Harmon She Must and Shall Go Free

Paul's Isaianic Gospel in Galatians
1. Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-3-11-022176-3
Verlag: De Gruyter
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, Band 168, 341 Seiten

Reihe: Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche WissenschaftISSN

Scholars have long recognized the importance of Paul’s citations from the Pentateuch for understanding the argument of Galatians. But what has not been fully appreciated is the key role that Isaiah plays in shaping what Paul says and how he says it, even though he cites Isaiah explicitly only once (Isaiah 54:1 in Galatians 4:27). Using an intertextual approach to trace more subtle appropriations of Scripture (i.e., allusions, echoes and thematic parallels), Harmon argues that Isaiah 49-54 in particular has shaped the structure of Paul’s argument and the content of his theological reflection in Galatians. Each example of Isaianic influence is situated within its original context as well as its new context in Galatians. Attention is also paid to how those same Isaianic texts were interpreted in Second Temple Judaism, providing the larger interpretive context within which Paul read Scripture. The result is fresh light shed on Paul’s self-understanding as an apostle to the Gentiles, the content of his gospel message, his reading of the Abraham story and the larger structure of Galatians.

Zielgruppe

Academics, Institutes, Libraries

Autoren/Hrsg.

Harmon, Matthew S.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Bibelwissenschaften Neues Testament: Exegese, Geschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Acknowledgements;6
2;Table of Contents;10
3;Chapter 1. Isaiah and Galatians: An Intertextual Matrix;14
4;Chapter 2. Singing the Servant’s Song in Galatians 1–2: Paul’s Apostolic Ministry Fulfills the Servant’s Mission in Isaiah 49 and 53;60
5;Chapter 3. Reading the Servant’s Redemption in Galatians 3–4: Paul’s Interpretation of the Servant’s Salvation in Isaiah 51–54;136
6;Chapter 4. Freeing the Servant’s Family in Galatians 5–6: Paul’s “Isaianic” Explanation of the Freedom of the Servant’s Family;217
7;Chapter 5. Paul’s Isaianic Gospel in Galatians: A Synthesis and Conclusion;262
8;Bibliography;280
9;Indices;312

Leseproben

Chapter 4 Freeing the Servant’s Family in Galatians 5–6: Paul’s “Isaianic” Explanation of the Freedom of the Servant’s Family  (p. 204-205)


4.1 Overview of the Argument in Galatians 5–6


The final two chapters of Galatians are centered upon Paul’s attempt to describe how the citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem are to live out their freedom in Christ. Confident he has established the scriptural footing for his insistence upon the inability of the Law to make one right with God or govern one’s relationships within the church, Paul now seeks to provide guidance for the Galatians by putting forward the work of the Spirit and the Law of Christ. Paul must not only convince the Galatians that his understanding of the gospel is more faithful to the OT scriptures than that of his opponents; he must also demonstrate the superiority of his vision of the Christian life as ruled by the Spirit and not the Mosaic Law. Satisfied that he has made his case in 5:2–6:10, Paul concludes the letter (6:11-18) by summarizing his key themes and pronouncing a blessing upon “the Israel of God.”

4.2 Instances of Isaianic Influence


By comparison with the previous four chapters, the quantity of Isaianic appropriations is smaller, but their significance remains important. We will once again proceed through each section of Gal 5–6, noting the places where an Isaianic background illuminates the text.

4.2.1 Galatians 5:2-15


Paul begins this section by refocusing the discussion on circumcision, which he clearly understands to be a synecdoche for the whole Law (5:3). Such a submission to the Mosaic Law is a tangible statement that a person no longer relies upon Christ for justification (5:4). Instead the Galatians should wait for the hope of righteousness by faith and in the Spirit, while allowing their faith to work through love (5:5-6). He then returns to criticizing his opponents, culminating in his wish that those troubling the Galatians concerning circumcision would mutilate themselves (5:7-12). Lest anyone conclude that the freedom of the gospel is merely an opportunity for unbridled indulgence of the flesh, Paul summons the Galatians to serve one another through love (5:13). This exhortation rests upon the conviction that the Law is summed up in the command to love one’s neighbor (5:14), and a warning that failure in this area will lead to the destruction of the church (5:15). Within this section two inter-related ideas have strong thematic connections with Isaiah: freedom (5:13) and through love serving one another (5:13).

Über Autor(innen)

Matthew S. Harmon, Grace College and Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, IN, USA.