Out on Highway 61 --- Paul riding shotgun with Abraham and Christ
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 11:15 am
ETA: The question posed directly below may seem narrow or even a bit arcane. But this post widens into an analysis of the salient points of chapter 3 of Galatians, and sets-the-stage --- in my follow-up posts --- for an investigation of the origin of the earliest Christian thought.
However, I think the Christ-related arguments in Galatians are compatible with the Abrahamic arguments and are necessary and required to adequately make the argument in Galatians even work. Why? Because the Abrahamic arguments alone are woefully inadequate. One might even say the Abrahamic arguments alone fail under their own weight.
Regardless of rhetorical gymnastics to make the Abrahamic requirement for circumcision go away with arguments about faith, about the promise, about slaves and sons, and flesh and spirit, those alone are all too easily refuted by God’s own words ---
Those directives directly from the deity are unequivocal --- no ifs or ands or buts --- no exception for “faith”. If one wanted to share in the Abrahamic covenant with God, if one wanted to be included among God’s chosen people, with the milk and honey --- it’s off with their little heads!
I think Paul would have recognized the inadequacy of an Abrahamic-only argument. After all, the concept of Gentiles becoming full-participants with the Israel of God was foundational to his system. And without that concept his system would fall apart, along with his work and income from his only audience and patrons --- the Gentiles.
A discussion about circumcision would naturally be formulated around the covenant between Abraham and God. But Paul needed a much stronger argument than could be teased from those concepts alone --- he needed some divine mitigation. I think Paul formulated such an argument well before he embarked on his entrepreneurial missions into Gentile territory. He needed a good argument to convince Gentiles that despite centuries of tradition and the explicit words of the deity, they could actually be full participants with the Israel of God without the need for circumcision or following the Mosaic laws.
I suspect Paul presented some version of his Abraham-Christ-circumcision argument, like we see in the letter Galatians, during his evangelizing visit with each his congregations. Circumcision apparently didn't became a significant issue among his other congregations, but we are fortunate for the situation among the Galatians to allow us a peek as Paul elaborated on his solution.
Paul used his Christ figure to counter the clear position on circumcision found in the Jewish scriptures. Paul set the stage with ideas of faith and the spirit, then Paul introduced the concept of his assemblies of Christ as God’s plan all along.
Notice Paul’s clever use of the term προευηγγελίσατο (foretold the gospel) --- to Abraham no less --- this term nicely describes a scriptural foretelling of his gospel, his announcement of good news (τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν), his version of the story.
Paul conflated passages from Genesis (12:3 and 22:18, see also 18:18 and 26:4) to construct this scriptural citation in Galatians 3:8. Having established that the blessing will come to the Gentiles through Abraham, Paul then established his Jesus Christ as the agent through which the Abrahamic blessing will come.
Paul played word games to establish his Christ as the “seed of Abraham”, thereby placing his Jesus Christ figure 'in the driver’s seat' ---
In the letter, Paul had already established his coup de grace with his creative readings of the Jewish scriptures. Apparently intending to include both the Abrahamic covenant and the Mosaic laws, Paul’s divine agent accomplished the necessary act of exemption from the "law" ---
Paul constructed his argument from two verses in Deuteronomy ---
Paul explained ---
In other letters the knowledge about Paul’s Christ was characterized as a mystery kept secret in times of the ages, and only recently revealed. (1 Corinthians 2:7 and Romans 16:25-26). Only recently, through Paul, had the long-secret mystery been revealed and the “promise” had come.
Whether or not some among the Galatians found Paul’s arguments convincing we’ll likely never know. But his argument has held sway for millions, over millennia, down to this day for those who believe that anyone with faith in a Jesus Christ can be a full participant among God's chosen people.
robert j
"Abe says where do you want this killin' done?
God says out on highway 61"
Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan, 1965
I’ve moved this to a new thread. Why? Because I can. And because that other thread viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4521 was too warm and fuzzy ---
I do agree with David that the Christ-related arguments --- those associated with the Abrahamic arguments in Galatians --- do seem like they were tacked-on. Yes, I think in a way they were.
However, I think the Christ-related arguments in Galatians are compatible with the Abrahamic arguments and are necessary and required to adequately make the argument in Galatians even work. Why? Because the Abrahamic arguments alone are woefully inadequate. One might even say the Abrahamic arguments alone fail under their own weight.
