The Nordic Paul: Finnish Approaches to Pauline Theology

This book contains essays on the letters and theology of the Apostle Paul from leading Pauline scholars. The majority of the essays are based on papers given in the first Finnish national seminar on Paul held in the University of Helsinki in January 2007.

Finnish contributions to scholarly discussion on Pauline theology have been widely recognized as challenging and thought-provoking, particularly in regards to Paul's view on the Mosaic Law and soteriology. Heikki Räisänen's view on Paul's inconsistent thinking about Law and other topics has served to polarize discussion among Finnish scholars. The opening essay by Stephen Westerholm outlines the debate and its relation to international discussion. The essays by Heikki Räisänen, Kari Kuula, and Timo Laato are fruits of this on-going discussion. Niko Huttunen approaches the question of Paul and the Law from the Stoic point of view, while Risto Saarinen examines its relation to the theology of Martin Luther.

Other principal topics include Paul's opponents and methodological discussion. A comprehensive way to analyze Paul's argumentation is sought in Mika Hietanen's essay. Lauri Thurén examines how Paul's rhetoric must be taken into account when deciphering historical information from his letters. His essay takes Paul's opponents as an example. The opponents are also dealt with by Lars Aejmelaeus and Nina Pehkonen. Their essays focus on anti-Pauline opposition in Corinth and the antagonists in Philippians, respectively.

• Table of contents
• Preface - Lars Aejmelaeus (Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland) & Antti Mustakallio (Researcher, University of Helsinki, Finland)
• Part I
  • 1) Finnish Contributions to the Debate on Paul and the Law - Stephen Westerholm (Professor of Biblical Studies, McMaster University, Canada)
• Part II
  • 2) Torn Between Two Loyalties: Romans 9-11 and Paul's Conflicting Convictions - Heikki Räisänen (Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland)
  • 3) "Righteousness of God" - Once Again - Timo Laato (Associate Professor of New Testament, The Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gothenburg, Sweden)
  • 4) Stoic Law? A Fresh Approach on Paul and the Law - Niko Huttunen (University Lecturer in Biblical Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland)
  • 5) Luther, Paul, and the Law: Lutheran Theology and the "New Perspective" - Risto Saarinen (Professor of Ecumenics, University of Helsinki, Finland)
• Part III
  • 6) "Christ is Weak in Paul": Anti-Pauline Opposition in Corinth - Lars Aejmelaeus (Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland)
  • 7) Paul's Opponents in Philippians 3: Jews or Judaizers? - Nina Pehkonen (Researcher, University of Helsinki, Finland)
  • 8) Two Letters to Philippians? - Jaakko Linko (Researcher, University of Helsinki, Finland)
  • 9) 2 Thessalonians 2:2 and the Reception of Paul's Eschatology - Kenneth Liljeström (Researcher, University of Helsinki, Finland)
• Part IV
  • 10) Fighting against Strawmen: Derhetorizing Historical Information in Paul - Lauri Thurén (Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Joensuu, Finland)
  • 11) Towards a Comprehensive Analysis of Paul's Argumentation - Mika Hietanen (Lecturer in New Testament Studies Åbo Akademi University, Finland)
  • 12) The Very First Audiences of Paul's Letters: The Implications of End Greetings - Antti Mustakallio (Researcher, University of Helsinki, Finland)