Christ Is King: Paul’s Royal Ideology

Until recently, many scholars have read Pauls use of the word Christos as more of a proper name (Jesus Christ) than a title, Jesus the Messiah. One result, Joshua W. Jipp argues, is that important aspects of Pauls thinking about Jesus messiahship have gone unrecognized. Jipp argues that kingship discourse is an important source for Pauls christological language: Paul uses royal language to present Christ as the good king. Jipp surveys Greco-Roman and Jewish depictions of the ideal king and argues for the influence of these traditions on several aspects of Pauls thought: king and law (Galatians 56; Romans 1315; 1 Corinthians 9); hymning to the king (Col. 1:15-20); the just and faithful king; the royal roots of Pauls language of participation in Christ; and the enthroned king (Rom. 1:3-4; 1 Cor. 15:20-28). Jipp finds that Pauls use of royal tropes is indeed significant. Christos is a royal honorific within Pauls letters, and Paul is another witness to ancient discussions of monarchy and ideal kingship. In the process, Jipp offers new and noteworthy solutions to outstanding questions concerning Christ and the law, the pistis Christou debate, and Pauls participatory language.