Paul and the Wrath

[Swordman]

I was asked to do a review of Thomas P. Dixon's Paul and the Wrath. The subtitle at the bottom of cover is "Divine Judgment and Mercy for Israel in Romans 9-11." Dixon teaches at Campbell University and it was published by Baylor University.

I have just started reading this, but his approach seems to complement mine (Mercy for All).

I am curious - has anyone read this book yet?

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

I have not, Swordman.

However, to support your interesting thread and open discussion about it, I have asked Perplexity to summarize the content. This is the AI summary:

In his book Paul and the Wrath, Thomas P. Dixon's central thesis is that the Apostle Paul presents God's wrath not as the opposite of mercy, but as a remedial and restorative tool that God uses for salvation. Dixon argues that, specifically in Romans 9–11, God's judgment against Israel is a provisional measure intended to ultimately bring about Israel's salvation.​

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Dixon's argument is built on these key points:​

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• Rejection of the Wrath-Mercy Binary Dixon contends that much of Pauline scholarship is skewed by a "false antithesis" that wrongly pits God's wrath against His mercy. This has led interpreters to find contradictions or incoherence in Paul's reasoning in Romans 9–11.
• The Concept of Remedial Wrath To resolve this, Dixon proposes a "distinctly Jewish lens of remedial wrath". He argues that in many biblical and extrabiblical Jewish texts, judgment is depicted as an action that advances mercy. His core argument is that Paul operates within this framework, viewing divine wrath as a means to an end. Paul's logic, according to Dixon, is that "God strikes Israel in wrath in order to heal them".
• Application to Romans 9–11 This concept clarifies the controversial chapters of Romans 9–11, which describe God's judgment and mercy toward Israel. Instead of seeing a contradiction, Dixon suggests Paul is describing a process of "restorative wrath on Israel that leads to mercy on those judged". The ultimate purpose of God's judgment is redemptive.

By re-framing wrath as a purposeful and temporary tool for restoration, Dixon seeks to offer a more coherent interpretation of Paul's theology on judgment, mercy, and atonement​

 

[Swordman]

I have not, Swordman.

However, to support your interesting thread and open discussion about it, I have asked Perplexity to summarize the content. This is the AI summary:

In his book Paul and the Wrath, Thomas P. Dixon's central thesis is that the Apostle Paul presents God's wrath not as the opposite of mercy, but as a remedial and restorative tool that God uses for salvation. Dixon argues that, specifically in Romans 9–11, God's judgment against Israel is a provisional measure intended to ultimately bring about Israel's salvation.​

​

Dixon's argument is built on these key points:​

​

• Rejection of the Wrath-Mercy Binary Dixon contends that much of Pauline scholarship is skewed by a "false antithesis" that wrongly pits God's wrath against His mercy. This has led interpreters to find contradictions or incoherence in Paul's reasoning in Romans 9–11.
• The Concept of Remedial Wrath To resolve this, Dixon proposes a "distinctly Jewish lens of remedial wrath". He argues that in many biblical and extrabiblical Jewish texts, judgment is depicted as an action that advances mercy. His core argument is that Paul operates within this framework, viewing divine wrath as a means to an end. Paul's logic, according to Dixon, is that "God strikes Israel in wrath in order to heal them".
• Application to Romans 9–11 This concept clarifies the controversial chapters of Romans 9–11, which describe God's judgment and mercy toward Israel. Instead of seeing a contradiction, Dixon suggests Paul is describing a process of "restorative wrath on Israel that leads to mercy on those judged". The ultimate purpose of God's judgment is redemptive.

By re-framing wrath as a purposeful and temporary tool for restoration, Dixon seeks to offer a more coherent interpretation of Paul's theology on judgment, mercy, and atonement​

Pancho, Thanks for the post. He raises these points in the introduction as well. I would agree with him that wrath can be restorative. That was the point of the exile.

I am doing the review for SBL/RBL, so I cannot use AI, but thanks anyway.

My book, Mercy for All, focuses on the defense of Israel by Paul, with a missional approach to Romans 11.

 

[Grace ambassador]

Paul and Wrath?:

Reminds me of: Undiluted Wrath and Undiluted Grace!

Amen.