Paul and the Power of Grace--John Barclay

In his transformative book, Paul and the Power of Grace, John Barclay's central argument is that grace (charis) in Paul is not merely a forgiving attitude but an unconditioned and incongruous gift—given without regard to the worth of the recipient, which fundamentally reorders the recipient's life and creates a new community. Each section starts with a key concept from Barclay, followed by questions and key passages to study.

Part 1: The Nature of Grace as an Incongruous Gift

Concept: Grace is unconditioned (given freely by God) and incongruous (given without matching the worth, status, or ethnicity of the recipient). It shatters all systems of worth.

1. Worth-Shattering Gift: Read Romans 5:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. How does Paul describe the recipients of God's grace in Christ? What does this tell us about God's criteria for giving His gift? How does this challenge natural human notions of "deserving"?

2. Grace vs. Karma: Compare the "logic" of grace in Ephesians 2:8-9 with any system of merit or "karma" (e.g., "you reap what you sow" in a strict, moral sense). How is the gift of salvation unconditioned? Why is it crucial that it is not a wage (Romans 4:4-5)?

Part 2: Grace is Not Cheap: The Demanding Call of the Gift

Concept: The gift is unconditioned but not unconditional. It expects a return—not to pay for the gift, but as a response shaped by the gift. The gift is eccentric, re-centering the life of the recipient around the Giver.

1. The Obligation of Grace: Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. What language does Paul use to describe the believer's obligation? How is this not a "payment" but a fitting response to the gift received?

2. New Creation, New Life: Study Romans 6:1-4 and 12:1-2. How does the incongruous gift (forgiveness of sin) logically lead to a transformed life? Why does Barclay argue that "grace alone" necessarily leads to "obedience alone"?

Part 3: Grace and the Law

Concept: Paul critiques the Law not as "bad" but as a system that can be misused to establish a congruous system of worth ("my obedience earns my status"). Grace in Christ ends the Law as a system of establishing covenant status (Romans 10:4), but fulfills its righteous requirement via the Spirit.

1. The Law's Purpose: Read Galatians 3:21-25 and Romans 7:7-12. What positive and negative roles does the Law play? How does the gift of grace in Christ change a person's relationship to the Law (see Romans 8:1-4)?

2. Two Systems of Worth: Contrast two ways of seeking "righteousness": one through "works of the law" (Romans 9:30-32) and one "through faith in Christ" (Philippians 3:7-9). How does the latter reflect the incongruous gift?

Part 4: Grace and Community

Concept: The incongruous gift creates a new, counter-cultural community where social norms of worth (Jew/Gentile, slave/free, male/female) are destabilized in Christ, yet real obligations of mutual love and support are intensified.

1. Breaking Social Barriers: How does the principle of the incongruous gift directly fuel Paul's argument for Jew-Gentile unity in Ephesians 2:11-22 and Galatians 3:28? What social hierarchies in your context does this same principle challenge?

2. The Economy of Grace: In 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, how does Paul use the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" to motivate generous financial giving? How does this model a community living in response to the gift, rather than a community of transaction?

Part 5: Grace and Everyday Life

Concept: Living in response to the gift means a whole new orientation—away from self-centeredness ("in the flesh") and toward God and neighbor ("in the Spirit").

1. Working from the Gift: Read 1 Corinthians 15:10 and Philippians 2:12-13. How does Paul hold together divine grace and human effort? Does "work" here feel like earning or like a grateful response? How might this change how you view your "Christian duties"?

2. The Gift of Weakness: A key Barclay insight is that grace shines in human weakness. Study 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Why does Paul "boast" in his weaknesses? How does this exemplify the incongruity of God's power?

Synthesis & Reflection Questions

1. Personal: Where in your own life or mindset are you most tempted to revert to a "congruous" system of worth (feeling God accepts you more when you perform well, or judging others based on their performance)? How does the incongruous gift speak to that?

2. Communal: How would a church that truly understands itself as a community created by an incongruous gift look different from one that operates on implicit norms of spiritual achievement, cultural respectability, or social conformity?

3. Mission: How is the proclamation of the gospel enriched or clarified by understanding grace as an unconditioned, incongruous, and life-reordering gift? (See Titus 2:11-14 for a compact summary).

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Key Pauline Texts for Reference Throughout:

• Romans 3:21-28; 5:6-11; 6; 11:5-6

• Galatians 2:15-21

• Ephesians 2:1-10

• 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

• Philippians 3:2-11

These questions aim to move beyond a shallow "grace vs. law" debate and into the radical, disruptive, and demanding reality of God's gift in Christ as presented by Paul and illuminated by John Barclay.