| Abstract |
This purpose of this study is to investigate the origin of Paul’s concern
for the Gentiles and of his Gentile mission.
Chapter 1 serves to show that recent Pauline studies tend to
focus only on Paul at and post-Damascus, and then provides the outline
for the thesis.
Chapter 2 focuses on the origin of Paul’s concern for the
Gentiles. I argue that the main background of the pre-Damascus Paul’s
thought was not Hellenism, but Judaism. Thus, it is highly likely that Paul
was aware of patterns of Jewish universalism with regard to the inclusion
of Gentiles into God’s people. There are two representative patterns of
Jewish universalism: One is the tradition of an eschatological pilgrimage;
the other is that of Gentile proselytism. On the basis of Gal. 5:11 and
Rom. 11, I argue that Paul shared the tradition of Gentile proselytism
rather than that of an eschatological pilgrimage. Therefore, Paul’s
concern for the Gentiles originated before Damascus.
Chapter 3 focuses on the origin of Paul’s Gentile mission. In Gal.
1:11-17 and 2 Cor. 4:4-6 Paul explains the origin of his gospel and his
mission. In particular he links them to Damascus. Furthermore, we do not
have evidence that a period of time elapsed after Damascus before Paul
began preaching to the Gentiles. On the contrary, we do have evidence
that Paul preached the gospel to the Gentiles immediately after he
experienced the Christophany at Damascus. Therefore, Paul’s Gentile
mission originated at Damascus. Chapter 4 serves as conclusion of the study. I conclude that
Paul’s concern for the Gentiles originated before Damascus and that his
Gentile mission originated at Damascus, and suggest that this implies that
the pre-Damascus Paul’s concern for the Gentiles played a definite role
in his Gentile mission. |
