Corpus-Paul

[Loren Rosson <rossoiii AT yahoo.com>]

For now, Richard, I’ll only comment about the
circumcision parties in Judea:

I can agree with much of your interpretation of the
events prior to Gal. 2:1-10. But I doubt there was any
misunderstanding as soon as Paul entered Jerusalem
with Titus. “Equality without requiring proselyte
conversion” seems to have been the precise issue. What
would have been the point, Richard, of laying down
stipulations like the ones set forth in the decree (as
you take Gal 2=Acts 15), if not for the sake of
compromising between a very clear, liberal position
and an equally clear, traditionalist one? There had
always been provisions for Righteous Gentiles and
Resident Aliens who were not accorded the full status
of Jews and proselytes. The decree is somewhat of a
cross between Righteous Gentile and Resident Alien
obligations (see Alan Segal, “Paul the Convert”). Why
“tighten the screws” unless the exact issue was the
inclusion of Gentiles in the Jewish community -- as a
single community -- on an equal basis, without the
need for proselyte conversion? The circumcision
parties simply could not have been oblivious to the
“real” issue here.

I think your position 3. is more tenable than this
one, Richard! Thanks for your own swift reply, and I
will consider more of your comments... and await more
of your observations.

Loren Rosson III,
Nashua NH
rossoiii AT yahoo.com 


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