This dissertation argues that Christ’s sacrifice in Paul’s theology of reconciliation not only reconciles the relationship between God and humankind but also invites God’s restored people to participate in the ministry/service (diakonia) for the reconciliation of the world. By employing a socio-politico-economic perspective, which regards Christ as a commodity or an exchange value, this study broadens the Pauline concept of reconciliation beyond its traditional confines within dogmatic theology and offers practical insights into this concept’s application in contemporary conflict situations.

The primary basis for such a socio-politico-economic analysis lies in the linguistic complexity of the Greek term “reconciliation” (καταλλαγή and its cognates) during Paul’s time. This term encompassed a range of meanings, including not only the “resolution of conflict or establishment of amicable relations between hostile parties” but also the concept of economic and socio-political exchange. Furthermore, this study also focuses on the premise that the two parties involved in Paul’s theological concept of reconciliation—God and humanity—are situated within an uneven power dynamic, allowing contemporary readers to practically implement Paul’s theology of reconciliation while addressing present-day conflicts arising from disparate power relationships. Ultimately, this research aims to investigate the potential for achieving more equitable and mutually beneficial forms of reconciliation in conflict, as opposed to the one-sided and dominant approaches typically taken by the more powerful and privileged party.

Amid ongoing tensions between different racial/ethnic groups, genders, social classes, political factions, and religious groups within North America, as well as in other parts of the world, this research aims to propose potential strategies for reconciling complex conflicts with unequal power dynamics.