The Apocalyptic Paul Booth is a series of episodes dedicated to apocalyptic readings of the apostle Paul’s letters. Interviews situate Pauline apocalyptic—a stream of similar interpretations of Paul's writings originating in the work of exegetes like Rudolf Bultmann and Ernst Käsemann—among other interpretations (the Old and New Paul readings, for instance) as well as among Second Temple Jewish apocalyptic literature.
Here we interview Douglas Harink, Professor Emeritus of Theology at The King’s University in Edmonton, Alberta, whose main areas of interest are in Pauline studies and contemporary theology. His publications include Paul among the Postliberals: Pauline Theology beyond Christendom and Modernity (Wipf & Stock, 2013) and the edited volumes, Paul, Philosophy, and the Theolopolitical Vision: Critical Engagements with Agamben, Badiou, Zizek, and Others (Cascade, 2010) and (with Joshua Davis) Apocalyptic and the Future of Theology: With and Beyond J. Louis Martyn (Cascade, 2012).
PODCAST LINKS:
Dr. Harink’s website: https://douglasharink.ca/
Dr. Harink’s author page: https://wipfandstock.com/author/douglas-harink/
CONNECT:
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SOURCES MENTIONED:
Agamben, Giorgio. The Time That Remains: A Commentary on the Letter to the Romans.
Badiou, Alain. Saint Paul: The Foundation of Universalism.
Barclay, John M. G. Paul and the Gift.
Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics. 14 vols.
———. The Epistle to the Romans.
Beker, J. Christiaan. The Triumph of God: The Essence of Paul’s Thought.
Bowens, Lisa M. African American Readings of Paul: Reception, Resistance, and Transformation.
Davies, Jamie. The Apocalyptic Paul: Retrospect and Prospect.
Davis, Joshua B., and Douglas Harink. Apocalyptic and the Future of Theology: With and Beyond J. Louis Martyn.
De Boer, Martinus C. Galatians.
Eastman, Susan Grove. Paul and the Person: Reframing Paul’s Anthropology.
Harink, Douglas. Paul among the Postliberals: Pauline Theology Beyond Christendom and Modernity.
———. Resurrecting Justice: Reading Romans for the Life of the World.
———, ed. Paul, Philosophy, and the Theopolitical Vision: Critical Engagements with Agamben, Badiou, Žižek, and Others.
Jervis, L. Ann. Paul and Time: Life in the Temporality of Christ.
Martyn, J. Louis. Galatians.
McKnight, Scot, et al., eds. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship.
Przywara, Erich. Analogia Entis: Metaphysics: Original Structure and Universal Rhythm.
Sonderegger, Katherine. Systematic Theology. 2 vols.
OUTLINE:
(02:18) – Starbucks coffee and (much better) craft coffee
(05:20) – Apocalyptic Paul in a nutshell: Who rules the world?
(08:32) – Tracking Pauline studies as a systematic theologian (by training)
(09:46) – Why an apocalyptic reading of Paul?
(14:40) – “Reveal/revelation” vs. “apocalypse”
(18:53) – Major historic figures: Schweitzer, Bultmann, Käsemann, Beker, Martyn
(26:28) – Pulling Pauline apocalyptic into theological territory
(30:48) – . . . and on into philosophical territory: Badiou, Agamben, Žižek
(36:42) – Kierkegaard: the radical claim God makes on our lives
(38:47) – Catholic/Orthodox apocalyptic: O’Regan, Betz, Hart
(45:36) – Reconciling Pauline apocalyptic and Paul within Judaism
(49:45) – Barth and apocalyptic theology
(50:58) – Bible commentaries written in an apocalyptic/theological mode
(57:45) – Pauline apocalyptic’s critique of salvation history
(01:03:35) – Contemporary figures: Gaventa, Eastman, Barclay, de Boer, Brown, Bowens, Jervis, Davies
(01:08:31) – Where to learn more about Harink’s work
The Theology Mill