Abstract
This monograph, which began as a Ph.D. thesis at the London School of Theology, is an innovative contribution to the lively discussion of what nowadays goes by the name ‘early high Christology.’ Tilling’s focus is both very early (ca. the 50s C.E., in the undisputed Pauline letters) and very high (the identity of Jesus with God). In modern research, the principal question about divine Christology in Paul is whether there is such a thing. Tilling takes the view that there is, but not for the reasons adduced by other leading proponents of this view. In support of the claim that Paul identifies Jesus with God, Tilling advances this novel argument: ‘It will be maintained that relational data concerning Christ in Paul’s letters corresponds, as a pattern, only to the language concerning YHWH in Second Temple Judaism. It is concluded that the Christ-relation is Paul’s divine-Christology expressed as relationship’ (p. 3).
The book is organized into eleven chapters of varying length. Chapter 1 is a very brief introduction. Chapter 2 comprises a history of research, emphasizing the period from 1970 to the present. Chapter 3 is a further discussion of pertinent secondary literature, focusing on recent arguments in favor of divine Christology in Paul from Richard Bauckham, Larry Hurtado, and Gordon Fee. Chapter 4 is a brief explanation of Tilling’s load-bearing concept, ‘the relation between the risen lord and believers’ or ‘Christ relation.’ Chapter 5 is devoted to the exegesis of a locus classicus in Pauline Christology, 1 Cor 8:1-10:22, applying the rubric of ‘Christ relation.’ Chapter 6, by far the longest chapter in the book, is a running explication of the ‘Christ relation’ theme through the seven undisputed letters of Paul. Chapter 7 pauses to raise and answer the potential objection that the category of ‘Christ relation’ is an imposition on the primary texts. Chapter 8 is a brief treatment of the well-known maranatha formula in 1 Cor 16:22. Chapter 9 assesses several exalted figures in ancient Jewish texts (Ben Sira; Life of Adam and Eve; and Parables of Enoch) in order to show that Paul’s portrayal of Christ corresponds to none of them, only to the biblical portrayal of God. Chapter 10 responds to several key arguments against divine Christology in Paul and also explains the connection between ‘Christ relation’ and divine Christology. Chapter 11 is a very brief summary and conclusion.
The book is impressive for its ambition. It tackles a classic problem in Pauline theology with genuine creativity. In the estimation of the present reviewer, however, the argument is not entirely persuasive. While Tilling’s central claim is quite lucid, the flow of the argument from chapter to chapter is not. Some key Pauline texts (1 Cor 16:22) are singled out for close attention, while other equally important ones (Rom 1:3-4; 9:5; Phil 2:6-11) are treated only haphazardly. Tilling’s choice of dialogue partners is rather narrow, which renders the argument proportionately less compelling. Most of the references to secondary literature go to interpreters with whom Tilling largely agrees (especially Bauckham, Hurtado, and Fee, as well as Capes, Harris, Thiselton, and others). He does engage closely with Dunn, but other more critical voices (e.g., Bousset, Casey, Fredriksen, Yarbro Collins) receive too little attention. Most importantly, as I see it, Tilling does not prove that Paul’s concept of the ‘Christ relation’ actually entails (rather than just suggests or is compatible with) the divinity of Christ. Other explanations of the ‘Christ relation’ remain possible. Even so, this is a book that deserves to be reckoned with.