The Death of Christ in Pauline Epistle
INTRODUCTION
The death of Christ occupies a central position in Paul’s representation of the Gospel. According to Ladd, “the first thing to be said about the death of Christ it is the supreme revelation of the love of God.” Paul has some familiarity with and reminds his readers of the story of Jesus’ suffering and death; and he develops the importance of Christ’s passion in context related to all aspects of his apostolic message especially his soteriology and Christology, eschatology and ethics. The atoning death of Christ is the work Christ did in his life and death to earn us salvation. The New Testament provides a rich and joyous expression of the work of Christ through his death to atone for the sins of mankind. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (II Cor. 5:19); Christ “He gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph.5:2); He came to “Reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20).
Why did Jesus have to die? Was it necessary for Him to die such a way as to cause the shedding of his own blood? Did the atoning death require the death of a divine? Did the atoning death occur entirely at Calvary or did it also include post resurrection activity by Jesus? These are some of the questions with which Paul dealt to a greater or lesser extent in his writings. This paper will seek to give insight to these questions as best as possible as presented by Paul in his letters.
THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST’S DEATH
For Paul, the cross of Christ was critical for Christian’s reflection and life, especially as means by which God has provided for salvation and as the instrument and measure of new life in Christ. The subject of Christ’s death plays so important a role in the structure if Pauline’s thought that it merits a thorough study. The cross for Christian is not a symbol of defeat but of victory over death, sin and suffering. This creates a background for
The death of Christ occupies a central position in Paul’s representation of the Gospel. According to Ladd, “the first thing to be said about the death of Christ it is the supreme revelation of the love of God.” Paul has some familiarity with and reminds his readers of the story of Jesus’ suffering and death; and he develops the importance of Christ’s passion in context related to all aspects of his apostolic message especially his soteriology and Christology, eschatology and ethics. The atoning death of Christ is the work Christ did in his life and death to earn us salvation. The New Testament provides a rich and joyous expression of the work of Christ through his death to atone for the sins of mankind. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (II Cor. 5:19); Christ “He gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph.5:2); He came to “Reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20).
Why did Jesus have to die? Was it necessary for Him to die such a way as to cause the shedding of his own blood? Did the atoning death require the death of a divine? Did the atoning death occur entirely at Calvary or did it also include post resurrection activity by Jesus? These are some of the questions with which Paul dealt to a greater or lesser extent in his writings. This paper will seek to give insight to these questions as best as possible as presented by Paul in his letters.
THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST’S DEATH
For Paul, the cross of Christ was critical for Christian’s reflection and life, especially as means by which God has provided for salvation and as the instrument and measure of new life in Christ. The subject of Christ’s death plays so important a role in the structure if Pauline’s thought that it merits a thorough study. The cross for Christian is not a symbol of defeat but of victory over death, sin and suffering. This creates a background for
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