Fr. John Dear and the Beatitudes Center will welcome John Dominic Crossan, one of the world’s great scripture scholars, on Saturday, November 9 to discuss Crossan’s new book, Paul the Pharisee: A Vision Beyond the Violence of Civilization.
Crossan writes: “Does Paul have a vision from then to now, past to present, church sanctuary to public square, and, above all else, from ancient divine sanctions to modern evolutionary consequences? I answer affirmatively with a cosmic Paul by imagining his DNA as—of course—a double helix but one whose twin and intertwined spirals are his first century historical challenge (Luke-Acts) and his 21st-century evolutionary relevance.”
To register, visit www.beatitudescenter.org.
First, Crossan notes, is “the vaunted law and order of the Pax Romana, which was civilization then, which had publicly, officially, and legally executed Jesus as Messiah/Christ (Tacitus, Annals 15.44). For Paul, Jesus’ Messianic/Christic execution revealed that the function of law was/is the obstruction of justice.
“For Paul, Roman civilization’s execution of the Messianic/Christic Jesus revealed the savage normalcy not just of Roman imperialism but of human civilization. But, ‘none of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory’ (1 Cor. 2:8). That execution, however, also revealed the eternal mystery of divine wisdom whereby Jesus had to be vindicated not within individual ascension, then a cross-cultural potential for both Jews and Gentiles, but within universal resurrection, then a sectarian potential for Jewish Pharisees only. But that meant, of course, that Phariseeism’s universal-resurrection and Messianism’s Jesus-resurrection stood or fell together (1 Cor. 15:12,13,16) so that, ‘in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have slept’ (15:10). To repeat for emphasis: ‘resurrection,’ unlike ‘ascension,’ was never individual but always universal.”
Finally, he concludes, “A Paul on Jesus, like a Plato on Socrates, must, therefore, be assessed for contemporary relevance not because we need to create it but because they dared to assert it. If you speak to the ages, the ages have a right—and duty—to respond.”
Paul’s Pharisaic Messianic/Christic vision, Crossan proposes, concerns universal resurrection, general judgment, and eternal sanctions—mitigated totally by forgiveness or partially by mercy in the vindication of Jesus. “Universal resurrection,” he writes, “becomes universal responsibility; general judgment becomes general accountability; eternal sanctions become ultimate consequences; forgiveness becomes our ability to change; mercy becomes the time to change before it is too late.”
If this seems complicated, stay with it and hear the hope that Crossan says Paul envisions—universal resurrection, responsibility, accountability, forgiveness, and mercy. Better yet, join John Dear on November 9 and hear it live from the great teacher!
To register, visit www.beatitudescenter.org.
The program will begin 11am Pacific/ 12pm Mountain/ 1pm Central/ 2pm Eastern time. You will receive the zoom link a few days beforehand, so be on the lookout, and a recording link afterwards. Scholarships are available.
Cancellation policy: Refunds will not be honored after the zoom link is sent out. If you have any questions, please email Kassandra at: beatitudescentermb@gmail.com