Messiah and Righteousness in Paul and His Context

Manse Rim examines the relation between messiah and righteousness in ancient Jewish texts and in the letters of Paul, aiming to offer a fresh perspective on the current impasse regarding Pauline justification. By tracing moral, administrative, and eschatological dimensions, he redefines the framework for understanding Pauline righteousness.

English summary: Manse Rim investigates the multifaceted connection between messiah and righteousness in ancient Jewish literature and in Paul’s letters, seeking to move beyond the current impasse in Pauline justification studies. Ancient Jewish texts portray the association of messiah(s) with righteousness in several distinct ways: as moral virtue in relation to God, as administrative righteousness and justice exercised by the messiah as judge-king, and as eschatological righteousness linked with the heavenly realm and celestial immortality disclosed by the messiah on earth. In this interpretive framework, Paul’s use of righteousness language becomes both intelligible and distinctive. It participates in established messianic patterns yet redefines them through an eschatological realization bestowed upon the followers of the messiah. This righteousness is expressed through confession, baptismal practice, and the reception of pneuma. Manse Rim thus offers a precise, textually grounded account that reframes Pauline justification within its Jewish messianic matrix. German description: Manse Rim widmet sich der grundlegenden Frage nach dem Verhaltnis von Messias und Gerechtigkeit in fruhjudischen Texten sowie in den Briefen des Apostels Paulus. Ausgehend von der Beobachtung, dass in der gegenwartigen Paulusforschung ein Stillstand hinsichtlich der Auslegung der Rechtfertigung vorliegt, entwickelt der Autor einen neuen Zugang, der die messianische Dimension der Gerechtigkeit in den Blick nimmt. Fruhjudische Texte entfalten das Thema Gerechtigkeit in unterschiedlichen Perspektiven: als moralische Tugend des Messias im Verhaltnis zu Gott, als administrative Gerechtigkeit und Rechtsprechung in der Funktion des Richterkonigs sowie als eschatologische Gerechtigkeit, die mit dem himmlischen Bereich und der durch den Messias offenbarten Unsterblichkeit verbunden ist. Vor diesem Hintergrund zeigt der Autor, dass Paulus’ Rede von der Gerechtigkeit sowohl an diese Traditionen anschliesst als auch uber sie hinausfuhrt. Paulus versteht Gerechtigkeit als eschatologische Wirklichkeit, die den Anhangern des Messias zuteilwird – vermittelt durch Bekenntnis, Taufritus und den Empfang des Pneuma. Diese Verbindung von Kontinuitat und Innovation eroffnet einen neuen Blick auf das Verstandnis paulinischer Rechtfertigung und ihren Bezug zur judischen Messiaserwartung.

