this is where I came in ...
Enough of politics and the religious and social stuff, eh, the truce is holding in Gaza at least for the moment. Hamas, whom not even fools trust, professes interest in a lasting peace, dependably a lie incompatible with their very foundation, which clarifies that avenue. Iraq continues to collapse and Afghanistan to ravel in a third world where treachery is the word and way. Secretary Senator wanna-have-been-President Kerry’s efforts to forge peace in Palestine are a metaphor for "growing" U.S. influence round the globe, a toothless tiger.
Enough. Here’s the Second Reading for Sunday
Romans 10:5-15 (NRSV) Salvation Is for All
5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (Deuteronomy 30:14) (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because[a] if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. (in verse 10 Paul seems to say that the Jew believes and is righteous and the Gentile believes and is saved, and there is no difference except semantics) 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” (Isaiah 45:17, Psalm 25:3) 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Joel 2:32). 14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Isaiah 52:7).
The original Christian Bible-thumper (yes, Jesus quoted the Bible, but he was never a “Christian”, Acts 11:26, they were first called Christians at Antioch, perhaps sometime in the 40s), there we have Paul to the Romans, expressing his anguish that his Jewish brethren are not accepting Jesus, the Messiah whom God sent to them. Paul’s message, which he enforces with proof-texts from the Hebrew Bible, is that salvation is available to Jews who accept the Messiah whom God has sent, and indeed to everyone who confesses Christ and believes that God resurrected Him from death.
So the question that comes to me is what did Paul mean by salvation, being saved, his word is σωτηρία, what did it mean to Paul? And is that the same as what it probably means to the worshiper in the pew listening as the lesson is read? I think not, no. The worshiper in the pew believes that being “saved” means, to use Jerry Falwell’s phrase, that he has accepted Christ and “is as sure for heaven as if he were already there” and will be there the next instant after death.
But Paul, an apocalyptist or apocalypticist, believed that time was short until the eschaton, that the end of time was at hand when God would destroy all things and establish his kingdom on earth; and that when that happened, only those under the umbrella of the faith of (not in) Jesus the Messiah, that is faith in the One God, who is Adonai, the Lord God of Israel, would God rescue, delivering believers out of destruction and into His safety. Those who died before the eschaton would sleep in Jesus until the eschaton, when God would raise the dead to be judged. It would be a new physical realm.
Is that the same σωτηρία as that of the man in the pew? Not precisely. The man in the pew (pardon my political incorrectness) likely believes that at death he passes directly into heaven, a spiritual realm. Somewhat like what is described at the end of Revelation.
Which is true, who has it right, Paul or the man in the pew? Or maybe neither, remembering that just because you believe it, that don’t make it so. What’s the answer? The answer is that for the here and now, you pays your money and you takes your choice. Faith is unseen not knowledge, believing not knowing.
What about me? Well to start with, I’ve had a look out into the night sky through my telescope, seen farther than Paul could see, and it looks like the universe is continuing to expand, I don’t see an imminent eschaton. Which, incidentally, Paul somewhat rationalizes in Thessalonians. He isn't necessarily consistent, either. In one place he says it’s better to say single (because the eschaton is at hand so why bother developing a relationship) while in another place he says get a job because if you don't work you don't eat (because the eschaton hasn't come as anticipated, Jesus is tarrying).
No apocalyticist, I don’t believe the eschaton is upon us. Incoming maybe, and this is where I came in maybe, but not Paul’s eschaton.
No apocalyticist, I don’t believe the eschaton is upon us. Incoming maybe, and this is where I came in maybe, but not Paul’s eschaton.
What to believe? Watch, wait, be ready. A perennial Advent.
TW+