The Pauline Metaphors of the Holy Spirit: The Intangible Spirit's Tangible Presence in the Life of the Christian

244 Pages·2011·1.081 MB·English

by  Erik Konsmo, Hemchand Gossai (editor)

The Pauline
Metaphors
OF THE
Holy Spirit
The Intangible Spirit’s
Tangible Presence in the
Life of the Christian
E R I K K O N S M O
Studies in Biblical Literature 130
In the Pauline literature of the New Testament, the characteristics of
the Spirit and Christian life are described through the use of metaphor.
An interpreter of Paul must understand his metaphors in order to
arrive at a complete understanding of the Pauline pneumatological
perspective. Thus, The Pauline Metaphors of the Holy Spiritexamines
how the Pauline Spirit metaphors express the intangible Spirit’s tan-
gible presence in the life of the Christian. Rhetoricians prior to and
contemporary with Paul discussed the appropriate usage of metaphor.
Aristotle’s thoughts provided the foundation from which these
rhetoricians framed their arguments. In this context, The Pauline
Metaphorssurveys the use of metaphor in the Greco-Roman world dur-
ing the NT period and also studies modern approaches to metaphor.
The modern linguistic theories of substitution, comparison, and ver-
bal opposition are offered as representative examples, as well as the
conceptual theories of interaction, cognitive-linguistic, and the
approach of Zoltán Kövecses. In examining these metaphors, it is
important to understand their systematic and coherent attributes.
These can be divided into structural, orientational, and ontological
characteristics, which are rooted in the conceptual approach of
metaphor asserted by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson. This book
evaluates these characteristics against each of the Pauline Spirit-
metaphors.
ERIK KONSMOearned his Ph.D. in theology from Fuller Theolog-
ical Seminary, in Pasadena, California. He currently serves as the
Head of School at Renton Christian School and as an adjunct professor
in the College of Ministry at Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash-
ington. Konsmo is a certified superintendent with the Association of
Christian Schools International and a licensed minister with the
Northwest Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God.
www.peterlang.com
The Pauline
Metaphors of the
Holy Spirit
Studies in Biblical Literature

Hemchand Gossai
General Editor

Vol. 130

PETER LANG
New York (cid:121) Washington, D.C./Baltimore (cid:121) Bern
Frankfurt (cid:121) Berlin (cid:121) Brussels (cid:121) Vienna (cid:121) Oxford
Erik Konsmo

The Pauline
Metaphors of the
Holy Spirit

The Intangible Spirit’s
Tangible Presence in the
Life of the Christian

PETER LANG
New York (cid:121) Washington, D.C./Baltimore (cid:121) Bern
Frankfurt (cid:121) Berlin (cid:121) Brussels (cid:121) Vienna (cid:121) Oxford
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Konsmo, Erik.
The Pauline metaphors of the Holy Spirit: the intangible Spirit’s
tangible presence in the life of the Christian / Erik Konsmo.
p. cm. – (Studies in biblical literature; v. 130)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Holy Spirit—Biblical teaching. 2. Bible. N.T. Epistles of Paul—Theology.
3. Metaphor in the Bible. 4. Bible. N.T. Epistles of Paul—Language, style . I. Title.
BS2655.H67K66 231’.309015—dc22 2010003879
ISBN 978-1-4539-0059-8
ISSN 1089-0645

Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the “Deutsche
Nationalbibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data is available
on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de/.

The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability
of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity
of the Council of Library Resources.

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Printed in Germany
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SERIES PREFACE.......................................................................................................vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Rationale...............................................................................................................1
The Background to Paul’s Understanding of pneum/ a..............................................1
Greco-Roman Background: The Hellenistic Mysteries....................................2
Greco-Roman Background: Philosophy..........................................................5
Jewish Background: Old Testament................................................................7
Jewish Background: Second Temple Judaism................................................13
The Revelation of Jesus the Messiah.............................................................20
Summary of the Background to the Pauline Concept of pneu/ma....................20
Relevance and Definition of a Term: Tangible.....................................................21
Metaphorical Language and Descriptions of Deity...............................................22
Studies related to Pauline Metaphors of the Spirit................................................25
Concluding Observations and Proposal...............................................................28
CHAPTER TWO: SURVEY OF THE INTERPRETATION OF METAPHOR
Pre-Aristotelian Approach to Metaphor...............................................................29
Aristotle’s Approach to Metaphor........................................................................31
The Hellenistic Approach to Metaphor................................................................34
Approaches to Metaphor in the Greco-Roman Rhetoric
During the Pauline Literary Period......................................................................36
Modern Theories of Metaphor............................................................................40
Linguistic Theories of Metaphor...................................................................42
Conceptual Theories of Metaphor................................................................45
Conclusion to Modern Theories of Metaphors....................................................51
Identification of Metaphor..................................................................................52
Nature of Metaphor............................................................................................56
Functions of Metaphor........................................................................................60
Conclusion..........................................................................................................62
CHAPTER THREE: PAULINE SPIRIT METAPHORS OF RE-CREATION
The Spirit’s Role in Spiritual Re-Creation............................................................65
Survey of Metaphors of Re-Creation....................................................................66
Spirit-Baptism..............................................................................................66
Spirit-Drinking............................................................................................74
vi The Pauline Metaphors of the Holy Spirit

