Abstract
Despite its significance in both the New Testament and the writings of the early church fathers, the doctrine of union with Christ (or “participation”) has often been overlooked. Although a surge of publications on the topic has occurred over the past few years, a need for more discussion still exists. Hence, the editors of “In Christ” in Paul (ICIP) desire “to offer a substantial new contribution to the burgeoning discussion of union with Christ in the theology and writing of the Apostle Paul” (p. ix). In the theological introduction, Kevin Vanhoozer provides a survey of the important works on the topic of union with Christ, effectively demonstrating the significance of participation not only in theological studies but also in the Christian life.
ICIP divides into three primary sections: Part 1, Pauline Theology and Exegesis; Part 2, Some Highlights from Reception History; and Part 3, Theological Reflection. Part 1, the most extensive of the three sections, offers a wide array of both conventional and unique observations on union with Christ in Paul. Essays include: “Participation and Faith in Paul” (Douglas Campbell); “Metaphor, Reality, and Union with Christ” (Constantine Campbell); “Incarnational Ontology and the Theology of Participation in Paul” (Grant Macaskill); “Oneself in Another: Participation and the Spirit in Romans 8” (Susan Eastman); “‘Real Participation’: The Body of Christ & the Body of Sin in Evolutionary Perspective” (Matthew Croasmun); “Baptism and Union with Christ” (Isaac Augustine Morales, O.P.); “Paul’s Corporate, Cruciform, Missional Theosis in 2 Corinthians” (Michael Gorman); “Paul and the Anxieties of (Imperial?) Succession: Galatians and the Politics of Neglect” (Michael J. Thate); “Sharing the Heavenly Rule of Christ the King: Paul’s Royal Participatory Language in Ephesians” (Joshua Jipp); and “Paul, Φρόνησις, and Participation: The Shape of Space and the Reconfiguration of Place in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians” (Michael Thate). The titles alone demonstrate the diversity of topics within this first section. Some of the essays are not surprising inclusions, whereas a few essays offer new perspectives for future dialogue. Part 1 also provides a nice blend of well-known experts and new, upcoming scholars on union with Christ.
Though shorter, Part 2 is a strong addition to ICIP. These essays range from the early church fathers to the twentieth century. Included in this section are: “Two Early Perspectives on Participation in Paul: Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria” (Ben Blackwell); “Augustine and Participation: Some Reflections on His Exegesis of Romans” (Darren Sarisky); “Apocalyptic Union: Martin Luther’s Account of Faith in Christ” (Stephen Chester); “The Fatherhood of God & Union with Christ in Calvin” (Julie Canlis); “‘One with Him in Spirit’: Mystical Union and the Humanity of Christ in the Theology of John Owen” (T. Robert Baylor); and “Karl Barth’s Reading of Paul’s Union with Christ” (Keith Johnson). Not surprisingly, this collection of essays primarily features Protestant interpretations. Outside of Blackwell’s essay, Eastern Greek perspectives were not addressed, a surprising exclusion considering union with Christ and participation are such significant doctrines in the Eastern church.
The shortest of the three sections, Part 3 offers some theological reflections on union with Christ and participation in Paul. The essays in this section include “Fitting Participation: From the Holy Trinity to Christian Virtue” (Ashish Varma); “Participating in the Body of Christ: Christian Koinwvnia and the Lord’s Supper” (Mary Patton Baker); and “Until We Are One? Biopolitics and the United Body” (Devin Singh). Similar to Part 1, at least two of the above essays from Part 3 provide a unique perspective on union with Christ and participation. All three of these essays address practical pastoral concerns, including sanctification, the Lord’s Supper, and ecclesiology. Part 3 demonstrates how the truthfulness of a doctrine can and should have practical implications for the Christian life.
ICIP is a welcome addition to current work on union with Christ in Paul. For those beginning their journey into the doctrine of union and participation with Christ, ICIP might not be the best place to begin. The essays in ICIP assume a baseline knowledge about union with Christ. Although Vanhoozer’s introductory essay certainly provides an elementary understanding to the doctrine, readers who have not studied this topic before may find it beneficial to start elsewhere before diving into ICIP. For those well versed in union and participation with Christ, ICIP is a helpful addition to their library, adding some new and unique perspectives to the doctrine. One essay this reviewer appreciated was Morales’s “Baptism and Union with Christ.” Despite the several essays and monographs published that address the relationship between union with Christ and the Lord’s Supper, few investigate how baptism is associated with union with Christ. Such an absence in the literature seems odd considering how obvious the connection seems to be between baptism and union with Christ in the New Testament. Morales is also the lone Roman Catholic scholar in ICIP, offering a different but important perspective on this topic.
Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of this edition of ICIP is its affordability. Prior to Eerdmans publishing ICIP, this book was published in 2014 by Mohr Siebeck. Unfortunately, the first edition of this work cost $150. Eerdmans’ edition, published in 2018, is much more affordable. This new edition of ICIP will no doubt allow more readers to get their hands on this important work. While readers might find some of the essays difficult to understand, ICIP is a worthwhile read for all interested in the doctrine of union with Christ.