Title:

The corruption and redemption of creation, an exegetical study of Romans 8:19-22 in light of Jewish apocalyptic literature

Issue Date: 1997
Abstract (summary): Romans 8:19-22 says that the natural world was corrupted and suffers because of the Fall of humanity. The natural world also longs for the eschatological glorification of believers, when creation itself will be perfected in freedom and glory. It has become a commonplace for New Testament scholars to claim that Paul's ideas in this passage were strongly influenced by Jewish apocalyptic thought. Although the genre of this passage is not an apocalypse, the worldview, theology and many expressions are very similar to those found in Second Temple Jewish apocalyptic writings. This thesis examines the corruption and redemption of creation in Romans 8:19-22 compared to several major Jewish apocalyptic works (1) Enoch, Jubilees, 2 Enoch, 4 Ezra, 2 Baruch and the Apocalypse of Moses/Life of Adam and Eve). It is not sufficient simply to label the theology of Romans 8:19-22 as "apocalyptic," since the Jewish apocalyptic materials represent several streams of thought that can be distinguished by their treatment of three key issues: (1) the corruption of the material creation; (2) the cause of this corruption; and (3) the future redemption of the natural world. (1) In many Jewish apocalyptic writings, there is a tension between the creation as under God's control and as damaged by sin. Although a few writings stress the perfection and consistent operation of the natural world, the majority describe creation as corrupted due to sin. Romans 8:19-22 follows that majority stream of Jewish apocalyptic writings that stresses that creation has been corrupted by sin. (2) In Jewish apocalyptic writings, creation may be corrupted due to the sins of the fallen Watchers, human sins, or both. When human sins are in view, the corruption is either due to the Fall, ongoing human sins, or eschatological human sins. Romans 8:19-22 focuses on the damage that the Fall brought to the created order. (3) Most Jewish apocalyptic writings look forward to the eschatological redemption of creation. Some anticipate a new creation, while others expect the transformation of the present creation--either to its pre-Fall condition or a more perfect state. Romans 8:19-22 follows that stream of Jewish apocalyptic thought that expects the permanent transformation of the existing creation, although Paul does not include vivid descriptions of the eschatological changes to the natural world.
Content Type: Thesis

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https://hdl.handle.net/1807/10544

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