Paul’s Story of Jesus

I’ve been reflecting on Paul’s narratival theology, especially his statements about Jesus, and I found it easy to compile a single narrative using a pastiche of Pauline texts from across the Pauline letters.

Paul’s narrative gospel – version 1

The gospel concerning his Son, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, who he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, a Son born of a woman, born under the law, descended from the seed of David, in order to redeem those who were under the law. The messiah became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, with various commands, words, and his example. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Then he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross. Indeed, before your eyes Jesus was publicly crucified by the rulers of this age. The Messiah, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed, crucified for our sins in accordance with the scriptures. He was buried, he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and after that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. And now we wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s narrative gospel – version 2

The gospel of Jesus the Messiah, although he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. This was the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes, he became poor, so that by his poverty we might become rich. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and God, through Jesus, will bring with him those who have died. And this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. The Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all. Until then God will strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.