Learning to read Scripture from Paul's Use of Hebrew Scriptures with Gentile Churches
(A Proposal - and trying to keep it simple)

Paul understood Scripture as presenting:

1) one (unified)

2) ongoing and

3) inclusive story of redemption.

Evidence?

• Paul saw Christian communites (including Jews and Gentiles) as God's Temple (1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:19-22).
• Paul saw Gentile Christians in Corinth as "descendants" of the generation that experienced the original Exodus (1 Cor 10:1 - "I want you to know, siblings, that OUR fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea...").
• Paul believed that Christians lived in between the great moment of redemption (like the original Exodus event) and the great future when we obtain a glorious inheritance (like the land God promised to the Patriarchs and their descendants (Rom 8; Eph 1:11-14; 6:1-3).
• Paul believed that Christians were destined for an inheritance that matched but far surpassed the original inheritance (the land promised to Abraham and his seed, Rom 8; Gal 3-4:7; Eph 1:11-14; Col 1:11-14).
• [Side note?] Paul believed that this in between age (1 Cor 10:11) would be characterized by suffering for those who identify with Jesus in the present age (Rom 8:14ff; Phil 1:29-30; Col 1:24-29).
• This story includes all the nations and the whole creation (Gen 12:1-3; Rom 1:5; 15:18-21; 16:25-27 and Gen 3:14-19; 5:28-29; Rom 8:14-30; Col 1:15-20).
• God's people (Eph 1:22; Col 1:18), Jews and Gentiles in one glorious preview, (show family), are right in the middle of this drama - the present theatre (Eph 3:10) and participants of his unfolding purpose for all things (Eph 1:10, 18-22; cf, Col 1:6 w/ 1:10).

What is the best explanation of these things?