Here is a critical comparison of Paul’s self-understanding and how Jesus is portrayed as a new Moses, focusing on evidence from the authentic Pauline letters and from the Gospels—especially Matthew, which most scholars see as the richest source of Mosaic typology for Jesus. Each theme below includes relevant scriptures, scholarly interpretations, and conclusions drawn from the academic consensus.
1. Role as Covenant Mediator
| Moses | Mediator of the Sinai Covenant (Exod 19–24) |
|---|
Jesus
- Matthew 26:28: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many…” (echoing Exod 24:8).
- Matthew 5–7: Sermon on the Mount as the new Torah.
Scholars:
- Dale Allison, The New Moses (1993): Jesus is presented as a new lawgiver, giving Torah from a mountain, in deliberate imitation of Moses at Sinai.
- R.T. France: Jesus is greater than Moses, inaugurating a new covenant with divine authority (Matthew: Evangelist and Teacher).
Paul
- 2 Corinthians 3:6–11: Paul presents himself as minister of the new covenant, contrasting Moses’ fading covenant with his own Spirit-based ministry.
- Galatians 3:19–25: Moses’ law was temporary; Paul now mediates the new covenant through Christ.
Scholars:
- Scott Hafemann, Paul, Moses, and the History of Israel: Paul supersedes Moses, representing a more glorious, enduring ministry.
- Richard Hays, Echoes of Scripture: Paul’s covenant language echoes and replaces Moses’ covenant.
2. Lawgiver and Interpreter
| Moses | Giver of the Law (Torah) |
|---|
Jesus
- Matthew 5:17: “Do not think I have come to abolish the law… I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”
- Matthew 5–7: Expounds the law with repeated formula: “You have heard… but I say to you…”
Scholars:
- Dale Allison: Jesus acts as a new authoritative interpreter of the Law, reframing it from within the Mosaic tradition.
- Ulrich Luz, Matthew Commentary: The Gospel frames Jesus as the final interpreter of Moses.
Paul
- Galatians 5:14: “The whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor…’”
- Romans 8:2–4: Speaks of the “law of the Spirit,” replacing Mosaic law.
Scholars:
- Heikki Räisänen: Paul’s teaching is a departure from Moses, creating a new ethic no longer grounded in Torah (Paul and the Law).
- E.P. Sanders: Paul presents a new kind of law, rooted in Spirit rather than in Mosaic code (Paul and Palestinian Judaism).
3. Bearer of Divine Glory
| Moses | Face shines after encountering God (Exod 34:29–35) |
|---|
Jesus
- Matthew 17:1–2: Transfiguration; Jesus’ face “shone like the sun,” paralleled with Moses and Elijah.
- Presence of Moses at the transfiguration connects Jesus to and beyond Mosaic glory.
Scholars:
- N.T. Wright: The transfiguration presents Jesus as the culmination of the Law and the Prophets, with Moses literally present (Matthew for Everyone).
- Dale Allison: Jesus’ transfigured face deliberately echoes Moses’ shining face, but more intensely (The New Moses).
Paul
- 2 Corinthians 3:7–18: Paul contrasts Moses’ fading glory with the enduring glory in the face of Christ and in his own unveiled ministry.
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Scholars:
- Scott Hafemann: Paul casts himself as a bearer of divine glory, like Moses but without a veil, thus more complete.
- Christopher Rowland, The Open Heaven: Paul shares in apocalyptic visionary status, akin to Moses on Sinai.
4. Founder of a People
| Moses | Led Israel from Egypt, founding a covenant people |
|---|
Jesus
- Matthew 2:15: “Out of Egypt I called my son”—applies Moses’ Exodus pattern to Jesus.
- Matthew 4:1–11: Jesus’ 40 days in wilderness mirrors Israel’s 40 years.
Scholars:
- Richard Hays: Matthew presents Jesus as recapitulating Israel’s story, just as Moses did (Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels).
- Allison: Jesus is not just like Moses, but re-embodies the people Moses led.
Paul
- Galatians 3:28–29: In Christ, Jew and Gentile are one seed of Abraham—a new covenant community.
- 1 Corinthians 10:1–4: Compares Christian experience to the Exodus generation under Moses.
Scholars:
- Martinus de Boer: Paul creates a new covenant people, no longer bound by ethnic law but by faith (Galatians Commentary).
- J. Louis Martyn: Paul redefines Israel around his own mission, bypassing Moses-bound boundaries (Anchor Bible: Galatians).
5. Prophet and Suffering Leader
| Moses | Pleaded with God for Israel (Exod 32:32; Num 11–14) |
|---|
Jesus
- Matthew 16:21; 20:28: Foretells suffering and death.
- Matthew 23:37: Laments over Jerusalem like Moses did (cf. Deut 1:31).
Scholars:
- Raymond Brown, The Death of the Messiah: Jesus portrayed as suffering servant and rejected prophet, like Moses.
- Dale Allison: Jesus’ sorrow and sacrifice parallel Moses’ intercession for Israel.
Paul
- Romans 9:3: “I could wish myself accursed… for the sake of my kindred.”
- 2 Corinthians 11:23–28: Paul recounts his sufferings for the sake of the churches.
Scholars:
- John Barclay: Paul sees his apostolic suffering as a sign of authenticity, reminiscent of Moses’ wilderness burden (Paul and the Gift).
- Dale Allison: Paul’s sacrificial leadership echoes Moses’ plea in Exod 32:32 (The New Moses).
