity. Here union, unlike unity in Stoicism, means the ethical one that Christians (Corinthians) have to embody Christ. So, "you are a Christic body, individually and communally." The Corinthians must follow the way of Christ and then they are united with Christ.

Galatians and Circumcision: Matters of Scriptural Interpretation

Eventually, what matters is how to interpret scripture. Jewish Christians argue that circumcision is a must. Their scriptural basis is Gen 21 in which God orders all descendants of Abraham to be circumcised. But Paul’s scriptural interpretation begins with Gen 12 in which God calls Abraham out of nowhere and Abraham trusts him. Faith comes before circumcision (law). Faith comes before the law. Faith is the starting point for a new relationship with God. Faith can lead to keeping the law. For gentile Christians, works of the law such as circumcision or purity laws are not essential. For Jews, they can keep these laws along with faith.

The Old and New Perspectives on Paul

Did Paul reject the law or Israel for the sake of faith? But he says that the law is holy and that faith cannot overthrow the law. Christ fulfilled the law, and the law and faith can go hand in hand with a focus on the love of God and the love of neighbor. Jesus is a paragon of faithfulness. Christian means to follow him and his faithfulness.

Rom 3:22 as a Snapshot of Paul's Gospel

[Courtesy of FreeBibleImages.org]

"God's righteousness through Jesus Christ's faithfulness for all who believe" (Rom 3:22).

Rom 3:22 may be considered a snapshot of Paul's gospel: “The righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe.” There are three elements in his proclamation: God’s righteousness; Christ’s faithfulness; and Christian participation in Christ. God’s righteousness means that God is righteous and steadfast. Christ’s faithfulness demonstrates God’s righteousness: Christ’s grace, love, and sacrifice for God and humanity. But nothing will happen unless there is a response from people. God’s righteousness comes through Christ’s faithfulness for all who participate in Christ.

Conclusion:
You are under God’s righteousness. That is, you are in the domain of God’s love and care. God is like the sun. Come out to God through Jesus’s faithfulness and his grace. This means you share in his faithfulness, dying to sin, living to God.

Paul and the Good News

Paul's gospel involves a threefold (tripartite) relationship between God, Christ, and people. God is the good news, which is about the rule of God. Christ exemplified it through faithfulness. People have to proclaim the good news of God that came through Christ.

Jesus and the good news of God

What did Jesus proclaim after John was arrested? Mark 1:14 says that he proclaimed "the good news of God." God is the ruler; God rules with justice and mercy.

What is the essential thing that Paul shares with Jesus?

Jesus and Paul must be understood within Judaism. Both of them share the following: 1) God-centered good news! The good news is about God and comes from God; 2) The importance of change/renewal of a mind. Metanoia (Jesus); Metamorphosis (Paul).

The Johannine Dualism as a Transformative Space

The dualism of John is not a Gnostic type of dualism; it is a transformative space in which the community engages in the world through love. Love overcomes fear. Love transforms the community. Love is a new way of living in times of crisis. As God so loved the world, Jesus also did it. John’s community also does the same thing.

Johannine Language: Ironies and Metaphors

John's Gospel is full of ironies and metaphors. How can we understand them?

See my article:

"The Johannine Realism about the Kingdom of God: "Born from Above, Born of Water and Spirit" (John 3:1-21)"

Abstract:
John emphasizes the realism of the kingdom of God in the present. Given the Johannine community’s expulsion from the synagogue due to its faith that Jesus is the Messiah, the members of this nascent community need assurance about their new place in Christ. They are comforted and encouraged to live as children of God. They are born from above and experience a new life through the Spirit. To maintain their discipleship with Jesus, they must keep his word and stay in the light. The Advocate will come to them after Jesus is gone, and God’s reign continues to be seen, touched, and experienced in the present. As Jesus sends his disciples into the world, the Johannine community receives a new mission to love the world, testifying to the truth of God, following Jesus’ word.

Jesus and Nicodemus

How to understand the birth metaphor in John 3:1-11? 

What point does Nicodemus miss out on? 

What is Jesus's point?

Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels

There is one Jesus, but there are different portrayals of Jesuses in the different Gospels. This video deals with the synoptic Jesus who is also different in the synoptic Gospels.

Why did Jesus come to the world? The historical Jesus and Four Gospels

A brief introduction to Jesus and the Four Gospels.
Why did he come to the world according to the Four Gospels? -According to Mark, Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). -According to Matthew, he came to fulfill the righteousness of God (Matt 5:17). -According to Luke, he came to seek out and save the lost (Luke 19:10). -According to John, he came to testify to the truth of God (John 18:37).

Official trailer for my channel

Introduction to my channel 1

Unjust Judge and Widow

What does Jesus try to address in the original parable? Why does Luke emphasize prayer? What kind of justice is discussed in this parable? This parable of Jesus is not about prayer but about justice.

Rich Man and Lazarus

Do we see in this parable the limitations of Lukan charity-based ethics? In fact, this parable does not ask the question of how the man became rich. The only thing expected from him is a bit of charity that may help the poor man. However, this parable challenges the view of maximalist freedom: “I can do whatever I want because all I have is mine.”

Unjust Steward

What is wrong with the manager? Did he lend the master’s money with unusually high-interest rate to his customers? If so, he was unjust. He harmed the master’s reputation and expropriated his customers. Why did the manager decide to cut back the amount of debt for the master’s customers? Because his master knew … so, he may lose his job. … so, to get his living among them … Why did his master commend the manager? (His reputation; his business). In the end, there are all winners: the master’s reputation is restored; he could get his business going as usual; the manager does not lose his job; the customers have a better rate.

