Corpus-Paul

["Jon Peter" <jnp AT home.com>]

An key point about Paul's views on Torah in Galatians is perhaps being
overlooked in the current discussions, and it is that the Hebrew Bible
presents two incompatible and contradictory covenants. It is this dichotomy
that Paul is resolving here with his exegesis.

The Abrahamic covenant described in Gen. 17 is lacking, of course, in any
Torah. It permits easy conversion by any male solely on the condition of
becoming circumcised (v 10, 14). It is so inclusive, in fact, that it is
described as intended for "many nations" (Gen 17.4,6 and Gal 3.8)  In direct
contrast, the Sinaitic covenant introduces laws as an obligation signified
by circumcision.  (A similar distinction on covenants is in GJohn 7.22)

Paul refers to this split of two covenants explicitly by saying that Gen. 17
is for "free" people of "Jerusalem" and is personified in or by Christ. The
2nd, Torahnic covenant is for the children of the "slave" (douleuo) in
Arabia (Gal 4.21-31).

Paul concludes his exegesis of Genesis 17ff by saying that now the legally
liberated must "cast out (ekballo) the [slave] handmade and her son"
(Gal.4.30 = Gen 21.10).

Not only is Paul saying that Law-keeping is unnecessary for Jew or Gentile,
but those who would cling to it must be expelled in accord with the Promise!

Regards,

Jon