바울과 율법

Paul and the Law -an apraisal of various perspectives and a new suggestion

The law occupies a central place in Paul's thought. It is a subject which is closely linked with many other themes in his theology and ethics. The subject of the law in Paul is, however, an extremely complicated problem due to the apparent contradiction in Paul's position regarding the law. Thus far an enormous volume of literature has appeared on the topic of Paul and the law, and produced a variety of divergent opinions without reaching consensus. A great number of biblical scholars have long tried to find some consistency in Paul's understanding of the law by bifurcating the concept of the law. Some scholars admit inconsistencies in Paul's statements about the law, but find an evolutional development in Paul's thought. Some perceive internal tensions and inconsistencies in Paul's view of the law, maintaining that Paul is simply inconsistent as a thinker. Others find a clear basic structure that the law is totally abolished and completely superseded by Christ and the Spirit. There is some degree of truth in all of these arguments. But they fail to grasp the complexity of Paul's theology of the law. The best solution is to understand the three different roles of the law which play in the history of redemption of God. They are the obligation of the Sinai covenant, an enslaving power and an expression of God's will. If we take these three functions of the law into consideration, we can properly understand the apparently conflicting statements of Paul about the law. Paul is a coherent thinker.