My article, “Vessels of Wrath and God’s Pathos: Potter/Clay Imagery in Rom 9:20–23” has just published with Harvard Theological Review. It’s open access, so all can download freely! The abstract:
Starting from the concept of divine patience in Rom 9:22, this article argues that Paul employs the potter/clay metaphor not (as often interpreted) to defend God’s right to arbitrary choice but rather as an appeal to what Abraham Heschel called divine pathos—the idea that God’s choices are impacted by human actions. The potter/clay imagery in Rom 9:20–23 thus serves to highlight the dynamic and improvisational way the God of Israel interacts with Israel and, by extension, all of creation.
I’m very grateful to the HTR editorial staff for catching more than the usual number of typos, including several embarrassing Greek accenting mistakes. They definitely made the final product better.
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I am having a grand old time reading through your article. Was so impressed that I had to look you up. I am a Dutch Theology student and love how you go into the Greek and how you form your arguments. Finding your blog I feel like a child finding a secret stash of candy. Thank you very much for the article.
Is there a way we can connect? I’m a seminary student and I really like your work along with Mike Heiser and John Harrigan and Daniel Block. In my opinion, tying you guys together forms what I perceive the most cohesive and accurate reconstruction of the gospel as understood from a first century, Israel-centric apocalyptic Jew. I would love to interview you. I assume you’re a believer? Pardon my ignorance.
I have quoted and will quote your work in my own academic work!
Hi Mark, would be happy to connect. Just drop me an email.
Would you mind sending me a copy of this article? I would love to read it. I have heard you talk about it on some interviews. I’m a homeschool mom who just really enjoys studying theology. Thank you!
It’s open access and can be found here.
I’m reading your book “Paul and the Resurrection of Israel” right now and am learning so much! Thank you for all of the study you did to create such a thorough interpretation of much of Paul’s writings! I noticed this article in a footnote and really enjoyed your thoughtful analysis of the text. So glad the article is free so I can send it to others. Thanks Jason!