Isaac And Christ:Intertextual Echoes Of Akedah In Romans

The theme of this thesis is about How the Jewish hermeneutical tradition of "the binding of Isaac " fuctions in Pauline Soteriology. The paper consists of three parts, an introduction, three chapters and a conclusion.The introduction mainly discusses the intention of this paper,value of this research and the research methods.It contains a review about history of interpretation of "the binding of Isaac" with some reflection,discussing some typical interpretation in a post-pauline world with some evaluation. Also,a brief review will be given to academical research on "the binding of Issac"in the mainland of china.The first chapter is about Paul’s Jewish background, composed of three sections. The first section is about Paul’s background in Jewish tradition. Narrative approach to studying the Second Temple Judaism sheds light on background of paul’s narrative theology and of Jewish hermeneutical tradition. Section II describes Paul’s narrative theology and hermeneutical practice, where he reconstructs his inherited Jewish tradition with Christ-centered method. Section III is on the development of paradigm in interpreting "the binding of Isaac" in Jewish tradition. Through the construction of how the story of "the binding of Isaac" being reinterpreted (retelling) in Jewish tradition before Paul,the author attempts to prove that the interpretation of "the binding of Isaac" when associating with differrent situations, ranges from Abraham (Still an important reading focusing on his virtue parallel to Isaac) to Issac as a willing sacrifice which assumes a paradigm transformation. A theology of Martyrdom was gradually formed, combinating sacrificial language and becoming a part of Jewish traditional idea about redemption.The second chapter mainly discusses intertextual echoes of "the binding of Isaac" in Romans, composed by two sections. The first section introduces the theory of "intertextuality" and how New Testament scholar Richard Hays uses concept of "intertextuality" to interpret the letters of Paul, the second section is to interpret intertextual echoes of "the binding of Isaac" in Romans historically with the Intertextual Echoes theory revised as a foundation, with concrete analysis to two verses in Romans. It argues that interpreted "the binding of Isaac" in Jewish tradition becomes an important narrative prototype in understanding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus in Pauline soteriology.The third chapter tries to explore the possibilities of "the binding of Isaac" as one of the paradigms in intepreting Paul’s soteriology. Through comparing sacrifice model, and justice model, interpreted "the binding of Isaac" in Jewish tradition can be an important metaphor and supporting paradigm. In this paradigm, offering language, judicial metaphor and the theology of martyrdom can get into a new integration.In the conclusion, the anthor will give a summary of the whole study, and points out that in what sense Paul’s scriptural hermeneutics may contribute nowdays.