THE ORIGIN OF PAULâS CONCERN FOR THE GENTILES AND PAULâS GENTILE MISSION

• Main Author: Kim, Tae Hoon
• Other Authors: Prof DF Tolmie
• Format: Others
• Language: en-uk
• Published: University of the Free State 2008
• Subjects: New Testament
• Online Access: http://etd.uovs.ac.za//theses/available/etd-10232008-124916/restricted/

This purpose of this study is to investigate the origin of Paulâs 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 Paulâs concern for the Gentiles. I argue that the main background of the pre-Damascus Paulâs 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 Godâs 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, Paulâs concern for the Gentiles originated before Damascus. Chapter 3 focuses on the origin of Paulâs 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, Paulâs Gentile mission originated at Damascus. Chapter 4 serves as conclusion of the study. I conclude that Paulâs concern for the Gentiles originated before Damascus and that his Gentile mission originated at Damascus, and suggest that this implies that the pre-Damascus Paulâs concern for the Gentiles played a definite role in his Gentile mission.