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corpus-paul - Re: North/South Galatian Theory

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  • From: Edgar Krentz <ekrentz AT lstc.edu>
  • To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: North/South Galatian Theory
  • Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 17:45:19 -0800


At 6:25 PM -0600 11/6/00, Mark D. Nanos wrote:
Loren Rossen brought up the issue of North and South Galatian theories in his recent post replying to Titus and 2 Cor. 11.22.

First of all, your chronology and various comments warrant more consideration. But just a quick note on this matter of the so-called North or South location of the Galatian addressees.

I do not see anything in the letter of Galatians that offers definitive case for just where in Galatia the addressees were, or whether the region or Roman province is indicated. I also do not see that it matters for the interpretation of Galatians, at least, short of certainty. There are some interesting arguments (some not so interesting), and Scott's recent contribution in Paul and the Nations offers a new way to assess this in terms of geopolitical orientation for Paul as a Judean. But it does seem to me to be conclusive.

I agree with Mark on this. It does not affect how one interprets the text. It does have significance for reconstructing the history of Paul's work.

Most rely upon the material from Acts. And if you are doing a chronology you would have to deal with these issues. I look forward to what you might offer to resolve this conundrum, but I see little in Galatians to help you do so.

One thing that does seem to me to be necessary from the text of Galatians is the presence of Jewish communal life within the constraints of a larger pagan context, and likely one in which issues of Roman imperial cult surface. These arise from the implied context of the addressees concerns, that is, from Paul's rhetorical approach to the addressees in this letter, so that these concerns are presumably salient for them (intra-Jewish communal and inter-Jewish/pagan communal constraints on their identity while remaining pagans on the prevailing terms of those who do not share their evaluation of the meaning of the death of a Judean martyr of the Roman regime for themselves).

On the issue of Roman imperial cult: One can still see the Temple to Rome and Augustus in Ankara (Ancyra), with the great "autobiographical" Res Gestae of Augustus inscribed on it in both Latin and Greek. It dates to a period earlier than Paul's activity in Galatia. Of course, there is also evidence for the same cult in Pisidian Antioch, if not in Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium (identifiable only from surface finds at present).

Some have argued that the addressees are Celts in the Northern plains, and that there are no Jewish communities in their area (cf. Jewett; Martyn). It is not clear that the addressees are Celts, though they may be. It seems more likely that their identity concerns are of a Greek/Roman character, but that could apply to Celts of this period anyway, since the Romans ruled this region. Moreover, it is not clear that even in the North that there were no Jewish communities; Jewish people and communities are attested far north of Galatia for this period, and in far more obscure places overall. However, their presence in some numbers in the province of Galatia (so-called South) is at this time well attested, and thus fits the rhetorical situation of the letter well.

The only conceivable argument in favor of ethnic Celts is the address "You stupid Galatians" in 3:1. And some find a possible reference to the worship of the Magna Mater (Kybele) in 5:10's gruesome joke. That also is not unambiguous evidence.

What makes the northern theory (more) attractive for you? How do Paul's eyes come to play in locating him there? Moreover, how do Paul's eyes play a role at all? I have read a theory that Paul was on his way to the north (to S. Paulus' lands) and stopped at a healing spa for his eyes. However, even if this is so (and again, I do not see it from Galatians, where the "weakness of flesh/body" is not defined as an eye problem) these kinds of natural springs are found throughout Anatolia, including south, east, and west from Psidian Antioch. So what leads you to suggest a northern (or north-central) location? And what is gained by this for your chronology, or construction of Paul, or his addressees?

Regards,
Mark Nanos

I personally incline to the N. Galatian theory, but recognize the problems with it--and also find problems with the southern theory, a theory not present prior to the 19th century. I am curious, Mark, about one thing: Do you have an interest in reconstructing the history of Paul's career?

Hochachtungsvoll,
Ed Krentz




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Edgar Krentz
Christ Seminary--Seminex Professor of New Testament, Emeritus
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
1100 East 55th Street, Chicago, IL 60615
Tel: 773-256-0773
e-mail: ekrentz AT lstc.edu
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Fall 2000 address 1300 Delaware #15, Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone in Berkeley : 510-702-0542
GERASKO D' AEI POLLA DIDASKOMENOS
"I grow old, constantly learning many things." [Solon of Athens]
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