Corpus-Paul

[MillerJimE AT aol.com]

Don Garlington writes:
<<  (2) By way of qualification, Martin too quickly
 dismisses any allusion to Gen 1:27: "male and female
 he created them."  >>

    I also have read Martin's JBL article.  I agree that Martin too quickly 
dismisses the allusion to Genesis 1:27 in Galatians 3:28.  I would like to 
add 
two points.  First, the switch from "or" (oude) to "and" (kai) in Gal 3:28 is 
significant and cannot be dismissed lightly.  Second, I do not see a 
circumcision interpretation based on Genesis 17 as exclusive of a reading 
based on 
Genesis 1:27.  Why must it be either/or?  If it must be either/or, I would go 
with 
Genesis 1:27 because the phrase seems extremely evocative.  But I don't find 
the two readings exclusive of each other.  Within the covenant of 
circumcision, which is gender-specific, is the ultimate gender-specificity in 
the creation 
account.  The two can be treated together.
    Also, there was a very strong current in early Christianity which sought 
to bypass, if not defy gender.  Why wouldn't Galatians 3:28 be an early part 
of that current?
Jim Miller