English: This purpose of this study is to investigate the origin of Paul’s concern for the Gentiles and of his Gentile mission. Chapter 1 serves to show that recent Pauline studies tend to focus only on Paul at and post-Damascus, and then provides the outline for the thesis. Chapter 2 focuses on the origin of Paul’s concern for the Gentiles. I argue that the main background of the pre-Damascus Paul’s thought was not Hellenism, but Judaism. Thus, it is highly likely that Paul was aware of patterns of Jewish universalism with regard to the inclusion of Gentiles into God’s people. There are two representative patterns of Jewish universalism: One is the tradition of an eschatological pilgrimage; the other is that of Gentile proselytism. On the basis of Gal. 5:11 and Rom. 11, I argue that Paul shared the tradition of Gentile proselytism rather than that of an eschatological pilgrimage. Therefore, Paul’s concern for the Gentiles originated before Damascus. Chapter 3 focuses on the origin of Paul’s Gentile mission. In Gal. 1:11-17 and 2 Cor. 4:4-6 Paul explains the origin of his gospel and his mission. In particular he links them to Damascus. Furthermore, we do not have evidence that a period of time elapsed after Damascus before Paul began preaching to the Gentiles. On the contrary, we do have evidence that Paul preached the gospel to the Gentiles immediately after he experienced the Christophany at Damascus. Therefore, Paul’s Gentile mission originated at Damascus. Chapter 4 serves as conclusion of the study. I conclude that Paul’s concern for the Gentiles originated before Damascus and that his Gentile mission originated at Damascus, and suggest that this implies that the pre-Damascus Paul’s concern for the Gentiles played a definite role in his Gentile mission.
Afrikaans: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die oorsprong van Paulus se besorgdheid oor die heidene en sy sending na die heidene te ondersoek. Hoofstuk 1 dien om aan te toon dat onlangse Pauliniese studies die geneigdheid het om Paulus slegs vóór en ná Damaskus te bestudeer. In hierdie hoofstuk word die raamwerk van die studie ook voorsien. Hoofstuk 2 dien om die oorsprong van Paulus se besorgdheid oor heidene te beredeneer. Ek argumenteer dat die primêre agtergrond vir Paulus se gedagtes vóór die Damaskuservaring nie Hellenisme was nie, maar wel die Judaïsme. Daarom is dit hoogs waarskynlik dat Paulus bewus was van Joodse universalistiese sienings rakende die insluiting van heidene by God se volk. Daar is twee verteenwoordigende patrone van Joodse universalistiese sienings: Een is die tradisie van ’n eskatologiese pelgrimstog; die ander is die van prosilitering van die heidene. In besonder glo ek, gebaseer op Galasiërs 5:11 en Romeine 11, dat Paulus die tradisie van heidense prosilitering aangehang het eerder as die van ’n eskatologiese pelgrimstog. Daarom stel ek dit dat Paulus se besorgdheid oor die heidene sy oorsprong gehad het vóór die Damaskuservaring. Hoofstuk 3 dien om die oorsprong van Paulus se sending na die heidene te beredeneer. In Galasiërs 1:11-17 en 2 Korintiërs 4:4-6 verduidelik Paulus die oorsprong van sy evangelieboodskap en van sy sendingroeping deur dit aan sy Damaskuservaring te koppel. Verder het ons geen bewyse dat daar ’n tydperk ná Damaskus verloop het voordat begin het om die evangelie aan die heidene te preek nie. Daarteenoor het ons wel bewyse dat hy die evangelie aan heidene verkondig het dadelik nadat hy die Christusverskyning by Damaskus beleef het. Daarom aanvaar ons dat Paulus se sendingroeping in Damaskus ontstaan het. Hoofstuk 4 dien as die afsluiting van hierdie studie. Ek konkludeer dat Paulus se besorgdheid oor die heidene sy oorsprong gehad het vóór die Damaskuservaring, en dat sy sendingroeping na die heidene by Damaskus ontstaan het, en suggereer dan dat Paulus se besorgdheid oor die heidene vóór die Damaskuservaring ’n bepalende rol in sy sending aan die heidene gespeel het.
Rethinking the new perspective on Paul justification by faith and Paul’s gospel according to Galatians ﻿
Song, Jae Young (University of the Free State, 2006-05-31)
Rethinking the new perspective on Paul: justification by faith and Paul's gospel according to Galatians ﻿
The aim of this study is to evaluate the New Perspective on Paul. One of the most important new contributions of the New Perspective, that is a new interpretation of Paul’s view of justification by faith, is the main focus ...