1 Introduction 1.1 The Shape of the Question 1.1.1 A Brief History of Pauline Justification 1.1.2 An Interpretive Impasse and Beyond 1.1.3 A Way Forward 1.2 Methodology 1.3 Definitions 1.3.1 Messiah as Paul's Christ 1.3.2 Ancient Jewish Messianism as a Phenomenon of Ancient Jewish Messiah Discourse 1.3.3 The Language of Righteousness in Paul 1.4 The Rationale for the Selected Texts and Comparison 1.5 Outline 2 Messiah and Righteousness in Ancient Jewish Texts, part 1 2.1 The Anointed One and Righteousness in Samuel and Kings 2.1.1 1 Sam 24:18 2.1.2 1 Sam 26:23 2.1.3 2 Sam 8:15 2.1.4 Summary 2.2 The Anointed One and Righteousness in Psalms 2.2.1 Ps 7:9
Ps 17:1
Ps 18:21, 25 2.2.2 OG Ps 2:12 2.2.3 Ps 72:1-3 (OG 71:1-3)
Ps 89:15 (OG 88:15) 2.2.4 Ps 110:4 (OG 109:4) 2.2.5 Summary 2.3 Messiah and Righteousness in Isaiah 2.3.1 Isa 9:5-6 (OG 9:4-5) 2.3.2 Isa 11:4-5 2.3.3 Isa 16:5 2.3.4 Isa 45:13 2.3.5 Isa 53:11 2.3.6 Summary 2.4 Messiah and Righteousness in Jeremiah 2.4.1 Jer 23:5-6 (MT 33:14-16) 2.4.2 Summary 2.5 Messiah and Righteousness in Daniel 2.5.1 Dan 9:24-27 2.5.2 Summary 2.6 Conclusion 3 Messiah and Righteousness in Ancient Jewish Texts, part 2 3.1 Messiah and Righteousness in Psalms of Solomon 3.1.1 Ps. Sol. 17:21-40 3.1.2 Summary 3.2 Messiah and Righteousness in the Qumran texts 3.2.1 4Q252 (4QCommGen A) 6 V, 2-5 3.2.2 11Q13 (11QMelch) 2:7-18 3.2.3 4Q521 (4QMessAp) 7 II, 4-7 3.2.4 Summary 3.3 Messiah and Righteousness in the Book of Parables (1 Enoch 37-71) 3.3.1 1 En. 38:2a 3.3.2 1 En. 48:10 3.3.3 1 En. 62:2 3.3.4 1 En. 39:6-7 3.3.5 1 En. 46:3 3.3.6 1 En. 49:2-3 3.3.7 Summary 3.4 Messiah and Righteousness in Testament of Judah 3.4.1 T. Judah 24:1-6 3.4.2 Summary 3.5 Messiah and Righteousness in 4 Ezra 3.5.1 4 Ezra 7:26-36 3.5.2 4 Ezra 12:31-34 3.5.3 Summary 3.6 Conclusion 4 Christ and Righteousness in Paul, part 1 4.1 Christ and Righteousness in First Thessalonians 4.1.1 1 Thess 4:6 4.1.2 Summary 4.2 Christ and Righteousness in First and Second Corinthians 4.2.1 1 Cor 1:30 4.2.2 1 Cor 6:11 4.2.3 2 Cor 5:21 4.2.4 Summary 4.3 Christ and Righteousness in Philippians 4.3.1 Phil 3:9 4.3.2 Summary 4.4 Conclusion 5 Christ and Righteousness in Paul, part 2 5.1 Christ and Righteousness in Galatians 5.1.1 Gal 2:16 5.1.2 Gal 3:23-24 5.1.3 Gal 2:21
3:21
5:3-4 5.1.4 Summary 5.2 Christ and Righteousness in Romans 5.2.1 Rom 3:21-26 5.2.2 Rom 5:16-21 5.2.3 Rom 10:4-10 5.2.4 Summary 5.3 Conclusion 6 Conclusions 6.1 Summary of the Argument 6.2 The Language of Righteousness in Paul and His Interpreters 6.3 Messiah and Righteousness in the Context of Early Christianity 6.4 Final Remarks ~GER~1 Introduction 1.1 The Shape of the Question 1.1.1 A Brief History of Pauline Justification 1.1.2 An Interpretive