Is Paul being sarcastic?
Quote:
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8You are (N)already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.
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If he is being sarcastic, then this is a devastating rebuttal to Church-state mergers (e.g., Rome, Erastianism). If he is not being sarcastic, then it lends impetus to to Church-dominant (e.g., in the political sense) societies.
I tend to believe he is being sarcastic, but...
There are statements in the NT that speak of the believer reigning with Christ, both spiritually and physically (Revelation 2-, 5, 6, 20). Granted, I am quoting from John, not Paul.
Quote:
Revelation 2: 26'(BP)He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds (BQ)until the end, (BR)TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
27AND HE SHALL (BS)RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, (BT)AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father;
28and I will give him (BU)the morning star.
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Revelation 5:10"You have made them to be a (AC)kingdom and (AD)priests to our God; and they will (AE)
reign upon the earth."
So, the evidence can go both ways, although I do think Paul is being sarcastic