Body and Death in Pauline Theology

Seminary Room S215

This study seeks to examine the relationship between the body and sin and death. Once sin and death entered the world, they enforced a division between humanity and divinity. In addition, they subjected humanity under their universal rule. Paul argues that Christ’s physical death marked the end of their universal rule as well as their dividing activity. He further argues that human beings, when partaking in Christ’s death to sin, are not only freed from sin and death’s rule, but are also able to overcome the division from God. If Paul argues all this it is puzzling that sin and death remain present in the believers’ lives. The study suggests that the non-physicality of the believer’s death to sin is key in the explanation of the ongoing presence of sin and death in the believers’ lives.