Impasse and Beyond 1.1.3 A Way Forward 1.2 Methodology 1.3 Definitions 1.3.1 Messiah as Paul's Christ 1.3.2 Ancient Jewish Messianism as a Phenomenon of Ancient Jewish Messiah Discourse 1.3.3 The Language of Righteousness in Paul 1.4 The Rationale for the Selected Texts and Comparison 1.5 Outline 2 Messiah and Righteousness in Ancient Jewish Texts, part 1 2.1 The Anointed One and Righteousness in Samuel and Kings 2.1.1 1 Sam 24:18 2.1.2 1 Sam 26:23 2.1.3 2 Sam 8:15 2.1.4 Summary 2.2 The Anointed One and Righteousness in Psalms 2.2.1 Ps 7:9
Ps 17:1
Ps 18:21, 25 2.2.2 OG Ps 2:12 2.2.3 Ps 72:1-3 (OG 71:1-3)
Ps 89:15 (OG 88:15) 2.2.4 Ps 110:4 (OG 109:4) 2.2.5 Summary 2.3 Messiah and Righteousness in Isaiah 2.3.1 Isa 9:5-6 (OG 9:4-5) 2.3.2 Isa 11:4-5 2.3.3 Isa 16:5 2.3.4 Isa 45:13 2.3.5 Isa 53:11 2.3.6 Summary 2.4 Messiah and Righteousness in Jeremiah 2.4.1 Jer 23:5-6 (MT 33:14-16) 2.4.2 Summary 2.5 Messiah and Righteousness in Daniel 2.5.1 Dan 9:24-27 2.5.2 Summary 2.6 Conclusion 3 Messiah and Righteousness in Ancient Jewish Texts, part 2 3.1 Messiah and Righteousness in Psalms of Solomon 3.1.1 Ps. Sol. 17:21-40 3.1.2 Summary 3.2 Messiah and Righteousness in the Qumran texts 3.2.1 4Q252 (4QCommGen A) 6 V, 2-5 3.2.2 11Q13 (11QMelch) 2:7-18 3.2.3 4Q521 (4QMessAp) 7 II, 4-7 3.2.4 Summary 3.3 Messiah and Righteousness in the Book of Parables (1 Enoch 37-71) 3.3.1 1 En. 38:2a 3.3.2 1 En. 48:10 3.3.3 1 En. 62:2 3.3.4 1 En. 39:6-7 3.3.5 1 En. 46:3 3.3.6 1 En. 49:2-3 3.3.7 Summary 3.4 Messiah and Righteousness in Testament of Judah 3.4.1 T. Judah 24:1-6 3.4.2 Summary 3.5 Messiah and Righteousness in 4 Ezra 3.5.1 4 Ezra 7:26-36 3.5.2 4 Ezra 12:31-34 3.5.3 Summary 3.6 Conclusion 4 Christ and Righteousness in Paul, part 1 4.1 Christ and Righteousness in First Thessalonians 4.1.1 1 Thess 4:6 4.1.2 Summary 4.2 Christ and Righteousness in First and Second Corinthians 4.2.1 1 Cor 1:30 4.2.2 1 Cor 6:11 4.2.3 2 Cor 5:21 4.2.4 Summary 4.3 Christ and Righteousness in Philippians 4.3.1 Phil 3:9 4.3.2 Summary 4.4 Conclusion 5 Christ and Righteousness in Paul, part 2 5.1 Christ and Righteousness in Galatians 5.1.1 Gal 2:16 5.1.2 Gal 3:23-24 5.1.3 Gal 2:21
3:21
5:3-4 5.1.4 Summary 5.2 Christ and Righteousness in Romans 5.2.1 Rom 3:21-26 5.2.2 Rom 5:16-21 5.2.3 Rom 10:4-10 5.2.4 Summary 5.3 Conclusion 6 Conclusions 6.1 Summary of the Argument 6.2 The Language of Righteousness in Paul and His Interpreters 6.3 Messiah and Righteousness in the Context of Early Christianity 6.4 Final Remarks ",

1 Introduction
1.1 The Shape of the Question
1.1.1 A Brief History of Pauline Justification
1.1.2 An Interpretive Impasse and Beyond
1.1.3 A Way Forward
1.2 Methodology
1.3 Definitions
1.3.1 Messiah as Paul's Christ
