Corpus-Paul

["David C. Hindley" <dhindley AT csi.com>]

Jon,

I am surprised that you are not aware of the well-known problem of
contradictory ideas living happily in parallel in the Pauline epistles.
Schweitzer provides an overview of these problems, especially as it relates to
possible interpolations, in chapter V of _Paul and His Interpreters_ (E.T.,
MacMillan Company, 1912, pp.. 117 - 150). The idea really took root among the
radical wing of the Tubingen school, particularly Allard Pearson (1878, and in
conjunction with Samuel Adrian Naber, 1886), A. D. Loman (1882, 1883, 1886),
Rudolf Steck (1888), and W. C. van Manen (1890-1896). All of it is,
unfortunately (for me), available only in German, Dutch or Latin.

Dave Hindley had written:

>>none of the passages in Galatians rejects the law.

Jon replied:

>Ohhh yes they doo-oo.  Gal 2.15 [-] 21; Gal 3:11; Gal 3.23, 25 = absolute and
>total rejection of the law.  Then Gal 5.1-4.  Law-rejection is what
>Galatians is all about.

And yet, the passages do represent the same characteristic of contrasting two
differing views:

As I had stated earlier, I would see two threads in these passages:

Continuous text:

Gal 2:15  We ourselves, who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, 16a
yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith
16b  [...], 16c  even we have believed 16d  [...], 16e  in order to be
justified by faith 16f  [...], 16g  and not by works of the law, because by
works of the law “shall no one be justified.” (Ps 143:2) 17a  But if, in our
endeavor to be justified 17b  [...], 17c  we ourselves were found to be
sinners, (are we) 17d  [...] 17e  then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 -20
[...]; 21a  I do not nullify the grace of God; 21b  [...].

Possible interpolations:

16b  in Jesus Christ
16d  in Christ Jesus
16e  in Christ
17b  in Christ
17d  (is) Christ

18  If I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a
transgressor. 19  For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to
God. 20  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but
Christ who lives in me and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in
the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me 21b  for if justification
were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose

And ...

Continuous text:

Gal 3:11  Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law;
for "He who through faith is righteous shall live" (Hab 2:4); 12  but the law
does not rest on faith, for "He who does them shall live by them," (Lev 18:5)
13  [...] 14a  that 14b  [...] 14c  the blessing of Abraham might come upon
the Gentiles, 14d  [...].  15  To give a human example, brethren: no one
annuls even a man's will, or adds to it, once it has been ratified.  16a  Now
the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring.  16b  [...]. 17  This
is what I mean: the law, which came four hundred and thirty years afterward,
does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the
promise void. 18  For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by
promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. 19 - 20a  [...] 20b  Now God
is one.  <I've taken this to mean that God sticks to his promises rather than
change his mind and negate a prior covenant>  21a  Is the law then against the
promises of God? Certainly not! 21b  For if a law had been given which could
make alive, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22a  But the
scripture consigned all things to sin, that what was promised to faith 22b
[...] 22c  might be given to those who believe. 23  Now before faith came, we
were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be
revealed. 24a  So that the law was our custodian 24b  [...], 24c  that we
might be justified by faith. 25-27 […]; 28a  there is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are
all one 28b  [...]. 29a  And if you are 29b  [...] 29c  really Abraham's
offspring, (you are) heirs according to promise. 4:1 - 2  [...]. 3  So with
us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elementary things of the
world.  4a  But when the time had fully come, God sent forth 4b - 6a [...] 6b
[[God has sent]] the Spirit 6c  [...] 6d  into our hearts, crying, "Abba!
Father!" 7  [...].

Possible interpolations:

13  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for
us--for it is written, "Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree." (Deut 21:23)

14b  in Christ Jesus

14d  that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith

16b  It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many; but, referring
to one, "And to your offspring," (Gen 12:7 LXX; 22:17-18 LXX) is Christ

19  Why then the law? It was added to bring about transgressions, till the
offspring should come to whom the promise had been made; and it was directed
through angels by (the) hand of a mediator (i.e Moses). 20  But an
intermediary implies more than one (party);

22b  in Jesus Christ
24b  until Christ came

25  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian;
26  for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
27 For as many of you as were baptized   into Christ have put on Christ

28b  in Christ Jesus
29b  Christ's, (you are)

But even if I were wrong, and these verses are all a unity, it is not clear
that the law is -totally- rejected, except as a direct means of justification.

Regards,

Dave Hindley
Cleveland, Ohio, USA