Corpus-Paul

["Jeff Krantz @ optonline.net" <jkrantz AT optonline.net>]

Dear Mark,

Thanks for clarifying for me.  I think, without  my being particularly 
clear, you've dealt with my question.  For the sake of clarity, though, let 
me see if I can be more specific.  It is the universality of the text that 
worried me (not for myself, but as something to which I might be called to 
respond) where Paul says that "all" are "under a curse."  It seems to 
suggest that, as no one is capable of keeping the whole of the law, all are 
therefore "cursed."

As an admonition within part of the proselyte conversion process, "under a 
curse" makes a different sense, as something they take on as a 
responsibiliity, not as a condemnation.  (I don't know all the folks I'll be 
talking with today, but I do know that one of them is very much a 
fundamentalist, and I want to be able to respond cogently to this if he 
brings it up as an objection to Paul's Torah observance, i.e. "How could 
Paul be Torah observant if he considered it to curse everyone who tries??"

BTW... Have you seen "Paul Among the Post Liberals?"  It is more a 
theological than an exegetical work, but he does make reference to your 
work!

Thanks again!

Jeff K.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark D. Nanos" <mark AT marknanos.com>
To: "Corpus Paul" <corpus-paul AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 10:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Corpus-Paul] Galatians 3:10


> Dear Jeff,
> Delighted that you are discussing Irony! Not sure what the issue is
> concerning Paul's Torah-observance and the language of curse in 3:10ff. 
> Can
> you be more specific about the problem, so I can try to speak to it? In
> general, I offer the following.
>
> The curse for failure to observe the Torah is classic for Torah-observant
> Jews who subscribed to the Deuteronomistic view of things, so not sure 
> what
> is at issue for you; non-Torah observant more likely to doubt the gravity 
> of
> Torah-obligation. Even today potential proselyte candidates are warned in
> Rabbinic Judaism of the responsibility that they are considering taking 
> on,
> the obligation of Torah and consequences that follow for those who turn 
> from
> it thereafter. Candidates are in fact ritually dissuaded from adopting 
> that
> course. Paul's reasons were different, and his argument, but the issue of
> Torah-observance for him is not related, as far as I can see--if you 
> attend
> to the rhetorical context of the narrative from 3:6ff, which is determined
> by the situational argument of 3:1-5, specifically, against proselyte
> conversion for those non-Jews who have already gained in Christ that which
> proselyte conversion otherwise promises to candidates upon completion.
> Hence, to undertake it now would for them constitute an admission that 
> they
> had not gained what the gospel of Christ claims for them (as non-Jews, and
> thus, just like Jews can claim), and the Spirit already witnesses in their
> lives. So they cannot undertake it in this Judaism, unlike in other Jewish
> groups. That would be like turning back the clock, so to speak, to the 
> time
> before the changing of eons with Jesus Christ, and becoming vulnerable to 
> an
> outcome that need not apply to themselves. Instead they should celebrate
> their inclusion as non-Jews; even if that involves some marginalization, 
> for
> the alternative also has its drawbacks--and they are graver for them in
> particular, so Paul argues, I think.
>
> Hope this helps, but let me know if something more specific at issue, or 
> if
> anyone else wishes to discuss this somewhat convoluted passage. I have 
> much
> more work to do on it myself someday.
>
> Take care,
> Mark
> --
> Mark D. Nanos, Ph.D.
> Soebbing Visiting Scholar, Rockhurst University
> Lecturer, University of Kansas
> Co-Moderator, Corpus Paulinum
> http://www.marknanos.com
>
>
>
> on 3/27/06 7:29 PM, Jeff Krantz @ optonline.net at jkrantz AT optonline.net
> wrote:
>
> > Quick question for Mark or someone familiar with his work about Galatians
> > 3:10.  I'm doing a presentation on Paul for a local clericus (interfaith)
> > tomorrow, and I'll be talking about The Irony of Galatians.  In light of
> > Mark's suggestion that Paul is himself Torah observant, I wonder how I 
> > might
> > deal with the "curse" of 3:10ff.  All that is present in the book is the
> > inclusion of the passage among those that are examples of "ironic" 
> > speech.
> >
> > Anything else I might speak to if it comes up?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Jeff Krantz
> >
> >
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>
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