The Church according to Paul – Why Are We Ignoring Paul? (Gupta)

Last updated on: September 23, 2014 at 5:51 pm by Nijay Gupta

The Church according to Paul – Why Are We Ignoring Paul? (Gupta) 2014-09-23T17:51:12-08:00 Nijay Gupta

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This is Part I of a review series I am doing on James W. Thompson’s new book The Church According to Paul: Rediscovering the Community Conformed to Christ (Baker, 2014).

Thompson is scholar-in-residence at the Graduate School of Theology at Abilene Christian University. This is the third installment in a series of books on Paul, the first two of which are Pastoral Ministry according to Paul and Moral Formation according to Paul.

There are nine chapters in this 200+ page work, and most chapters associate Pauline texts with themes such as “Corporate Formation” or “Justification is about Unification.” His first chapter, the introduction, makes the case that, while many pastors and theologians recognize the church at large is in a state of crisis, the many proposed solutions are woefully inadequate and at least fail in the area of taking Paul’s theology seriously. Thompson urges that “the most basic questions are not being asked” (2) and that leaders today are simply not in tune with “the theological identity of the church” (2).

Thompson is an equal opportunity offender as he criticizes a number of new church movements

church as theater – too showy and passive; lacking real participation.

church as association – if it is just a club, it is consumer driven.

missional church – while this movement has been more intentional and academic than others, Thompson still finds it wanting. He argues that the nature of God cannot be reduced down to his mission (he might be right in his criticism here, but perhaps balance is not yet necessary). Thompson sees certain elements of church life missing from a missional model – sacraments? Polity? Thompson thinks missionals (I would include myself here) focus less on Christology and soteriology, and more on going out and serving the kingdom of God. I don’t think Thompson has read Scot McKnight (who is episcopal, by the way!) and he definitely needs to read McKnight’s new book The Kingdom Conspiracy. Anyway, I can’t question Thompson for not reading a book that came out after his! Still, while I don’t think Thompson has read broadly enough in the “missional church” arena, he is probably right that the missional-movement was fueled by a return to (1) the OT and (2) a focus on Jesus and the Gospels. So, Thompson offers a helpful voice urging pastors and churches to give Paul a more careful contribution (but I will quickly jump in a say Dean Flemming’s Recovering the Full Mission of God has given the missional movement a heavy [and healthy] dose of Paul).

emerging church – Thompson points to a problem in the EC’s ethos – transformative, yet immersed in culture. Thompson wonders, if it is so thoroughly immersed in “postmodern culture,” can it really be a “countercultural” movement? I don’t know enough about the EC to validate his critique, but he may be right.

Again, in all of this discussion and church strategy, Thompson wonders – where is Paul as

…the one who shaped communities more than anyone else we know. Paul offers the first written reflection on the nature of the church. Neither the attractional models of the church growth movement nor the missional or emerging church models incorporate Pauline theology at a substantial level into their understanding of the church. (16).

I hate to break the news to Thompson, but precious few churches think very deeply about ecclesiology at all, let alone making sure they hear Paul! Would that pastors and leaders take biblical theology seriously enough to learn how to do and be church! I think he is right, though, in general and I salute his passion for hearing Paul on the nature, identity, and mission of the church.

More to come as I journey through this book. You can read a long excerpt here.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 16, 2014

My Reflections for Missio Alliance on Ecumenism and Seminary (Gupta)

Next Post

September 24, 2014 Reframing New Testament Theology - Abingdon's New Series (Gupta)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category (Mis)Understanding Philippians 10 Things I Can't Live Without 2023 New Books 30 OT HB Scholars to Read and Follow 5 Books Series 50-2-Follow Academia Christian Theologians to Read and Follow Cruciform Scripture: Contributor Reflections Crux Sola TV Editors Behind Great Books in NT Studies Education Gendering the Holy Spirit Gupta FB Live Lectures In Faith and Doubt In Their Own Words Living the King Jesus Gospel My Top 6 OT Commentaries New Testament Resource Guide New Word Biblical Themes Nijay's A Very Library Christmas Shopping Guide Notes from an Editor Notes on New Books NTRG OT in the NT Paul Seminary Now The Bible in God's World The Word Felt Among Us SPENCER Translating Philippians Uncategorized Why I Use Accordance Women in Ministry

Select a Month March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz