Sacrifice, Brotherhood, and the Body: Abraham and the Nations in Romans

(Hardback)

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Sacrifice, Brotherhood, and the Body: Abraham and the Nations in Romans radically reassesses Pauls use of sacrificial language in light of new developments in our understanding of sacrifice, particularly with regard to its construction of kinship groups. Patrick McMurray argues that Jesus death is not presented in sacrificial terms within Romansrather, Pauls key invocation of sacrifice comes in 12:1 as applied to the living sacrifice of the gentiles. Here Pauls pairing of sacrifice with brotherhood builds on his earlier discussion of the Abrahamic lineage and brotherhood with Christ, with this familial membership being ratified and delivered by the living sacrifice of the gentiles themselves. As such, the ethnic and familial function of sacrifice is harnessed by Paul to bring Gods promise to Abraham to fruition, with the gentiles entering the Abrahamic lineage alongside their new brothers the Israelites. Notably, the promise explicitly requires plurality and therefore ethnic variegation within Abrahams lineage. This new familial membership is profoundly transformative the consequent influx of the spirit empowering the gentiles to live new lives of love that will fulfill the law (13:8 10). In Romans, therefore, Christ frees the gentiles and then becomes their brother, facilitating their entry into Abrahams lineage, thereby bringing the promise to fruition and fulfilling the law.

Reviews

Patrick McMurray's book makes a significant contribution to the field of Pauline studies. Demonstrating a deep understanding of the Letter to the Romans in its historical and theological context, McMurray hammers home his conclusions with confidence and conviction. The arguments of established scholars are interrogated in a respectful but critical way, as the breadth and scope of the book is carefully established. The result is a highly persuasive rereading of Paul's use of sacrificial language.

-- Alison Jack, University of Edinburgh

This is a fine piece of work with significant original insights that will make an important contribution to Pauline scholarship. McMurray demonstrates in an innovative way how the notion of sacrifice is intrinsically connected to the kinship discourse in Romans, with sacrificial language being used to construct kinship groups from the nations who follow Christ. He also makes a strong and very convincing argument that Paul does not understand Jesus death in Romans in sacrificial terms. This work deserves a wide readership and I would recommend it to colleagues and advanced students in the field.

-- Kathy Ehrensperger, Universitt Potsdam

Recent decades have seen a flowing of scholarship on sacrifice, kinship, and ethnicity. Patrick McMurrays book centers on the splendidly productive idea of bringing these together in a new interpretation of Romans. Instead of trying to force sacrifice onto Romans 3, he goes to Pauls explicit references (esp. 12:1). In a striking rereading, it is Christs brothers whose own sacrifice activates Christs and the spirits transformative work according to the ancient logic of sacrifice and kinship making. This gift exchange with God then elicits the proper ethical reformation.

-- Stanley Stowers, Brown University, emeritus

There is a great deal of heated debate over how, and even whether, Paul speaks of the crucified Jesus as a sacrifice. But there is one thing that Paul incontrovertibly calls a sacrifice, namely: the bodies of gentiles-in-Christ at Rome (Rom 12:1). In this fascinating book, Patrick McMurray explores what kind of Pauline theology of sacrifice would emerge if we moved this more-clear but less-discussed passage to the centre. It turns out to be a very different one, indeed.

-- Matthew V. Novenson, University of Edinburgh

Patrick McMurrays monograph is a welcome contribution to the Paul within Judaism strain of Pauline scholarship. Building on earlier work in this tradition, McMurray connects several themes in illuminating ways. One is sacrifice, which McMurray argues is central to Pauls kinship construction in Romans. Another is eschatological asceticism, a phrase that describes Pauls call to the gentiles to enact specific bodily practices. Undergirding both of these is the idea of proper worship, which McMurray rightfully emphasizes as being at the heart of Pauls argument. McMurrays careful work yields fresh interpretations and further situates Paul in the Roman world.

-- Caroline Johnson Hodge, College of the Holy Cross

Patrick McMurrays book is a remarkable and valuable contribution to the current research of Paul and his message in a Jewish context. The authors main object is to research the manner of Pauls conceptualization of the relationship of Israel and the nations in Romans, undoubtedly the central theme of the letter and apostles theology overall. The added value of this book consists in the analysis of Pauls message at the centre of which is the familial and genealogical dimension, these being issues that were downplayed and marginalized in previous readings. The presented findings help perceptive readers to better understand the complexities of Pauls theologizing in Romans in the setting of Second Temple Judaism, and thus are essential for anyone who wishes to learn more about this fascinating apostle, including his impact upon Second Temple Judaism, and indeed upon nascent Christianity.

-- Frantiek bel, Comenius University in Bratislava

It is hard to be innovative and creative in the populated field of Pauline studies. But McMurray has achieved precisely this in offering an original and innovative study that takes account of the relevance of ethnicity for understanding Pauls gospel. The discussion of hilasterion presents excellent arguments for Christ as conciliatory gift in the context of a divine truce, arriving at a fresh understanding of the relationship between the people Israel and the nations through brotherhood with Christ.

-- William S. Campbell, University of Wales, Trinity Saint David

Author Bio

Patrick McMurray worked as a human rights lawyer before completing his PhD in Biblical Studies at the University of Edinburgh.