Abstract

Some observations about the question of the law in Paul and a short look on Martin Luther could help to shape the hermeneutical impact of the reformation. Corresponding to Gal 4,21 one can state for Paul: Treating the Tora with listening, the one Tora is good. She became bad by answering with doing. ‚Listening‘ means for Paul connected to Ex 19,5 or Deut 6,4 a protreptic listening to the logos protrepticos, the claim of which is to win someone for an existential orientation not aiming a parenetic practical doing. Intensional speaking Paul fancies the whole Tora, extensional speaking he only deals with the Abraham narrative in his own interpretation, which means nothing but the principle of faith taking in gentile believers. Thereby Paul can also say, that it is about the allegorical, the true meaning of the Tora, passing with the rest. Elsewhere in his letters Paul stresses the mode of listening as the only appropriate reaction to the word of the Tora. This Pauline designation of the Tora as protreptical word of promise correlates with Martin Luther‘s central issue of living on listening to the Scripture. Both are bond together by the linked distinction of a reality of God and a reality of mankind. All this leads to both Paul and Luther as emancipated citizens of the world.