INTRODUCTION Is the Reformation dead? Leading Protestants have asked the question in recent years, and other leading Protestants have answered the question by converting to Rome or Orthodoxy. We believe the answer is No. On the other hand: Living things grow and change. THE TEXT . . . . Continue Reading »
In a 2007 article in NTS , Martinus de Boer carefully examines Paul’s argument in Galatians 4, armed with the assumption that stoicheia somehow retains its original meaning, referring to the four elements of ancient Greek physics. His conclusion is: “the phrase ta stoicheia tou kosmou . . . . Continue Reading »
In the aforementioned article, Arnold notes that “in the Greek Magical Papyri, the term stoicheia is used most commonly in connection witht he stars and/or the spirit entities, or gods, they represent. In a related sense, stoicheia was also used to refer to the 36 astral decans that . . . . Continue Reading »
In a 1996 article in Novum Testamentum , Clinton Arnold argues that the stoicheia (“elementary principles,” Galatians 4:3 and elsewhere) are demons. His arguments in favor of a personal understanding of the stoicheia are strong if not entirely persuasive, but his argument . . . . Continue Reading »
I’ve posted a paper by a student, Lisa Beyeler, that traces out connections between Jeremiah and Galatians. Click on “Downloads” at the top of the page, and you’ll find it. . . . . Continue Reading »
Galatians 6 is roughly organized as a chiasm: A. Bear one another’s burdens B. Boasting in oneself and not another C. Sowing and reaping; flesh D. Do good C’. Judaizers want good show in flesh/boast in flesh B’. Boasting only in Christ Jesus: crucified to world A’. I bear . . . . Continue Reading »
What did the Judaizers want? According to Galatians 6:12, they wanted to make a “good show” in the flesh. The verb for “making a good show” ( euprosopeo ) is a hapax in the NT and very rare elsewhere, but we might make a go at translating and interpreting through etymology. . . . . Continue Reading »
Philip Esler draws on the anthropological work of Anthony Cohen to suggest that Paul’s reference to “biting” and “devouring” may describe the actual internal life of Paul’s churches: “Anthony Cohen’s argument about the persistence of liminality among . . . . Continue Reading »
Paul contrasts fulfilling the law of loving neighbor with biting, devouring, and consuming. Love for neighbor is human behavior; anything else is feral. The verb “bite” ( dakno ) is used only in Galatians 5:15 in the NT, and only twice in the LXX (Genesis 49:17; Deuteronomy 8:15), both . . . . Continue Reading »
Galatians 5-6 turns a number of Pauline terms inside out. After spending most of the letter polemicizing against seeking justification form the “works of the law,” Paul rehabilitates both “work” (5:6) and “law” (5:14; 6:2). After announcing that in Christ we have . . . . Continue Reading »
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