Father and Two Sons (Luke 15)

"Father and Two Sons" in Luke 15 is one of the three ”lost” parables in Luke: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Is this an allegorical story or just a family story with two parts, the younger son and the older son? The main theme is the father’s compassion. We need to analyze characters: the father's behavior as not very adamant about his sons and his unconditional acceptance of his son; the older son/brother as a diligent son; a prosecutor-role; the younger one as immature and selfish; not truly repenting, but returning home to survive. Reconciliation will happen eventually? What are the conditions for it?

Rich Farmer (Rich Fool)

This parable is known as Rich Fool, found only in Luke. One’s riches are not made by oneself. One must thank God, the laborers, the community, the sun, and the wind. Rather than building more warehouses, one must share one’s abundance with the community. Storing only for oneself while others are starving is evil. Life is short.

Good Samaritan

What do you say about the traditional allegorical reading of this parable of the Good Samaritan? What is wrong with a priest and a Levite? Describe a Samaritan’s detailed care of the robbed man? Any thoughts about the new definition of a neighbor?

Ten Bridesmaids

The source of this parable of ten bridesmaids is uncertain; found only in Matthew. The kingdom of God is compared with ten bridesmaids’ preparedness for meeting the bridegroom. Strong allegorical elements in this parable reflect Matthew’s theology and eschatology. How to understand the five wise women’s behavior toward the other five?

Great Banquet

Some think that this parable of a banquet in Matthew and Luke is not an authentic parable of Jesus. If Jesus told this parable, the point may be a countercultural banquet that powerless people are brought to the party eventually. This parable is shocking to Jesus’s audience because, given the ancient meal culture, no one can easily reject the host's invitation. More unusual is the host’s decision to bring in the poor, the lame, and the blind to this party. Does this parable challenge the usual meal culture in Jesus’s time? How is the reign of God related to the host in this parable?

Two Sons (Matt 21:28-31)

The parable of the two sons in Matthew 21 deals with "true faith" that requires "action" or "practice." The father has a vineyard that needs workers. The first son says first, no, but later he changed his mind and went to work. He is not perfect but did the will of the father. The second son: first, yes, but he never went to work. He did not obey his father. Word only does not help. The perfect son will be the one who says “yes” and goes to work immediately. Jesus points out the problem of hypocrites, who don’t do what they know or teach (Matt 23:3).

Unmerciful Servant

Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant because of Peter’s question: "How many times should one forgive?" Jesus answers: “Seventy times seven.” 

Discuss the king’s act of forgiving a huge debt (10,000 talents) at once. However, his forgiveness did not work out well because his slave did not forgive his fellow slave, who owed him only 100 denarii, a peanut amount. Could the king deal with his slave differently from the beginning? Obviously, the problem does not lie in the king but in his slave, who did not forgive his fellow slave.

Think about the notion of “too easy or too fast forgiveness” in our life situation. Does it work?

Evaluate the claim that members in the community must forgive one another endlessly. How can this thing happen decently? What is the sufficient condition to make this possible?

Vineyard Laborers (parable)

When do we say something is fair?

Or when do we say something is justice?

In the parable of Vineyard Laborers, is the landlord fair to his workers?

Does the master do justice to them?

What kind of justice is dealt with in this parable?

Attributive justice or economic justice?

What challenges do we find from this parable?

Augustine, Luther, Western Christianity, and Diverse Aspects of Faith in the New Testament

We need to know the dominant form of Western Christianity that was influenced by Augustine and Luther. But we also need to point out the problems with these Christian theologians. The diverse aspects of faith in the New Testament do not support these thinkers. Their understanding of faith and salvation may be summarized as follows: 

1) Individual salvation or justification: imparted or imputed righteousness (forensic salvation); 

2) Introspective, inner faith out of guilt rather than public faith; 

3) Invading, exclusive gospel: colonialism and exclusivism. 

But the prevailing aspects of Christian faith have to do with “participatory faith,” as in the four Gospels and Paul’s 7 undisputed letters. There are also other minor aspects of faith: faith as knowledge, faith as works, and faith as a conviction.  

A talk with Indonesian graduate students in the US and audiences in Indonesia

I was live on YouTube to talk with Indonesian graduate students in the US and international audiences in Indonesia. It was a great experience that I presented about 20 mins and we had a Q and A time. The questions I received from them were remarkable and thoughtful. They were so enthusiastic about new insight and new knowledge about the New Testament.

Pearl

In the parable of the Pearl, a merchant sought fine pearls (as he does business as usual), but changed the course of his life upon finding one pearl of great value. He is not a businessperson anymore. He does not resell it either. For an ordinary merchant’s business practice, the rule is you buy many fine pearls for maximizing your profit. One pearl of great value to the merchant may be subjective! It may be a call of God or a new vocation! 

In what way is this parable of the pearl different from the parable of treasure? In what way is it similar? What is your “one pearl of great value” for which you will invest all and that you cannot live without it?

Treasure

The parable of the treasure teaches that God’s rule (love, peace, justice) is a precious gift. But it may not be seen or realized easily in one’s life. Once it is found, a radical action to obtain it is required. Otherwise, in this parable, ethical consideration is out of view.