Pauline Theology and the Problem of Death

Joseph Longarino addresses a long-standing but rarely discussed problem in Pauline studies: Given Paul’s understanding of how God has acted in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to overcome death, how do we explain the ongoing existence of death? Through an examination of the Pauline letters, particularly Romans, the author offers two interrelated explanations, one causal and the other teleological. From the causal perspective, he argues that sin in the form of the sinful passions remains connected to the body even of Christians, which allows sin to exercise an ongoing corrupting influence on the body. From the teleological angle, the author contends that God uses mortality to deepen the divine-human and interpersonal relationships.