The Human and the Creation in Relation to the Narrative of the Divine An Ecological Reading of the Letter to the Romans in Comparison with 4QInstruction

Abstract

The aim of this study is to elaborate on an ecological reading of Romans in comparison to 4QInstruction. In a literary analysis, recognizing figurative language, intertextuality and conceptual metaphor theory, the underlying framings of a Divine Narrative in Romans and 4QInstruction is uncovered. It is illuminated how the framings of a Divine Narrative affects the understanding of the human and her relationship to the Creation. The basic notion is a recognition of a cosmological dualism and an eschatological expectation which affects both the human and the Creation. There are notions of an ethical dualism, an epistemological division of humanity, and a recognition of human responsibility in relation to the divine. The framings of a Divine Narrative are compared for an ecological reading. The ecological approach highlights the ethical aspects of environmental issues. The study concludes that it is possible to frame an eschatological ecoethics in Romans. This implies that the human must care for Creation, not for the sake of Creation but for other humans and because of the will of God. In addition, this study shows that influences from Early Judaism are relevant and should be taken into consideration for an ecological reading of Romans.