7/30/2019 34569916

1/4

His Holiness Benedict XVIsproclamation of 2008 as TheYear of Paul (June 2008June

2009) not only invites us to celebratethe great contribution St. Paul made toearly Christianity but to deepen ourown understanding of his life and mes-sage. (In what follows, for homileticpurposes I will not distinguishbetween the letters written by Paul andthose attributed to him by later tradi-tion.)

Many of us would agree that the

writings of Paul do not alwayshave the clarity or appeal we findin the Gospels. His writings con-tain terms and concepts that thereader finds puzzling. But some-times the problem is not the

vocabulary or syntax. Sometimesit is the larger background of histhought that causes problems forthe reader.

GrecoRoman World

ProductPaul was born as a Jew into aGreco-Roman world in the firstcentury A.D. Both the Jewish andthe Greco-Roman cultures had aprofound influence on histhought and writings. Thereforein order to understand Paul to thebest of our ability, it would behelpful for us who live in moderntimes to know something aboutthe modes of thought and expres-sion that were influential at the

time when he lived.For example, Paul was a product ofthe Greco-Roman world. One of thesubjects that educated people of thattime studied was rhetoric. In many ofhis letters Paul uses rhetorical devicespopular at that time to persuade hisaudience. A basic knowledge of Greco-Roman rhetoric can be helpful inunderstanding Paul.

But Paul was also born into a Jewishworld. That world was very differentfrom the Jewish world that we

encounter in most of the OldTestament. In the period between thelast books of the canonical OldTestament and the New Testament anew type of worldview arose that is firstfound in the Book of Daniel. Known asapocalyptic, from the Greek word forrevelation, this worldview is probablythe confluence of two streams of late

Jewish thought: prophecy and wisdom.

Apocalyptic WorldviewApocalyptic is very much concerned

with revelations about the future(the realm of prophecy), especial-ly about the final age of this worldand beyond. It also emphasizesthat this revealed knowledgeabout the future (the realm of wis-dom) is given only to a chosenfew. During the period betweenthe Old and New Testaments, andsomewhat beyond, many suchbooks were written, some ofwhich have been preserved to this

day.The purpose of these writingswas to instill faith and hope inpersecuted communities faiththat God was still in control of his-tory and hope that in the endgood would prevail over evil. Theteaching and actions of Jesus him-self in the Gospels clearly reflectthis background, as do the writ-ings of Paul and other NewTestament authors.

It is easier to describe apoca-

November 2008 The Priest 37

Paul andApocalypticismBy Michael L. Barr, S.S.

YEAR OF ST. PAUL IN BRIEF

Greco-Romanworld product

Apocalypticworldview

Paulineworldview

Satans work The secondcoming

A place ofsojourning

7/30/2019 34569916

2/4

lyptic than to define it.Perhaps its chief charac-teristic is an either-or

view of reality.Everything is seen inclear, black-and-white terms there is

no gray. There is this world (or age)and the world to come, the kingdomof God and the kingdom of Satan, thepowers of good and the powers of evil.

The apocalyptic view believes thatGod has revealed to His elect certainmysteries about the divine plan anda timetable indicating how things willplay out when the world-to-come orkingdom of God appears at last. Thewriters of most apocalyptic writingsbelieved that history was divided into

distinct periods and that they were liv-ing in the final period, the last times.The end of this period will be pre-

ceded by a great tribulation for theelect, but God will ultimately triumphover Satan and the powers of evil. Thencomes the end of this world, the last

judgment and the final resurrection.

Pauline WorldviewAll of the aspects of this worldview

can be found in the Pauline literature.For example, Paul divides world historyinto three periods (Rom 5:14): from

Adam to Moses, from Moses to Christ,and from Christ to the end of time.This division of time gives a sense thatGod is in control of history. It alsoimplies that there will be no furthereras in salvation history after the last

period. Contemporary Christians sharewith Paul the belief that we are livingin the last times, anticipating thefinal coming of the Lord.

There was some controversy inJewish thought around Pauls time as tothe fate of the gentiles at the end of

time. Some believed theywould experience Godswrath, but others heldthat Gods plan mighthave a place for them.

Paul is in the latter camp, describing

the unexpected incorporation of gen-tiles into Gods saving plan in apoca-lyptic terminology. He calls this incor-poration a mystery, part of Godsplan formerly unknown but nowrevealed to His elect in the last days(Eph 1:9,26; 3:3,9; Col 2:2).

The same understanding of mys-tery also appears in Daniel 2 and, withsome frequency, in the Dead SeaScrolls. But there was also a negativeside to mystery. In 2 Thes 2:7 Paul

speaks of the mystery of iniquity.Just as God has a mystery or secret planat work in the world, which leads to thetriumph of His kingdom, Satan also hashis plan, which he hopes will result inthe triumph of his kingdom.

