Overview

In recent years, Paul has become the subject of renewed interest among political philosophers. These philosophers deploy Paul as a means to deconstruct late modern political issues such as liberalism, biopolitics, and sovereignty. However, these philosophers ultimately truncate Paul's message to fit nontheistic, materialist ends. Such an approach polarizes interpreters, often leading either to a full endorsement or full rejection. In this work, Spaulding adds a needed voice in this conversation. By neither fully endorsing or fully rejecting the new approach to Paul, Spaulding argues that Paul's message is both materialist and faithful to the Christian tradition. Spaulding critically utilizes both the new approach and recent studies in apocalyptic interpretations of Paul in order to articulate a Pauline political theology for our time. Pauline apocalyptic emphasizes the already disruptive nature of the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth that wrests humanity from under the sovereignty of the fallen powers and places them under the Lordship of Christ. Apocalyptic is nourished by the promise of the eschatological hope of the not-yet-finished work of Christ. The church that follows the Lordship of Christ is called forth into being in the tension of the present Lordship of Christ and the not-yet transformation of the cosmos. Such a tension begets practices that form the political commitment of what philosopher Iris Murdoch calls the just and loving gaze, namely the central conviction that, in order to live good (political) lives, one must be taught to see.

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9781666773231

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"""In The Just and Loving Gaze of God with Us, Henry Spaulding reverses the order of political theology. Not content with the practice of raiding Paul for his urgency but ignoring his theology, he prioritizes Paul's apocalyptic reception of the gospel. The new edition reflects on Spaulding's argument in light of recent events, including January 6, COVID-19, and the murder of George Floyd. This rich and timely study will repay careful reading."" --Beverly Roberts Gaventa, professor emerita of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary ""God is just. And God is loving. The kingdom is here. And the kingdom is coming. In this book, Hank Spaulding refuses the easier path that builds a striking argument by means of siding with one truth at the expense of another and instead guides the reader carefully, patiently, and insightfully into an account of Pauline apocalypticism which draws us into the world because it draws us to praise."" --Kevin Hargaden, director and social theologian, Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice ""What do the words 'apocalyptic' and 'politics' have to do with one another? And what on earth might particularly Pauline apocalyptic have to do with how you and I might live in today's confusing political, social, and ethical landscapes? As Hank Spaulding III argues, much more than you might expect. Pick up and read and prepare to be deeply challenged and encouraged, whatever your current political proclivities and dispositions!"" --Chris Tilling, senior lecturer in New Testament, St. Mellitus College"

Author Information

Henry Walter Spaulding III is editorial assistant for the Center for Barth Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary. He also serves as an adjunct professor of Christian ethics at Ashland University, Ashland Theological Seminary, George Fox University, and Indiana Wesleyan University. He is the author of several books including Iconoclastic Sex: Christian Sexual Ethics and Human Trafficking and the forthcoming Between Two Gileads with Cascade. He has published a number of articles in journals such as the Wesleyan Theological Journal, Review and Expositor, and Literary Imagination. He is also pastor at Hope United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio.

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