Christian freedom according to Paul

Abstract

This thesis is an exegetical survey of those passages in Paul in which the Apostle demonstrates his understanding of the freedom wrought in Christ, whether or not the idea of freedom is explicit or a member of the ελευٯερία word-group is in evidence. The thesis is divided into three sections, dealing with Paul's understanding of freedom in relation to the law, to sin and to death. The first theme is subdivided into sections dealing with God's condemnation of sin in the law. His act of liberation in Christ, and the consequences of this act for the believer's life and freedom. Evidence is produced to show that the law plays a continuing positive role in the life of the believer, according to Paul. In Christ the believer is freed from the law's just condemnation, but freed for obedience to the law's righteous command. This freedom must be expressed in the form of obedience, not licence. In the second theme, freedom in relation to sin, a number of passages are examined in which the Apostle demonstrates his understanding of the nature and extent of freedom from sin as a result of the work of Christ. The thesis seeks to show the seriousness of the struggle against sin, and the way in which the believer, while receiving a genuine measure of freedom in Christ, fails woefully to live up to God's righteous standard shown in his law. Freedom from sin's dominion is freedom for obedience, and this obedience is to be expressed in the form of slavery to righteousness. In the final theme, that of freedom in relation to death, a number of passages are examined which show the same pattern of genuine but incomplete freedom in this area, and how the freedom from death given in Christ is real, though incomplete in this life, and should result in freedom for a life lived in obedience to God and to His righteous commands.