Monday, 14 December 2015

Unity and Diversity in Christ: Interpreting Paul in Context: Collected Essays,
Willian S. Campbell, Cascade Books, 2013, page 16

Commenting on Paul's statement in Philippians 3:8 - "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Messiah" - Campbell claims that:

the Paul of the letters is radical in almost every respect. But this particular radical remains a Jew as well as being an apostle of Christ to the nations. He counsels remaining in the status in which one was called.

Recognising spiritual gifts while remaining true to his ministry - gentiles - and not infringing on that of the other apostles - Jews - Paul stays on track:

Despite the newness of life in Christ, a particular identity is given as are certain differing spiritual gifts, and a given sphere of mission is also a factor that limits and confines the work of Paul.