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  • From: "Mark D. Nanos" <nanos AT gvi.net>
  • To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Gal 3:10-13
  • Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 08:56:40 -0500



hOSOI EX ERGWN NOMOU EISIN defines what this identity they wanted to obtain
is, right? Then, 3.10 seems to imply that the Jewish people are under
curse!
????
Is this downside risk that they are under curse (hUPO KATARAN EISIN)
(3.10)?
If so, why is it so? In particular, how do you take the quotation from Deut
(3.10b)?

Dear Moon,
The study of this argument is a large project. I again recommend the article by Scott as a good starting point, with good bibliography to get you going in a direction that is more helpful in my opinion than those whom you had cited in your post. He does a nice job of explaining the exilic notion of curse and anticipation of restoration from Deut. 27-32 as interpreted in Jewish sources such as Dan. 9, 2 Macc. 7, 1 En. 93.9-10, and CD 1.3-11, among others.

Paul seems here to share an understanding with some other identifiable Jewish interpreters that Israel was suffering exile at this time and awaiting restoration. But Paul believes that this awaited time has begun for Israel, and thus for the nations too, in Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:1-5; the writer of Damascus Doc. sees this in Teacher of Righteousness).

The implied question for the Galatian gentiles seems to be whether they would, having already participated in the awaited restoration (they have received the Spirit as evidence), now decide to turn back the clock for themselves, you might say, by becoming proselyte members of Israel according to the standard of an "earlier" time, instead of representatives of the nations according to the promised to Abraham now fulfilled. In Paul's view it seems that the latter course would be understood to better serve Israel's interests as well, gentiles turning to God bearing witness to the arrival of the time of restoration long awaited. Paul's argument: the time has changed, you gentiles are now already children among the righteous ones of Israel, the promise to Abraham has arrived; but your conversion would imply otherwise, so do not do it.

Regards,
Mark Nanos





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