The Perennial Relevance of Saint Paul: Paul's Understanding of Christ and a Time of Radical Pluralism

Abstract

This article examines Pauline christology through a series of five theses and argues that Paul saw in Christ the fulness of the human rather than the fulness of the divine. Paul's christology inspired his openness as an apostle to the gentiles; it did not effect a “Christian particularism” as later exclusivist christologies would do. Paul's work of embracing pluralism was done under an inclusive symbol of salvation that could underwrite respect for difference and at the same time articulate a community within a common humanity. A return to Paul's christology today could provide for Christians a constructive and critical basis for the encounter with modern religious pluralism.