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[Corpus-Paul] Galatians 2:16: Exploring the Relationship between Faith and Works
- From: "John Brand" <jbrand AT gvsd.mb.ca>
- To: corpus-paul AT lists.ibiblio.org
- Subject: [Corpus-Paul] Galatians 2:16: Exploring the Relationship between Faith and Works
- Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 12:51:00 -0500
Greetings Corpus Paulinum listers. I am new to this list. I am interested in exploring
Paul's view of the relationship between Faith and Works which has often been posited to
be at odds with other NT writers and with the Patristic Era.
Paul's use of the exceptive clause in Galatians 2:16 is an intriguing window into the
whole matter of the relationship between the human and the divine aspects of
Soteriology in general and Pauline Soteriology in particular.
If an analysis of similar syntactical situations of the NT is attempted, the results will
demonstrate that the particles EAN MH are translated in the exceptive sense everywhere
else in the NT except for Galatians 2:16. Translators out of a desire to bring the english
sense into line with Pauline theology, prefer the contrastive sense so that a man is
justified through faith and not by works. I am interested in exploring the possibilities of
the exceptive sense: 'a man is not being justified by works of the law except through
faith in of Jesus Christ.'
I have found it important to include an analysis of the various tense and mood of
DIKAIOW in the analysis since Paul uses this verb in the aorist, the perfect, the present,
and the future in his writings. Insight can be gained from a similar use of various tenses
for DIKAIOW in the Patristic Clement's 'Epistle to the Corinthians.'
Currently, my working hypothesis related to a rationale behind Paul's use of EAN MH
rather than ALLA in this statement relies heavily upon the attitude toward justification
that I see in the Patristic Era. I will offer a short summary and brief explanation of this
for the benefit of those who would be interested in exploring this matter: IMO Paul has
the process of sanctification in view in Galatians rather than the initial forgiveness of
sins that are past. The Galatians were losing sight of their obligation in the process due
to their reliance upon the ritual of the Judaizers rather than their own piety in terms of
the fruit viz a vis evidence of the Spirit at work within them. This evident resistance of
the Holy Spirit meant that they were attempting to 'be made perfect' by sarx which was
impossible since no sarx could ever justify (read global) a man.
By way of explanation: It appears that there is a good deal of continuity among the
Greek Fathers on their being no notional distinction between justification as an act of
forgiveness for sins that are past and the process which came to be referred to as
sanctification after the Reformation. However, the application of the concept does
appear to have a past, a present and a future aspect. Thus, Abraham is justified by faith
rather than by his works (Epistle to the Corinthians 2:13f). But because the Corinthian
church had become factious in contrast to the fruits of love that had characterized it in
time past (see Chapters 1-2), there can be no expectation of a justification at the final
judgment (Chapter 35). Judging by the meaning of the present tense in other contexts
and with other verbs, both Lot and Rahab (Chapter 11-12) appear to be used as
illustrations of those who were successfully submissive to the process of justification
that would correspond to our view of sanctification viz a vis God at work in us as we
cooperate with his will (i.e. Philippians 2:12-13).
It should be noted that there is some correspondence in the view of justification as a
process with a definite end in view and the Augustinian view of justification except that
for the Greek Fathers the warnings to the flock indicate that the will of man is able to
resist or aid the divine will in the mater of our being released from the power of
darkness whereas for Augustine the process requires submission to the sacrament rather
than careful attention to ethics.
John Brand
Manitoba, Canada
B.A. (Bib Stu, Providence College, Manitoba, 1980); MMin (Providence Seminary,
1991).
-
[Corpus-Paul] Galatians 2:16: Exploring the Relationship between Faith and Works,
John Brand, 08/11/2004
-
Re: [Corpus-Paul] Galatians 2:16: Exploring the Relationship between Faith and Works,
Ian W. Scott, 08/11/2004
-
Re: [Corpus-Paul] Galatians 2:16: Exploring the Relationship between Faith and Works,
John Brand, 08/11/2004
- Re: [Corpus-Paul] Galatians 2:16: Exploring the Relationshipbetween Faith and Works, Rabbi Saul, 08/11/2004
-
Re: [Corpus-Paul] Galatians 2:16: Exploring the Relationship between Faith and Works,
John Brand, 08/11/2004
-
Re: [Corpus-Paul] Galatians 2:16: Exploring the Relationship between Faith and Works,
Ian W. Scott, 08/11/2004
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