Λογικὴ λατρεία (Rom 12:1). The Pauline Idea of Worship between the Hebrew and Hellenistic Worlds

Abstract

This essay focuses on a passage from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, in particular on an expression: λογικὴ λατρεία (Rom 12:1). After having studied its context in some depth, it shows how Paul operates in a dual direction: the apostle removes from the expression any semantic link bound up with worship; he also attributes to it a profane semantic. Paul does not intend to oppose the two worships, Jewish and Christian. His words imply that, like ancient Israel before them, the Christian believers should also be distinguished for their worship. Christian worship is conceived differently. It is far from being a spiritualization of worship. Such a reduction is excluded by the object of the sacrifice, “your bodies.” Paul operates in two directions: on the one hand, he avoids the trap of supersessionism with regard to Jewish worship; on the other hand, he excludes a spiritualization (or interiorization) of Greek religious practices. Paul’s language is distinct both from the grand tradition of Israel and from the Hellenistic world.