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corpus-paul - The symbolism of '14 years'

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  • From: Richard Fellows <rfellows AT intergate.ca>
  • To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: The symbolism of '14 years'
  • Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 16:02:57 -0800


It's awefully quiet in there! Perhaps I can break the silence by making
what I think is a new proposal.

Paul rarely uses numbers, but mentions '14 years' twice (Gal 2.1 and 2 Cor
12.2). I would like to make the suggestion that on both occasions Paul is
seeing parallels between his own biography and that of Jacob.

Jacob worked for Laban for 'fourteen years' in order to prove himself (Gen
29). As Josephus puts it, "that, having given a specimen of his virtue, it
might be better known what sort of a man he was". Only after the fourteen
years did Jacob receive Laban's approval. Paul, like Jacob, needed to prove
himself. He laboured in the regions of Syria and Cilicia (Gal 1.21), and
only after the 'fourteen years' (Gal 2.1) did he receive the endorsement of
the Jerusalem leaders (Gal 2.7-9).

Before his fourteen years, Jacob had a dream at Bethel (Gen 28) in which he
was told "your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall
spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the
south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and your
offspring" (NRSV). Before Paul's 'fourteen years' (Gal 2.1), he had
received a revelation of his gospel, which he was to preach among the
nations, and thus become father in the faith to many. Paul's 'fourteen
years' in 2 Cor 12.2 also followed a revelation (1.2-4).

It is also interesting to note that in this passage Paul connects his
revelations with his thorn in the flesh (12.7), and that this may parallel
the experience of Jacob, who received a limp after wrestling with God (Gen
32.25,31-32).

Another possible parallel is that Jacob received his name change at the
same time as his injury (Gen 32.28). In Acts Saul becomes Paul (13.9) at
the same time as receiving an affliction (Gal 4.13), according to the South
Galatia view.

All this raises the possibility that Paul saw parallels between himself and
Jacob, and referred to the 'fourteen years' to remind his readers of those
parallels. This creates some doubt (in my mind) as to whether the fourteen
years were literal or metaphorical. Perhaps it is hazardous to use Paul's
letters as a primary source when constructing the chronology of his life! ;-)

Richard Fellows
Vancouver.
rfellows AT intergate.ca





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