Stories of sin: the role of Genesis 2-4 in Romans 1-8

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Stories of sin: the role of Genesis 2-4 in Romans 1-8

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title: Stories of sin: the role of Genesis 2-4 in Romans 1-8

creator: Conyers, Christopher R.

subject: Bible - Genesis

subject: Bible - Romans

description: Abstract reads :It has been widely recognised that Romans alludes to the story of Adam and Eve not only in 5:12-21, but also in 1:18ff, 7:7-11, and 8:18-22. While each of these allusions has been studied in isolation, few scholars have sought to tie them together or sought to synthesise the function of Genesis 2-3 in Romans. This thesis examines each of Paul’s allusions carefully, along with a less well recognised echo of Genesis 4:7, to understand the overall function of the Genesis 2-4 narrative in Romans 1-8. In doing so, it is recognised that Paul is telling stories of sinful humanity from various perspectives, and each story in some way follows the pattern of the Edenic narrative. The stories of collective humanity (1:18-32), the one man Adam (alluded to in 5:12-21), the sinful individual “I” (7:7-11), and the personified cosmic entity of “Sin” each express key aspects of Paul’s understanding of the human predicament, and each is patterned in some way after Genesis 2-4. The new story of Christ, however, brings these old stories to an end and achieves the telos that Adamic humanity failed to achieve (8:18-23). Through these observations, we see that Paul engages with his scriptures typologically, seeing the pattern of the Edenic events as having significance beyond themselves. Personified Sin, derived by Paul from Genesis 4:7 MT, emerges from the Edenic events as a real power at the human relational level. It affects every human being, leading them to sin, even as each human’s sins give rise to Sin’s power. This pattern, established by Adam, applies to all humanity outside of Christ. Only in Christ’s new story – his new pattern or type – can humans escape the reign of Sin that leads to Death, and instead live lives of suffering that leads to resurrection from the dead and eternal life in glory."1. A Pauline predicament2. An Adamic story of sins – Romans 1:18-323. Sin personified4. Sin enters: the role of Adam in Romans 5:12-215. Sin reigns: sin’s scriptural background in Romans 6-76. Sin remains: Christic persons and Adamic bodies in Romans 77. Sin eliminated: the hope of Christic humanity in Romans 88. ConclusionsSubmitted in fulfilment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Moore Theological College.

publisher: Moore Theological College

date: 2020-12-01

type: Text

language: English

rights: In copyright - educational use only.This item may be used for the purposes of research and study. Please acknowledge that it is held by Moore Theological College.This digital item is accessible online to all.

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format: pdf

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