عنوان

The Valentinian Claim To Esoteric Exegesis of Romans as Basis for Anthropological Theory

Number

LA127735

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

The Valentinian Claim To Esoteric Exegesis of Romans as Basis for Anthropological Theory

General Material Designation

[Article]

First Statement of Responsibility

Elaine H. Pagels

Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.

Leiden

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Brill

Text of Note

"Investigation of Valentinian exegesis of Romans indicates that certain gnostic theologians claim to have developed their anthropological theory from an esoteric exegesis of Romans. While most Christians read the epistle "literally", as Paul's discussion of the contrast between the revelation to Israel and the revelation in Christ, these exegetes read it allegorically. Accordingly, they claim, what Paul describes as the situation of "the Jews" who stand "in the law" (cf. Rm. 2.12; 3.19), subject to "sin" and "death" (8.2 f.) allegorically describes the situation of psychic Christians. They, as "Jews", worship the "God of the Jews" (3.29), the demiurge, whose law requires them to earn their salvation "from works" (4.2). Conversely, Paul's discussion of the "Gentiles", who, "outside the law", have in their hearts the "law by nature" (2.12-15) describes the situation of the pneumatics. These receive redemption entirely "apart from the law" (3.21), "without works" (3.28). They are the elect foreordained by the Father (8.29f.), redeemed "through faith", "according to grace" (3.21-30). This analysis suggests that the traditional framework for interpreting gnostic anthropology - either in terms of "determinism" (Bultmann, 1941) or of "free will" (L. Schottroff, 1969) - proves inadequate. Such anthropological terms as the "natures" (φστδ) or their designation as "hylic/psychic/pneumatic" instead are intended to present a modified theory of election, allegedly Pauline. They are intended to differentiate between the psychics' salvation, effected by choice "through works", on the one hand, and the pneumatics' redemption through divine election on the other - an election received "through faith", and "by grace"."

Date of Publication

1972

Physical description

241-258

Title

Vigiliae Christianae

Volume Number

26/1-4

International Standard Serial Number

1570-0720

Subject Term

Biblical Studies

Subject Term

Early Church & Patristics

Elaine H. Pagels

Call Number

10.1163/157007272X00171

Electronic name

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y