1.3.2 Ancient Jewish Messianism as a Phenomenon of Ancient Jewish Messiah Discourse
1.3.3 The Language of Righteousness in Paul
1.4 The Rationale for the Selected Texts and Comparison
1.5 Outline
Part 1: Messiah and Righteousness in Ancient Jewish Texts
2 Messiah and Righteousness in Ancient Jewish Biblical Texts
2.1 Messiah and Righteousness in Samuel and Kings
2.1.1 1 Sam 24:18
2.1.2 1 Sam 26:23
2.1.3 2 Sam 8:15
2.1.4 Summary
2.2 Messiah and Righteousness in Psalms
2.2.1 Pss 7:9; 17:1 (OG 16:1); 18:21, 25 (OG 17:21, 25)
2.2.2 OG Ps 2:12
2.2.3 Pss 72:1-3 (OG 71:1-3); 89:15 (OG 88:15)
2.2.4 Ps 110:4 (OG 109:4)
2.2.5 Summary
2.3 Messiah and Righteousness in Isaiah
2.3.1 Isa 9:5-6 (OG 9:4-5)
2.3.2 Isa 11:4-5
2.3.3 Isa 16:5
2.3.4 Isa 45:13
2.3.5 Isa 53:11
2.3.6 Summary
2.4 Messiah and Righteousness in Jeremiah
2.4.1 Jer 23:5-6 (MT 33:14-16)
2.4.2 Summary
2.5 Messiah and Righteousness in Daniel
2.5.1 Dan 9:24-27
2.5.2 Summary
2.6 Conclusion
3 Messiah and Righteousness in Ancient Jewish Parabiblical Texts
3.1 Messiah and Righteousness in Psalms of Solomon
3.1.1 Ps. Sol. 17:21-40
3.1.2 Summary
3.2 Messiah and Righteousness in the Qumran texts
3.2.1 4Q252 (4QCommGen A) 6 V, 2-5
3.2.2 11Q13 (11QMelch) 2:7-18
3.2.3 4Q521 (4QMessAp) 7 II, 4-7
3.2.4 Summary
3.3 Messiah and Righteousness in the Book of Parables (1 Enoch 37-71)
3.3.1 1 En. 38:2a
3.3.2 1 En. 48:10
3.3.3 1 En. 62:2
3.3.4 1 En. 39:6-7
3.3.5 1 En. 46:3
3.3.6 1 En. 49:2-3
3.3.7 Summary
3.4 Messiah and Righteousness in Testament of Judah
3.4.1 T. Judah 24:1-6
3.4.2 Summary
3.5 Messiah and Righteousness in 4 Ezra
3.5.1 4 Ezra 7:26-36
3.5.2 4 Ezra 12:31-34
3.5.3 Summary
3.6 Conclusion
Part 2: Messiah and Righteousness in the Letters of Paul
4 Messiah and Righteousness in Pauline Letters Excluding Galatians and Romans
4.1 Messiah and Righteousness in 1 Thessalonians
4.1.1 1 Thess 4:6
4.1.2 Summary
4.2 Messiah and Righteousness in 1 and 2 Corinthians
4.2.1 1 Cor 1:30
4.2.2 1 Cor 6:11
4.2.3 2 Cor 5:21
4.2.4 Summary
4.3 Messiah and Righteousness in Philippians
4.3.1 Phil 3:9
4.3.2 Summary
4.4 Conclusion
5 Messiah and Righteousness in Galatians and Romans
5.1 Messiah and Righteousness in Galatians
5.1.1 Gal 2:16
5.1.2 Gal 3:23-24
5.1.3 Gal 2:21; 3:21; 5:3-4
5.1.4 Summary
5.2 Messiah and Righteousness in Romans
5.2.1 Rom 3:21-26
5.2.2 Rom 5:16-21
5.2.3 Rom 10:4-10
5.2.4 Summary
5.3 Conclusion
6 Conclusions
6.1 Summary of the Argument
6.2 The Language of Righteousness in Paul and His Interpreters
6.3 Messiah and Righteousness in the Context of Early Christianity
6.4 Final Remarks

2024 PhD, University of Edinburgh; full-time Pastor at Namseoul Church in Seoul; Adjunct Professor of New Testament at Reformed Graduate University and part-time lecturer at Chongshin Theological Seminary.

• By (author) Manse Rim