God as a reliable Buyer: Some Papyrological comments and Biblical theological conclusions God's image of Paul's letters

Throughout his letters, Paul uses several terms and images that originate from the world of ancient economics. Some of these terms are used metaphorically to describe Gods own attitudes and actions. The term (earnest money, advance payment, bargain money) may exemplify the use of a business term in the papyri in comparison with its use in Pauls letters (in 2 Cor. 1.22 and 5.5; cf. Eph 1.14). In Pauls image, God is depicted as a purchaser who offers us his salvation for free and guarantees to complete it in the end. In using the term ?, Paul emphasizes Gods reliability and unlimited trustworthiness within an insecure world. © 2011 Cambridge University Press.