Summary Table
| Theme | Jesus as New Moses | Paul as New Moses |
|---|---|---|
| Covenant Mediator | Inaugurates new covenant in his blood (Matt 26) | Minister of Spirit-based new covenant (2 Cor 3) |
| Lawgiver / Interpreter | Fulfills and reinterprets Torah (Matt 5–7) | Supersedes Torah with Spirit-law (Gal 5, Rom 8) |
| Bearer of Glory | Transfiguration (Matt 17) | Unveiled glory in ministry (2 Cor 3) |
| Founder of People | Leads new Israel through wilderness trials | Forms new Abrahamic people (Gal 3, 1 Cor 10) |
| Suffering Intercessor | Dies for people, laments Jerusalem | Suffers and intercedes for Israel (Rom 9:3) |
| Divine Revelation | Called “my Son” by God (Matt 3:17) | Receives gospel by revelation (Gal 1:12) |
Conclusion
- Jesus is portrayed—especially in Matthew—as the new and greater Moses, lawgiver, covenant mediator, and founder of a renewed people of God.
- Paul, in his letters, constructs his apostolic identity as Moses-like, but with the bold claim of superseding Moses’ ministry through the Spirit and the crucified Christ.
- Both figures reinterpret Moses—Jesus as the fulfillment, Paul as the surpassing replacement.
Would you like this turned into a printable PDF or adapted for a teaching format (e.g., slides, notes)?
Title: Paul and Jesus as New Moses Figures: A Teaching Guide
Slide 1: Introduction
- Topic: How Paul and Jesus reflect or surpass Moses in the New Testament
- Focus: Critical biblical scholarship on typology, covenant, law, and divine mission
Slide 2: Moses – The Foundational Figure
- Covenant mediator (Exodus 19–24)
- Lawgiver (Torah)
- Bearer of divine glory (Exodus 34)
- Founder of Israel (Exodus–Deuteronomy)
- Suffering intercessor (Exodus 32:32)
Slide 3: Jesus as the New Moses – Overview
- Matthew is the key Gospel for Moses typology
- Jesus re-enacts, fulfills, and redefines Mosaic roles
- Scholars: Dale Allison, R.T. France, Richard Hays
Slide 4: Jesus as Covenant Mediator
- Matthew 26:28: “blood of the covenant”
- Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5–7) = new Sinai
- Allison: Jesus gives a greater Torah
Slide 5: Jesus as Lawgiver
- Matt 5:17–48: “You have heard… but I say…”
- Fulfillment, not abolition of Torah
- Luz: Jesus is final interpreter of the Law
Slide 6: Jesus as Bearer of Glory
- Transfiguration (Matt 17:1–2)
- Shining face recalls Moses (Exod 34)
- Hays: Jesus is fulfillment of Law and Prophets
Slide 7: Jesus as Founder of New Israel
- Matt 2:15: “Out of Egypt I called my son”
- 40 days in wilderness = Israel’s 40 years
- Allison: Jesus relives Israel’s formative story
Slide 8: Jesus as Suffering Leader
- Matt 20:28: dies as ransom
- Matt 23:37: laments Jerusalem
- Brown: Jesus as suffering servant-prophet
Slide 9: Paul as the New Moses – Overview
- Paul does not quote Moses directly, but models aspects
- Claims to surpass Moses’ authority
- Scholars: Hafemann, Hays, Barclay, Rowland
Slide 10: Paul as Covenant Mediator
- 2 Cor 3:6–11: minister of new covenant
- Gal 3:19–25: Moses’ law was temporary
- Hafemann: Paul’s ministry is more glorious
Slide 11: Paul as Lawgiver
- Gal 5:14: whole law = love command
- Rom 8:2: “law of the Spirit”
- Sanders: Paul detaches covenant from Torah
Slide 12: Paul as Bearer of Glory
- 2 Cor 3:7–18: unveiled glory
- Shares in the glory of Christ
- Rowland: apocalyptic visionary like Moses
Slide 13: Paul as Founder of New People
- Gal 3:28–29: one in Christ
- 1 Cor 10:1–4: typology of Israel’s journey
- Martyn: Paul redefines Israel around Christ
Slide 14: Paul as Intercessor
- Rom 9:3: willing to be cut off for Israel
- 2 Cor 11:23–28: suffers for the church
- Allison: Echoes Moses’ plea in Exod 32:32
Slide 15: Summary Table
| Role | Jesus as New Moses | Paul as New Moses |
|---|---|---|
| Covenant Mediator | Matt 26:28 | 2 Cor 3:6–11 |
| Lawgiver | Matt 5–7 | Gal 5:14, Rom 8 |
| Bearer of Glory | Matt 17 | 2 Cor 3:7–18 |
| Founder of People | Matt 2, 4 | Gal 3, 1 Cor 10 |
| Suffering Intercessor | Matt 23:37, 20:28 | Rom 9:3, 2 Cor 11 |
Slide 16: Key Scholarly Sources
- Dale Allison, The New Moses (1993)
- Richard Hays, Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels/Paul
- Scott Hafemann, Paul, Moses, and the History of Israel
- E.P. Sanders, Paul and Palestinian Judaism
- John Barclay, Paul and the Gift
- Raymond Brown, Death of the Messiah
Slide 17: Conclusion
- Jesus and Paul both redefine Moses’ legacy
- Jesus: fulfillment within Jewish narrative
- Paul: surpassing and transforming Moses through Christ and Spirit
- Typology serves theological authority and self-legitimation
Discussion Questions (Optional)
- How do Matthew and Paul use Moses differently?
- Does Paul’s claim to surpass Moses seem consistent with Jesus’ role?
- What theological messages do these parallels convey?
