Calling and conscience: Paul as an example

Verbum et Ecclesia

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Calling and conscience: Paul as an example
 
Creator Malan, Gert J.
 
Subject theology; New Testament Studies; hermeneutics; phenomenology; calling; conscience; Paul; Heidegger; authentic existence; Galatians; Hellenistic-Christianity; Jewish-Christianity; soteriology
Description Paul’s calling presents a conundrum to which many have proposed varied solutions. Not trying to solve the conundrum in toto, this study investigates the existential dynamics of Paul’s calling as narrated to the Galatians within the context of their apostasy. The model used is Heidegger’s understanding of conscience as a call towards authenticity and away from inauthenticity. Rhetorical analysis assists in identifying Paul’s new understanding of authenticity, by analysing the propositio, especially its expositio, which contains soteriological peculiar existential first-person singular expressions. Paul’s preaching of his gospel and his letter to the Galatians are in turn also to them, a call to authenticity and away from inauthenticity. His preaching thus resembles the phenomenological idea of conscience. Thus, Paul’s gospel cannot be separated from his calling. Both are about the same understanding of authenticity. It is at the same time a new self-understanding: to have been crucified with Christ and therefore Christ living in him and the faithful (Gl 2:19–20). This is a concise formula of soteriology as symbolised in baptism. Such calling is never completed: it remains a dynamic process, a tension and movement between authenticity and inauthenticity. This is reflected in the Galatian apostasy and Paul’s letter calling them back to authenticity. The study underlines the crucial importance of soteriology for kerygma and baptism, but especially for understanding a person’s call to faith or ministry.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The model is suitable for studying the religious phenomenon of calling in religious texts and in life.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor None
Date 2024-07-08
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Literary Analysis; Hermeneutical Analysis
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ve.v45i1.3150
 
Source Verbum et Ecclesia; Vol 45, No 1 (2024); 6 pages 2074-7705 1609-9982
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/3150/7517 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/3150/7518 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/3150/7519 https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/3150/7520
 
Coverage Middle East First century CE Adult; male; Middle-Eastern
Rights Copyright (c) 2024 Gert J. Malan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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