Paul and the Resurrection of Israel with Jason Staples
Jan 17, 2024
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Jason Staples, Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at NC State University, discusses the difference between Israel and Jew in relation to difficult texts in Romans. He explores the distinction between Jews and Israelites during the Second Temple period and the connection between Paul's writings and the prophets in the Old Testament. Staples also delves into the imagery of God as a potter in Romans 9-11 and the significance of Gentile inclusion and Hosea's quotes. He analyzes the concept of the fullness of the nations and its relation to the salvation of Israel, as well as the identity of Israel and its relationship with non-Jews.
Justification requires a transformation of the heart and obedience to the Torah.
Gentiles are considered part of Israel through the new covenant community.
The Holy Spirit's work in Gentiles fulfills the promise of the Torah written on the heart.
God's interaction with humanity, particularly Israel, involves shaping and reshaping based on their response.
Deep dives
Romans 2: The Paradox of Justification
In Romans 2, Paul addresses the paradox of justification. He explains that the doers of the law will be justified, but doing the works of the Torah alone cannot make a person just. The heart is the root of sin, and true justification requires a transformation of the heart. Paul introduces the concept of the Torah written on the heart, which is part of the new covenant promise to Israel. This transformation enables obedience to Torah and makes a person liable to be judged justly. Paul emphasizes that being a doer of the Torah goes beyond mere external actions and requires an internal change.
Israel and the Restoration of the Kingdom
In Romans 2, Paul lays the groundwork for understanding the restoration of Israel. He explains that Gentiles, who do not have the Torah, instinctively perform the Torah because they have the Torah written on their hearts. These Gentiles are being incorporated into the new covenant community and are considered part of Israel. However, Paul refrains from explicitly calling them Israelites in Romans 2, choosing to explain this further in later chapters. He addresses the problem of Gentiles receiving the promise given to Israel in the context of Jesus being the Messiah. This demonstrates God's faithfulness and fulfillment of the prophecies regarding Israel's restoration.
Reading Romans 2 and Romans 8 in Light of Each Other
In Romans 2, Paul presents the obedience to Torah and the Torah written on the heart as essential elements of justification. Paul later connects this concept with the work of the Holy Spirit in Romans 8. Gentiles who have the Spirit demonstrate obedience to Torah and fulfill the new covenant promise to have the Torah written on their hearts. This understanding aligns with the broader narrative of God's faithfulness to Israel and the restoration of all 12 tribes. By reading Romans 2 and Romans 8 together, Paul's argument about the inclusion of Gentiles as part of Israel becomes clearer.
Romans 9-11 and God's Interaction with His People
In Romans 9-11, Paul uses the image of a potter working with clay to illustrate God's relational and interactive nature. The clay represents humanity, particularly Israel, and God is actively shaping and reshaping the clay based on their response. Paul argues that God has produced vessels of wrath, which refers to his judgment and reshaping for destruction, but this does not imply a unilateral decision. Instead, it signifies God's response to the clay's choices and actions. These passages in Romans point to God's ongoing interaction with his people and his ultimate plan for their restoration.
The Inclusion of Gentiles in Israel
Paul argues that Gentiles are grafted into Israel and become part of the people of God through the work of the Messiah. He sees the prophecies of Israel's disobedience and scattering as indicators of God's plan to regather and restore the scattered Israelites from among the nations. Paul believes that Gentiles receiving the Spirit is evidence of their inclusion as resurrected Israelites, fulfilling the promise to bring back those who were once 'not my people.' In this way, all Israel, both Jews and Gentiles, will be saved.
The Messiah's Role in the Identity of Israel
The Messiah plays a central role in restoring and reviving Israel. Paul sees the Messiah as reuniting and reviving Israel and Judah, giving them new life through the Spirit. He views the Messiah as fulfilling the promises and giving Israel the life that the Torah could not provide. While the means of entrance into Israel changes, with the circumcision of the heart becoming the defining factor, Paul emphasizes that the Messiah does not change the fundamental identity of Israel. Israel remains a distinct ethnic and racial category, and the Gentiles who are grafted in become part of this renewed and revived Israel.
The Salvation of All Israel
Paul's statement that 'all Israel will be saved' should not be understood as supersessionism. Rather, Paul's use of 'all Israel' refers to the faithful remnant of Jews and Gentiles who are part of God's people. He highlights Israel's historical patterns of partial insensibility and pruning throughout Scripture. Paul argues that the insensibility of some Jews paves the way for the fullness of the nations, including Gentiles, to be grafted into Israel. The inclusion of the fullness of the nations is how all Israel will be saved, as God's promise extends to all who are part of Israel, regardless of their ethnic or religious background.
This is a republished episode with Dr. Jason Staples. Staples recently published a new book called "Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites" (Cambridge University Press, 2023). In this episode, Jason shared many of the ideas that appear in the new book before it was published.
Jason Staples is Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at NC State University. He’s the author of two books, The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism, published with Cambridge University Press in 2021, and Paul and the Resurrection of Israel, which will come out next year, also with Cambridge University press. He also has worked in sports media for fifteen years, used to coach football, and does voiceover work to ensure his family can survive, and he will be launching the BiblePod podcast in the next few months.
Jason discusses the difference between Ισραήλ (Israel) and Ἰουδαῖος (Jew) and how it relates to difficult texts like Romans 2:13, Romans 9:19-22, and Romans 11:25-26.
Show notes:
- "The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism: A New Theory of People, Exile, and Israelite Identity" (Cambridge University Press, 2021): https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/idea-of-israel-in-second-temple-judaism/CB65E50538F8CC4E48C5294FDE445A58
- "Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites" (Cambridge University Press, 2023): https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/paul-and-the-resurrection-of-israel/E88A324A84EB7F7533F23817E4FF17AD
- "Vessels of Wrath and God’s Pathos: Potter/Clay Imagery in Rom 9:20–23": https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/harvard-theological-review/article/vessels-of-wrath-and-gods-pathos-potterclay-imagery-in-rom-92023/10212C0E6F1B7E444E80CB3CDD58D106
- "What Do the Gentiles Have to Do with "All Israel"? A Fresh Look at Romans 11:25-27": https://static1.squarespace.com/static/569543b4bfe87360795306d6/t/5a4d463053450af960807100/1515013716367/12Staples.pdf
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