Date

5-2020

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Master of Theology (ThM)

Chair

Leo Percer

Keywords

Pauline Studies, Leviticus 19:18, Second Temple Judaism, Galatians 5:13-15, Romans 13:8-10, Love

Disciplines

Christianity | Religion

Abstract

Paul’s use of Leviticus 19:18 in Romans 13:8-10 and Galatians 5:13-15 begs the question of how a command that is not repeated in the Old Testament came to the position of prominence as the summarizing and fulfilling statement of the whole law. This study aims to analyze select Second Temple Jewish texts and Paul’s letters to the Romans and Galatians in order to trace the uses of or allusions to Leviticus 19:18 and determine how Paul’s use of Leviticus 19:18 compares and differs from the selected texts. The Second Temple Jewish texts that are analyzed include the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Tobit 4:15, Bavli Shabbat 31a, the Damascus Document, and the Community Rule. The comparative analysis reveals that Paul’s use of Leviticus 19:18 in Romans 13:8-10 and Galatians 5:13-15 is shaped by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and is thus unique when compared to preceding and contemporary Second Temple Jewish texts.

Download

Included in

Christianity Commons

Share

COinS