<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In <italic>Paul and Palestinian Judaism</italic>, E. P. Sanders argues that, for Paul, humanity’s
plight was not the condition that necessitated the solution of Jesus Christ. Instead, the solution
was presented to Paul first on the Damascus road, and humanity’s plight was simply the logical
corollary to the solution. This study will critically examine the particulars of Sanders’s argument—
particularly with regard to Romans 7, Philippians 3, and Galatians 3—and offer some
alternative exegetical analyses. This essay will argue that, while the <italic>development</italic> of Paul’s thinking
may indeed have run from solution to plight, the <italic>exposition</italic> of Paul’s thinking goes from
plight to solution. The movement of Paul’s exposition may suggest that his conception of the
plight of humanity was born out of his ideational milieu, which must have been fed, at least, by
the Old Testament and evidenced, at least, by literature such as 4 Ezra.</p></abstract>

In Paul and Palestinian Judaism, E. P. Sanders argues that, for Paul, humanity’s
plight was not the condition that necessitated the solution of Jesus Christ. Instead, the solution
was presented to Paul first on the Damascus road, and humanity’s plight was simply the logical
corollary to the solution. This study will critically examine the particulars of Sanders’s argument—
particularly with regard to Romans 7, Philippians 3, and Galatians 3—and offer some
alternative exegetical analyses. This essay will argue that, while the development of Paul’s thinking
may indeed have run from solution to plight, the exposition of Paul’s thinking goes from
plight to solution. The movement of Paul’s exposition may suggest that his conception of the
plight of humanity was born out of his ideational milieu, which must have been fed, at least, by
the Old Testament and evidenced, at least, by literature such as 4 Ezra.

The Plight of Humanity in Paul

Perichoresis

{"article-title":"The Plight of Humanity in Paul"}

In Paul and Palestinian Judaism, E. P. Sanders argues that, for Paul, humanity’s
plight was not the condition that necessitated the solution of Jesus Christ....

The Plight of Humanity in Paul

Published Online: Sep 20, 2012

Page range: 223 - 243

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10297-012-0011-7

Keywords
New perspective, plight of humanity, Romans 7:14-25, Philippians 3:4-14, Galatians 3:1-14, 4 Ezra

This content is open access.

The Plight of Humanity in Paul

Published Online: Sep 20, 2012

Page range: 223 - 243

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10297-012-0011-7

KeywordsNew perspective, plight of humanity, Romans 7:14-25, Philippians 3:4-14, Galatians 3:1-14, 4 Ezra

This content is open access.

Keywords
New perspective, plight of humanity, Romans 7:14-25, Philippians 3:4-14, Galatians 3:1-14, 4 Ezra