Satans WorkPaul was convinced that Satan was

at work in the world, extending hiskingdom and trying to subvert theincoming kingdom of God. He men-tions the activity of Satan in several let-

ters (1 Cor 7:5; 2 Cor 2:11; 1 Thes 2:18;2 Thes 2:9). In one famous passage (2Cor 11:14) he says that, to prevent himfrom becoming proud, he was givenan angel/messenger of Satan toharass him in his apostolic work.

Although this is commonlythought to be some physical or psycho-logical disability, it more likely refers toan individual in one of Pauls commu-nities who was a particularly difficultcross for him, probably someone who

was undoing his work.Since Paul was convinced that hehad been sent by the risen Christ (thisis what he means when he calls himselfan apostle), his mission was fromGod, and whoever opposed it wasdoing the work of Satan.

Satans kingdom held sway overpeople mainly through sin, demonicpossession and sickness. Since deathwas the wages of sin (Rom 6:23), itwas also a sign of his power in theworld.

38 The Priest November 2008

Contemporary Christians share

with Paul the belief that we are

living in the last times,

anticipating the final coming.

Author:

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan

ISBN-13: 978-1-59276-393-1ID#: T492, Retail Price: $6.95

Package of 10ISBN-13: 978-1-59276-394-8

ID#: T493, Retail Price: $41.95

To Order Call,1-800-348-2440, x3

A7ABBD5A

7/30/2019 34569916

3/4

Paul calls death the last enemy (1Cor 15:26). In his letters Paul alsomakes reference to certain malevolentcosmic powers at work in the world(usually translated principalities,powers, thrones, domi(nat)-

ions, etc.). Their power has been vir-tually broken by Christs resurrectionand ascension to Gods right hand (Eph1:20-22; Col 2:15).

Most Pauline scholars today agreethat Paul and many of his Christiancontemporaries probably believedthat the second coming would takeplace very soon, even in their lifetime(1 Thes 3:15).

For this reason Paul understood thevarious sufferings he endured in the

course of his preaching as part of thetribulation that would take placebefore the end of this world. He appliesthis apocalyptic term to his own experi-ences in a number of passages (Rom8:35; 12:12; 2 Cor 7:4; 1 Thes 3:4).

Some apocalyptic belief held thatthe tribulation would not end andthat the final age could not be usheredin until a certain amount of sufferingon the part of the elect had taken place.The sufferings of Christ are part of this(Col 1:24). But in Pauls view the suf-

ferings he underwent in his missionarywork also contributed to this quota ofsufferings. He boasts about his trialsbecause they are the clearest mark of atrue apostle.

Although the apocalyptic viewpointno longer dominates our faith perspec-tive, it is nevertheless important. As

Christians we still believe that we areliving in the final epoch of this world,the period between Christs resurrec-tion and his second coming. We are apeople whose existence is characterizedby waiting waiting for this final event

in history.

A Place of SojourningThis posture of waiting has certain

implications for how we live. Thoughwe live in the world we are not ofthe world (Jn 8:23). However comfort-able we may become in this earthlydwelling place, our true home is nothere (Phil 3:20). It is interesting to notethat this sense of where our true homelies is implied in the ordinary word

parish.This comes from a Greek word(paroikia) that means a place ofsojourning, a place where foreignerslive together while waiting and hopingto return to their homeland. A parish,then, is an environment in which peo-ple keep alive the focus on their truehomeland, where they work and praytogether for the final coming of thekingdom of God. It is a place where allof us together await in the apocalyp-tic phrase that ends the Nicene Creed

we recite every Sunday the life ofthe world to come. TP

FATHER BARR, S.S., is Professor ofSacred Scripture at St. MarysSeminary and University in Baltimoreand a past president of the CatholicBiblical Association.

40 The Priest November 2008

100s of Quality Productsfrom Trappist, Benedictine,

Franciscan &Orthodox communities

(800)472-0425

MonasteryGreetings.comGifts Shipped Anywhere!

Trappist PreservesMonastery Fruitcake

Chocolate, Fudge & Candy

Chant, Incense & Icons

FREE CATALOGof Monastery Products

Christmas Cards & Gifts

TP 11/08

The Gospel antiphons

for Dec. 17 to 23

are ancient prayers

expressing the

poignant longing ofGods people for His

coming. Six-panel

full-color pamphlet

on glossy paper con-

tains a history and

explanation, plus

the antiphons

themselves with

symbols. Can inspire fruitful medita-

tion during the final days of Advent.

#4018 ONLY$12.00 PER 100! PLUS S&H

Many other titles available:

Basic Catholic Prayers, A Primer forConfession, and more! Please visit our

website or call for our free catalog!

New Hope Publications

1-800-764-8444

www.newhope-ky.org

For the

Final Days

of Advent

7/30/2019 34569916

4/4