The professors in the Biblical Institute taught us that in the Hebrew language, there are no comparative adjectives. Such a concept is expressed by putting two opposite adjectives together. The earliest Christians were mostly Jews. Inevitably, some New Testament authors wrote in Hebraic expressions, very much like my students who think in Chinese but write in English. For example, the harsh wordings of Luke are thought to be more original than Matthew's.
If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26).
He who loves father or mother more than me (ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ) is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me(Matthew 10:37).
Probably, Luke tried to be faithful to the words of Jesus and dared not change them whereas Matthew felt the need to adapt Jesus' wordings to his community. This is a thorny issue and cannot be settled easily. For example, the Greek proficiency of the authors concerned would not be ignored. St. Paul was a case in point. Yesterday, we met a comparative expression "much more (πολλῷ μᾶλλον)" which appears 12 times in New Testament (Matthew 6:30; Mark 10:48; Luke 18:39; Romans 5:9-10, 15, 17; 1 Corinthians 12:22; 2 Corinthians 3:9, 11; Philippians 1:23, 2:12). Nine of the twelve come from Paul and the Romans has 4! All 4 are found in Romans 5. Therefore, this expression must be one of the favourite rhetoric devices of Paul. He used it to bring about certain literary effect.
If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26).
He who loves father or mother more than me (ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ) is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me(Matthew 10:37).
Probably, Luke tried to be faithful to the words of Jesus and dared not change them whereas Matthew felt the need to adapt Jesus' wordings to his community. This is a thorny issue and cannot be settled easily. For example, the Greek proficiency of the authors concerned would not be ignored. St. Paul was a case in point. Yesterday, we met a comparative expression "much more (πολλῷ μᾶλλον)" which appears 12 times in New Testament (Matthew 6:30; Mark 10:48; Luke 18:39; Romans 5:9-10, 15, 17; 1 Corinthians 12:22; 2 Corinthians 3:9, 11; Philippians 1:23, 2:12). Nine of the twelve come from Paul and the Romans has 4! All 4 are found in Romans 5. Therefore, this expression must be one of the favourite rhetoric devices of Paul. He used it to bring about certain literary effect.
Let us take a look at the 4 verses in Romans 5.
Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life(Romans 5:9-10).
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many (Romans 5:15).
If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
Immediately, we can see that Paul was contrasting two items in each verse: Jesus' blood vs. Jesus (5:9), the death of Jesus vs. the life of Jesus (5:10), Adam's trespass vs. Jesus' grace and free gift (5:15), the reign of death vs. the reign of life (5:17). Paul was trying to demonstrate the superiority of the latter over the former. Therefore, it is not a question of 50% salvation like what I wrote yesterday.
Rather, it is the superiority of life over death, grace over sins and salvation over reconciliation. Reconciliation / justification is only the preliminary step. Once we were sinners under the reign and control of death. Through faith, we were reconciled to God. We were justified before Him. Then we marched forwards. We will lead a life of grace in God. How is it possible? It is possible because Jesus is superior to Adam.
Unwittingly, Paul steps into trouble!
where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:20b-21).
Logically, it would lead to the conclusion that we should sin more in order to bring about more grace (Romans 6:1)!
I will continue the reading tomorrow to see how Paul deals with this issue.
Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life(Romans 5:9-10).
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many (Romans 5:15).
If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
Immediately, we can see that Paul was contrasting two items in each verse: Jesus' blood vs. Jesus (5:9), the death of Jesus vs. the life of Jesus (5:10), Adam's trespass vs. Jesus' grace and free gift (5:15), the reign of death vs. the reign of life (5:17). Paul was trying to demonstrate the superiority of the latter over the former. Therefore, it is not a question of 50% salvation like what I wrote yesterday.
Rather, it is the superiority of life over death, grace over sins and salvation over reconciliation. Reconciliation / justification is only the preliminary step. Once we were sinners under the reign and control of death. Through faith, we were reconciled to God. We were justified before Him. Then we marched forwards. We will lead a life of grace in God. How is it possible? It is possible because Jesus is superior to Adam.
Unwittingly, Paul steps into trouble!
where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:20b-21).
Logically, it would lead to the conclusion that we should sin more in order to bring about more grace (Romans 6:1)!
I will continue the reading tomorrow to see how Paul deals with this issue.
Dear Lord, I continue to sin after baptism. This is very troublesome. Enlighten me to see what Paul sees so that I may truly lead a life of grace. Amen.
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