A Pauline Complement to Laudato Si’

Abstract

References in the encyclical Laudato Si’ to the writings of Paul are brief and rare. Yet the creation stories of Genesis 1–3, which do feature prominently, receive a rich development in Paul’s theology, notably in his presentation of Adam as a negative foil to the redemptive work of Christ. This article argues that an appreciation of the Adamic theology emerging from passages such as Romans 5:12–21; Philippians 2:6–11; 1 Corinthians 15:21–28, and particularly Romans 8:18–22, can fruitfully enlarge the range of Scripture to which the encyclical makes appeal.