Title: Paul's Perception of History
apostle of the Gentiles
In contrast, the seven deacons of the so-called early Christian community, represented by Stephen, and their successor Paul, understood the gospel of Jesus Christ completely differently. Rather than deliberately rejecting Judaism, because the paradigm of faith was fundamentally different from that of Judaism, they were forced to take a path completely different from Judaism and free from them. As a result, although Christianity now started as Judaism, it did not stay within the people of Israel and their religious characteristics, but developed into a universal religion. Paul, who is called the Apostle of the Gentiles, is on the path where Christianity develops into a new religion completely different from Judaism among many possibilities.
Paul's homeland Israel
Israel's Religious Establishment
Paul, too, was looking for his identity in the history of Israel. If you are a human being who has to live by breathing through your nose, eating and excreting, no one can escape from this. His experience of God, and ultimately his experience of Jesus Christ, also does not depart from this history of Israel. He lists the history of Israel, or Israel's religious vested interests, in six verses in verse 4. 1) The privilege of becoming a child of God. 2) The glory of serving God. 3) A covenant with God. 4) Law, 5) Worship. 6) God's promise.
We cannot fully comprehend the specific meaning of this religious privilege that Paul is now offering. Although these six have their own special significance, it is not important to explain them all here. Just pointing out what he is trying to say is enough for us today. These six factors point to the fact that the Israelites had a special relationship with God. It means that they were a nation with these religious vested interests.
The word "established" itself has some negative nuances, but it doesn't mean that it's that bad if you put away such preconceived notions. Think about it. It is truly precious to receive the experiences of God from the patriarchs like Abraham and Jacob, and the teachings of national leaders and prophets like Moses and Elijah. They had numerous sacred documents, scribes, priests, and pietists. All of this is history. Through this history, the Israelites were able to enter into a deep relationship with God.
In this respect, history is also very important in religion. Christianity also has this history. Over the past two thousand years, the Christian community has preserved, renewed, or deepened many traditions. There is worship, there is theology, there is the church system, and more importantly, the Bible. Through this history and tradition, not only many Christians living today, but also our descendants will come closer to God's will. If we understand the meaning of this history accurately, we will not be engrossed in the logic that the church should grow today, and we will live a life of faith that looks forward to the future.
God's economy
Paul concludes with this the religious superiority of Israel. “Christ was also born of them, speaking of humanity” (verse 5). Without the history of Israel, there would be no Jesus Christ. Without the religious tradition of Israel, how could Jesus of Nazareth understand the kingdom of God and the reality of human salvation? The reason why the Gospels of Matthew and Luke list the genealogy of Jesus is the theological confession that the history of Israel made the event of Jesus Christ possible. The Gospel of Mark does not deal with the genealogy of Jesus because it is a Gospel that was completed before such a theological interpretation was made. The Gospel of John goes far beyond that genealogy and traces the events of Jesus back to before the creation of the world.
But the problem starts right here. Through the history of Israel, Jesus Christ came to this world, and through this very Jesus Christ, the history of Israel is cut off. Could it be called the irony of history? The history of Israel made the emergence of Jesus Christ possible, but that Jesus Christ neutralized the history of Israel, what does this mean?
Paul now found a whole new way to get to a right relationship with God. Look at 10:4. “With the appearing of Christ the law was brought to an end, and whosoever believed in him had a right relationship with God.” This means that the way of salvation has begun, in which we have nothing to do for God. This was a stumbling block for the Israelites. Think of this problem this way. It means that anyone who gets a perfect score on the SAT or 50 points can enter Seoul National University, or enter by lottery. Students who study without sleeping at night will not be able to stand it because of their resentment. The Israelites, too, could not accept the fact that they could be saved only by believing in Jesus.
Now what should Paul do? He is Israeli. In that way, I experienced this world, experienced God, and eventually met Jesus Christ. However, most of the Israelites did not recognize this Jesus Christ. In this dilemma, Paul offers this logic. Israel's unbelief is an opportunity for Gentiles to be saved (11:11ff). But in the end “all Israel will also be saved” (11:26). Paul confesses that this historical development is God's profound economy (11:33).
How will God unfold the salvation of the Korean people today? How will you implement the unification of this nation? How does this universal truth that one can be saved simply by believing in Jesus Christ apply to the Korean people? How will God's profound economy be revealed to us? This is our prayer topic.