Regardless of rhetorical gymnastics to make the Abrahamic requirement for circumcision go away with arguments about faith, about the promise, about slaves and sons, and flesh and spirit, those alone are all too easily refuted by God’s own words ---
And God said to Abraham, Thou also shalt fully keep my covenant, thou and thy seed after thee for their generations. And this [is] the covenant which thou shalt fully keep between me and you, and between thy seed after thee for their generations; every male of you shall be circumcised. And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between me and you. (Genesis 17:9-11, LXX)
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Whatsoever woman shall have conceived and born a male child ... on the eighth day she shall circumcise the flesh of his foreskin. (Leviticus 12:1-3, LXX)
And not just for newborns ---
And about this time the Lord said to Joshua ... circumcise the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made sharp knives of stone, and circumcised the children of Israel ... And [this is] the way in which Joshua purified the children of Israel; as many as were born in the way, and as many as were uncircumcised of them that came out of Egypt, all these Joshua circumcised ... most of the fighting men that came out of the land of Egypt, were uncircumcised, who disobeyed the commands of God; concerning whom also he determined that they should not see the land, which the Lord swore to give to their fathers, [even] a land flowing with milk and honey. (Joshua 5:2-6. LXX)
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Whatsoever woman shall have conceived and born a male child ... on the eighth day she shall circumcise the flesh of his foreskin. (Leviticus 12:1-3, LXX)
And not just for newborns ---
And about this time the Lord said to Joshua ... circumcise the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made sharp knives of stone, and circumcised the children of Israel ... And [this is] the way in which Joshua purified the children of Israel; as many as were born in the way, and as many as were uncircumcised of them that came out of Egypt, all these Joshua circumcised ... most of the fighting men that came out of the land of Egypt, were uncircumcised, who disobeyed the commands of God; concerning whom also he determined that they should not see the land, which the Lord swore to give to their fathers, [even] a land flowing with milk and honey. (Joshua 5:2-6. LXX)
Those directives directly from the deity are unequivocal --- no ifs or ands or buts --- no exception for “faith”. If one wanted to share in the Abrahamic covenant with God, if one wanted to be included among God’s chosen people, with the milk and honey --- it’s off with their little heads!
I think Paul would have recognized the inadequacy of an Abrahamic-only argument. After all, the concept of Gentiles becoming full-participants with the Israel of God was foundational to his system. And without that concept his system would fall apart, along with his work and income from his only audience and patrons --- the Gentiles.
A discussion about circumcision would naturally be formulated around the covenant between Abraham and God. But Paul needed a much stronger argument than could be teased from those concepts alone --- he needed some divine mitigation. I think Paul formulated such an argument well before he embarked on his entrepreneurial missions into Gentile territory. He needed a good argument to convince Gentiles that despite centuries of tradition and the explicit words of the deity, they could actually be full participants with the Israel of God without the need for circumcision or following the Mosaic laws.
I suspect Paul presented some version of his Abraham-Christ-circumcision argument, like we see in the letter Galatians, during his evangelizing visit with each his congregations. Circumcision apparently didn't became a significant issue among his other congregations, but we are fortunate for the situation among the Galatians to allow us a peek as Paul elaborated on his solution.
Paul used his Christ figure to counter the clear position on circumcision found in the Jewish scriptures. Paul set the stage with ideas of faith and the spirit, then Paul introduced the concept of his assemblies of Christ as God’s plan all along.
Notice Paul’s clever use of the term προευηγγελίσατο (foretold the gospel) --- to Abraham no less --- this term nicely describes a scriptural foretelling of his gospel, his announcement of good news (τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν), his version of the story.
And the Scripture, having foreseen that God justifies the Gentiles by faith, foretold the gospel (προευηγγελίσατο) to Abraham: "All the nations will be blessed in you." (Galatians 3:8)
Paul conflated passages from Genesis (12:3 and 22:18, see also 18:18 and 26:4) to construct this scriptural citation in Galatians 3:8. Having established that the blessing will come to the Gentiles through Abraham, Paul then established his Jesus Christ as the agent through which the Abrahamic blessing will come.
Paul played word games to establish his Christ as the “seed of Abraham”, thereby placing his Jesus Christ figure 'in the driver’s seat' ---
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, 'and to seeds,' meaning many, but 'and to your seed,' meaning One, who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)
In the letter, Paul had already established his coup de grace with his creative readings of the Jewish scriptures. Apparently intending to include both the Abrahamic covenant and the Mosaic laws, Paul’s divine agent accomplished the necessary act of exemption from the "law" ---
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us; for it has been written: "Cursed is everyone hanging on a tree". (Galatians 3:13).
Paul constructed his argument from two verses in Deuteronomy ---
Accursed is every man whoever shall not adhere to all the words of this law … (Deuteronomy 27:26)
… for being cursed by God is every one hanging upon a tree … (Deuteronomy 21:23)
… for being cursed by God is every one hanging upon a tree … (Deuteronomy 21:23)
Paul explained ---
Why then the Law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the seed [i.e. Christ] to whom the promise has been made would come … (Galatians 3:19)
In other letters the knowledge about Paul’s Christ was characterized as a mystery kept secret in times of the ages, and only recently revealed. (1 Corinthians 2:7 and Romans 16:25-26). Only recently, through Paul, had the long-secret mystery been revealed and the “promise” had come.
Whether or not some among the Galatians found Paul’s arguments convincing we’ll likely never know. But his argument has held sway for millions, over millennia, down to this day for those who believe that anyone with faith in a Jesus Christ can be a full participant among God's chosen people.
robert j
"Abe says where do you want this killin' done?
God says out on highway 61"
Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan, 1965