Perfections,Clarity,and Congruity

Abstract

The author reviews John Barclay’s book Paul and the Gift, considering it one of the most important theological books in recent years. He asks whether the so-called “perfected” gift always manifests an extreme and proposes that it can sometimes also visualize an optimal mean between the opposites. The author further compares Barclay’s concept of “incongruity” with the medieval view of meritum de congruo, arguing that that the latter can also represent such generosity which is typical of God’s gift.