Michael Gorman Cruciformity

Michael Gorman identifies a “spiritual-ethical dimension of the theology of the cross” that is evident throughout the NT and the Christian tradition that he calls cruciformity. He says, “Cruciformity is Spirit-enabled conformity to the indwelling crucified and resurrected Christ. It is the ministry of the living Christ, who re-shapes all relationships and responsibilities to express the self-giving, life-giving love of God that was displayed on the cross.” This purpose of this paper is to critique Gorman’s statement in the light of Romans.

God’s love displayed on the cross.

Gorman argues that Paul always has the cross in mind when he refers to Christ’s death therefore when drawing out Paul’s theology of the cross we must consider not only explicit mentions of the cross but also any references to Christ’s death. He identifies thirteen narrative patterns of Christ’s death in Paul’s writings which can be grouped into four fundamental patterns of cruciformity. These four patterns all appear in Romans.

Cruciform faith: faithful obedience and righteousness (Rom 3:22, 26 and 5:18-19).
Cruciform love: conforming to the voluntary self-giving and self-emptying regard for others (Rom 3:25; 4: 25; 5:6-11; 8:3, 17, 32; 15:3).
Christ’s voluntary giving up of status in love and overflowing grace was to be lived out in the body of Christ as a new alternative to the intensely competitive social relations of Rome. Glory and virtue based on military might is replaced with glory and virtue based on Christ’s righteous obedience (Rom 15:18-19). The supposed god-like power of the Imperial house is undermined By Paul’s claim that it too is under the rule of sin and death. Cruciform hope removes the despair of death and situates the believers suffering as a prelude to new