Journal of Biblical and Pneumatological Research

Volume Two, 2010

Paul Elbert, Elbert

• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9781608999033
• eBook ISBN: 9781498276450
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

Journal of Biblical and Pneumatological ResearchVOLUME TWO FALL 2010 The Journal of Biblical and Pneumatological Research (JBPR) is a new international peer-reviewed academic serial dedicated to narratively and rhetorically minded exegesis of biblical and related texts. Potential topics include theological and pneumatological interpretation, the role of spiritual experience with authorial, canonical, and contemporary contexts, and the contextual activity of Ruach Yahweh, Ruach Elohim, and various identifications of the Holy Spirit. JBPR hopes to stimulate new thematic and narrative-critical exploration and discovery in both traditional and under-explored areas of research. CONTENTS: Editor's Overview of Volume 2 A. KAY FOUNTAIN Canonical Messages in the Book of Esther EMERSON B. POWERY The Spirit and Political Dissent: Revisiting Mark 13: 11 LYLE STORY Zechariah's Two Sons of Oil: Zechariah 4 STEPHEN KERRY An Exegetical Analysis of Galatians 3: 1-5, with Particular Reference to Pneumatological Themes That Relate to the Onset and Continuation of Christian Identity, with Respect to Law and Gospel LEE ROY MARTIN "Where are all his wonders?": The Exodus Motif in the Book of Judges Review of Scott Ellington, Risking Truth: Reshaping the World through Prayers of Lament (Walter Brueggemann) Review of Dale B. Martin, Pedagogy of the Bible: An Analysis and Proposal (Adrian Hinkle) Review of James Robinson, Word and Spirit in Ezekiel (Wonsuk Ma) Review of J. Gordon McConville, God and Earthly Power: An Old Testament Political Theology, Genesis-Kings (Helene Dallaire) Review of Rebecca Skaggs and Priscilla C. Benham, Revelation (Robby Waddell)

An Exegetical Analysis of Galatians 3:1–5, with Particular Reference to Pneumatological Themes That Relate to the Onset and Continuation of Christian Identity, with Respect to Law and Gospel

STEPHEN KERRY

[email protected]

Regents Theological College, West Malvern, Worcestershire, United Kingdom

Introduction

The journey of Pauline scholarship, from Luther to the “New Perspective,”1 has often focused on the interplay between the themes of “law” and “justification by faith,” which have been viewed through a variety of interpretive lenses.2 In some respects, an issue in the spotlight is how, in Pauline thought, a believer “gets in” and “stays in,” soteriologically, as an individual Christian convert. Such considerations have often ignored the pneumatological sine qua non of Christian identity (cf. Rom 8:9),3 which cannot be confused with Paul’s initial desire to have the opportunity to strengthen his readers with spiritual charisma (xa&pisma pneumatiko_n, Rom 1:11).4 This Holy Spirit “identity marker” is presented forcefully in the rhetorical argument beginning in Galatians 3, providing a Pauline alternative to the Judaistic pursuit of perfected identity through legalistic adherence. As such, the Holy Spirit is presented there as the confirmatory sign of true conversion which begins with faith (Gal 2:16).5 Likewise, divine action by the Holy Spirit is rhetorically argued to be the evidential and qualitative maxim which shows continuity in that regenerated state, irrespective of nomistic adherence.

From this prolegomena, using predominantly grammatical-historical methods, this study will exegetically analyse the role of the Holy Spirit in Gal 3:1–5. In the opening section, it will consider various contextual perspectives for the chosen pericope.6 When all of these contextual foundations are laid, a detailed exegetical analysis of 3:1–57 will be made, with particular reference to pneumatological themes and their relationship to the onset and continuation of Christian identity, with respect to law and gospel. Finally, conclusions will be drawn in the light of these findings.

A. Contextualisation of the Pericope

1. Introductory Questions and the Sociological Context

Many introductory questions such as epistolary audience, date, structure and the epistle’s relationship to the book of Acts are thorny issues of debate.8 This produces some uncertainty and dictates modesty when attempting to aptly frame certain contextual foundations of this epistle. Sociological analysis may have the potential to illuminate aspects of the Galatian text.9 The present study will explore the most pertinent of the sociological questions directly10 within the main exegesis in section B below. For now, attention is directed to theological matters which can be articulated, to some degree, without reference to any sociological contextual data.11