Spirit-Circumcision......................................................................................80
Spirit-Adoption............................................................................................89
Summary of Spirit Metaphors of Re-Creation.......................................................85
CHAPTER FOUR: PAULINE SPIRIT-METAPHORS OF PROGRESSION
The Spirit’s Role in the Progression of the Christian Life......................................99
Survey of Metaphors of Progression...................................................................100
Walk..........................................................................................................100
Fruit...........................................................................................................108
Temple.......................................................................................................114
Filled..........................................................................................................123
Quench......................................................................................................132
Sword.........................................................................................................139
Law ...........................................................................................................145
Summary of Spirit-Metaphors of Progression.....................................................152
CHAPTER FIVE: PAULINE SPIRIT-METAPHORS OF CONSUMMATION
The Spirit’s Role in the Future Consummation.................................................161
Survey of Metaphors of Consummation............................................................162
Seal ...........................................................................................................162
Down-Payment/Guarantee.........................................................................174
First Fruits..................................................................................................180
Summary...........................................................................................................187
CHAPTER SIX: SYNOPSIS OF INTERPRETATION OF PAULINE
METAPHORS OF THE SPIRIT
Review and Summary........................................................................................191
Presuppositions Concerning Pauline Spirit-Metaphors......................................191
Linguistic and Conceptual Approaches to the Interpretation
of Pauline Spirit Metaphors...............................................................................192
Nature...............................................................................................................194
Identity.............................................................................................................200
Function............................................................................................................201
Interpretive Boundaries of Pauline Metaphors of the Spirit................................204
Importance of the Pauline Metaphors f the Spirit for an
Understanding of the Spirit in the Life of a Christian........................................205
Reflection..........................................................................................................206
BIBLIOGRAPHY.......................................................................................................209
INDEX......................................................................................................................223
SERIES PREFACE
More than ever the horizons in biblical literature are being expanded beyond that which
is immediately imagined; important new methodological, theological, and
hermeneutical directions are being explored, often resulting in significant contributions
to the world of biblical scholarship. It is an exciting time for the academy as engagement
in biblical studies continues to be heightened.
This series seeks to make available to scholars and institutions, scholarship of a high
order, and which will make a significant contribution to the ongoing biblical discourse.
This series includes established and innovative directions, covering general and
particular areas in biblical study. For every volume considered for this series, we explore
the question as to whether the study will push the horizons of biblical scholarship. The
answer must be yes for inclusion.
In this volume Erik Konsmo copiously examines the role of grammar and the use
of metaphors by Paul in his theological development of pneumatology. The author
notes that while much has been written on the theology of Paul, he argues that without
a substantial and ongoing development of his metaphors, a complete conclusion of
Pauline theology will be lacking. Moreover, Konsmo submits that Paul’s perspective on
the role of the Holy Spirit is in fact not peripheral but central to the Paul’s theology. In
developing his argument, the author examines five areas that were influential in shaping
Paul’s idea of πνευ⎯μα, namely Hellenistic, mysteries. Greek philosophy, the Hebrew
Bible, Second Temple Jewish literature and the personal revelation of Jesus as the
Christ. In this substantial introduction, Konsmo acknowledges the difficulty in
translating and interpreting πνευ⎯μα, but in his so doing brings a rich texture to the
understanding of the term in the context of Pauline theology. Scholars who are engaged
in this area of biblical scholarship will find much here to examine, reflect on, challenge
and I believe above all allow for a serious expansion of the Pauline discourse.

The horizon has been expanded.

Hemchand Gossai
Series Editor