Digital Logos Edition
Published in 1901, W.E. Ball’s St. Paul and the Roman Law and Other Studies on the Origin of the Form of Doctrine is a fascinating analysis of Roman law, and how expanded comprehension of its language and formation will lead to a deeper New Testament exegesis.
In clear, bold prose, Ball establishes the importance of Paul’s Roman citizenship, and how without it, Christianity may not have extended far beyond Palestine. With Ball’s extensive historical knowledge and profound understanding of Roman law, this exhilarating approach to the New Testament is essential reading for biblical scholars and connoisseurs of history alike.
“St. Paul exchanges the physical metaphor of regeneration for the legal metaphor of adoption. The adopted person became in the eye of the law a new creature. He was born again into a new family. By the aid of this figure the Gentile convert was enabled to realise in a vivid manner the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of the faithful, the obliteration of past penalties, the right to the mystic inheritance.” (Page 6)
“Of all distinctively Pauline phraseology, perhaps the metaphor which enshrines the most important truths, and which has become most thoroughly incorporated in the language at once of theology and devotion, is that of adoption.” (Page 4)
“Among the Jews adoption was hardly even a social incident, and in a juridic sense it was absolutely unknown.” (Page 4)
“The form of sale into bondage was almost undistinguishable from the form of adoption.” (Pages 7–8)
“St. Paul was the chief formulator of Christian doctrine, because he was the chief interpreter of the Gospel to the Gentile nations. The conversion of the Hebrews involved the task of harmonising the superstructure of Christianity with the ancient foundations of Mosaic Law. But in the case of the Gentiles the foundations were lacking, and it was necessary to enunciate a complete theory of natural and revealed religious truth.” (Page 1)
3 ratings
ekarudi
5/31/2021
Ray Mills
6/6/2019
Russ White
9/22/2012