2. The Theological Context

Paul’s impassioned letter to the Galatians was written in response to the disquieting news that the Galatians had begun to fall away from the “true gospel” (1:6–7) and were following the ideas of “certain Judaistic agitators”12 (1:7; 5:10, 12), being instructed to live like Jews in order to become perfected Christians. The apostle’s diatribe, which opposed this legalistic infiltration, may be considered to contain the rawest expression of Paul’s distinctive theological and pneumatological statements about justification by faith (3:24–26) and the associated life “in the Spirit” (5:16–18).13 Ukwuegbu describes it as “the most Pauline of the Pauline writings.”14

This contemporary viewpoint carries a similitude to Luther’s suggestion that Galatians was a “capital” epistle in Paul’s writings which, coupled to others, sets forth the gospel plainly.15 Of course, Luther’s dichotomy of law and gospel is a breeding ground for intensive debate and, because of this, will not be addressed here.16 Luther’s remarks stand alongside contemporary scholarship which would argue that Galatians, being the earliest, extant statement of distinctive Pauline teachings, should be positioned in a primary place within the Pauline corpus.17 Affording Galatians this position would be founded on the supposition that Galatians can be used as a benchmark for comparison on the developmental continuum of Paul’s theology. Lightfoot accentuates this point well when he articulates the affinity of Galatians with the later letter to the Romans. He writes that “The Epistle to the Galatians stands in relation to the Roman letter, as the rough model to the finished statue.”18 This is ably demonstrated by Jewett’s interlocking commentary with the “rough model” at Rom 5:5; 7:6; and 12:6, for example. 19

This theological affinity of Galatians to Romans is apparent due to the parallel themes of justification by faith and new life in the Spirit for those who exhibit faith in Christ (2:16; 4:6; 5:16–18; cf. Rom 5:1; 7:6; 8:4–7, 14–16). Both letters also contain Spirit-reception language that appears essentially identical (for example, 3:2; Rom 5:5) as Elbert has demonstrated.20 Of course, such theological and pneumatological formulation was not concocted in abstraction.21 Paul’s theological reflection would be completely misunderstood if it was isolated from its contextual drivers.22 The apostle’s sociological matrix; the influence of the Greco-Roman world; and the Jewish heritage of the writer were all instrumental in provoking his epistolary writing.23 Therefore, we now turn our attention to the rhetorical and epistolary contexts which certainly “flavoured” this letter.

3. The Rhetorical and Epistolary Contexts

Amongst the polemic writings of the New Testament, Galatians appears to be the fiercest polemical attack against opponents of early Christian communities.24 Paul marshals his considerable theological and rhetorical armoury against the influence of Judaistic intrusion. Paul’s rhetoric, in this epistle, is a potent rebuttal against the opponents of his “true gospel” (1:6–7). Such stylistic expression in this epistolary communiqué is often attributed to the influence of Greco-Roman oral and literary traditions;25 the communicative world of the apostle Paul was saturated with rhetoric26 as was Greco-Roman education.27 Kennedy defines this rhetoric generally as

that quality in discourse by which a speaker or writer seeks to accomplish ...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Editor’s Overview of Volume 2
• Canonical Messages in the Book of Esther
• The Spirit and Political Dissent: Revisiting Mark 13:11
• Zechariah’s Two Sons of Oil: Zechariah 4
• An Exegetical Analysis of Galatians 3:1–5, with Particular Reference to Pneumatological Themes That Relate to the Onset and Continuation of Christian Identity, with Respect to Law and Gospel
• “Where are all his wonders?”: The Exodus Motif in the Book of Judges
• Ellington, Scott. Risking Truth: Reshaping the World through Prayers of Lament. Princeton Theological Monograph Series. Eugene, Oreg.: Wipf & Stock, 2008. Pp. xiv + 200. Paper. $24. ISBN 978-1-55635-263-8.
• Martin, Dale B. Pedagogy of the Bible: An Analysis and Proposal. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster/John Knox, 2008. Pp. xii +130. Paper. $24.95. ISBN 13: 978-0-664-23306-8.
• Robinson, James. Word and Spirit in Ezekiel. Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies 447. New York/London: T & T Clark, 2006. Pp. xiii + 311. Hardcover. $170/€133/₤115. ISBN: 978-0-567-02622-4.
• McConville, J. G. God and Earthly Power: An Old Testament Political Theology, Genesis – Kings. London: T&T Clark, 2006. Pp. xii + 200. Hardcover $168.00. Paper $44.95. ISBN 0567044939
• Skaggs, Rebecca and Priscilla C. Benham. Revelation. Pentecostal Commentary Series. Blandford Forum, Dorset, UK: Deo, 2009. Pp. xii + 260. Paper. $29.95/€26/£19.95. ISBN 978-1-905679-05-8