The Pauline understanding of S/spirit in Romans 8, as compared to the Stoic idea of pneuma

Kowalski addresses the Pauline understanding of S/spirit in Romans 8, as compared to the Stoic idea of pneuma. The author first analyzes the Stoic views on pneuma perceived in a variety of life-giving, cognitive-ethical, unifying, reproductive and inspiring functions. The aforementioned features are taken as a starting point for the comparison with Paul to which, however, the third element is added, the Jewish texts of the Second Temple period. These include the Old Testament but also The Book of Enoch, The Book of Jubilees, Qumran, The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, The Psalms of Solomon, Philo of Alexandria, Flavius Josephus, LAB, Joseph and Aseneth, 4 Book of Ezra and 2 Book of Baruch. Such a rich comparative material contributes to the novelty of the book and enables the reader to discover both the similarities and differences between Paul, Greco-Roman and Jewish authors. The study analyzes Romans 8 in its rhetorical context and brings to light the novelty of the Pauline view of the Spirit. The apostle portrays it in its primary cognitive-ethical and communitarian function of making the believers similar to Christ and inculcating in them the Lord's mindset and attitudes. Paul presents the Spirit as dwelling within a person, similarly to God inhabiting the Jerusalem temple, and as the mediator of the resurrected life. In the original Pauline take the Spirit enables a close union between God and human beings in which the latter keep their freedom and distinctive personal traits.

Vorwort
Marcin Kowalski discusses the notion of the S/spirit in Romans 8 within the context of popular concepts of pneuma present in Greco-Roman and Jewish literature. The Stoics perceived pneuma as a particle of life, responsible for cognition and ethical conduct, an element binding in one, the whole universe, shaping the offspring, and animating diviners. Correspondences to their views can be found in the Old Testament and the Jewish literature of the Second Temple period. By putting Paul into dialog with the Stoic and Jewish authors, the author shows both the indebtedness of the apostle to his cultural milieu as well as the originality of his idea of the Spirit.

Autorentext
Marcin Kowalski, Prof. dr hab., is Assistant Professor at the Chair of Biblical Theology and Proforistics, Institute of Biblical Studies, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL).