GALATIANS 5 IN CONTEXT

Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters 2.2: 65-87, 2012

Covers first 40% of Galatians, through "removing the curse."

Revue Biblique, 2012

Paul displays his rhetoric and cultural mastery in Galatians 4:1-2. With a few plain words, he is able to allude both to one of the most profound aspirations of Greek culture and philosophy-that is the thirst for true freedom-and to the most important experience of the Jewish faith, the core of Biblical tradition, the Exodus or the creation of a people of sons called to freedom. The two cultural backgrounds, Roman-Greek and biblical-Jewish, should not be opposed but rather taken together.

Since the publication of Betz's article (1975) and his commentary on Galatians (1979) much research has been done on the rhetorical analysis of the Letter to the Galatians. This article presents an overview of the rhetorical analyses of Galatians from 1995 to 2005. It concludes by highlighting five characteristics of such analyses: 1. The rigid application of "the" ancient rhetorical system is on the decline; 2. Scholars who still use insights from ancient rhetoric do so in a much more nuanced way, quite often presuppose a wider background, and are more interested in functions than in categories; 3. There has been a notable increase in the use of rhetorical approaches that were not based on ancient rhetoric; 4. The fact that Galatians is a letter has received more serious consideration; 5. A new issue that has been raised is the applicability of an "evaluative" approach to Paul's argumentation and persuasive strategy. Acta Theologica Supplementum 9 2007

Tyndale Bulletin, 1995

This thesis argues that Galatians was not written in conformity with Graeco-Roman rhetoric. Chapter 1 defines the terms relevant to the discussion, proposing that various meanings of 'rhetoric' itself are sometimes blurred and then misapplied. The argument that all discourse is rhetorical, and that Greeks and Romans best described rhetoric, so therefore their handbooks ought to be employed to describe all discourse, is fraught with difficulties which can only be eliminated by a precise understanding of the particular view of rhetoric controlling a given analysis. Importantly, classical rhetoric must be seen as a subset of universal rhetoric, not as synonymous. These definitions, which range from rhetoric as the universal phenomenon of persuasive communication to rhetoric as classical oratory, are treated in chapter 2 with respect to the various scholars who have discussed Galatians. Presuppositions are set forth in order to determine whether the analysts propose to read Galatians as a piece of classical oratory or to view it as a discourse to be apprehended by applying broader indices. It is thus seen that so-called precursors to a rhetorical analysis of Galatians-scholars such as James Muilenburg and Amos Wilder-often had little interest in classical matters, instead concentrating on how the text achieves its purpose. Asking how communication works may even be thought of as the true hallmark of rhetorical investigations, not conformity to classical descriptions.

Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters 2.2 (2012): 105-110, 2012

An Exegetical Examination of Galatians 5:16-26, including literary structure and Paul's use of rhetoric, literary and historical settings and significance, and commentary given from the Greek.

The Three-Fold Thematic Scheme of the Epistle of Galatians - The primary theme of the nine church epistles is the establishment of the doctrines of the New Testament church. Each of these epistles addresses one aspect of this doctrinal foundation as their secondary theme, so that collectively, they deliver the complete doctrinal creed of the church. The secondary theme of the epistle of Galatians offers the testimony of the office and ministry of the Jesus Christ in the believer’s sanctification, namely the believer’s liberty through the lordship of Jesus Christ over the Church. The third, imperative theme of Galatians is the believer’s outward evidence of his sanctification demonstrated in living a life as a new creature in Christ and walking in freedom from the bondages of this world. In other words, this epistle demonstrates how a believer conducts himself when walking in the freedom of Christ Jesus as Lord over his life and no longer entangled with the bondages and traditions of man. Let me illustrate the theme of Galatians with a story from a book entitled The Call by Rick Joyner. In one of his divine visions, the Lord took him into a prison yard where he sees many the people gathered into many small groups. The sky was dark and dreary, and the prison was surrounded by a tall fence. Beyond the fence was a well hundreds of feet tall. Along this wall were guard towers. As he looked in the prison yard, observed these small groups of people gathered together, he realized that they were segregated by race. The whites gathered with whites, the blacks with blacks, and the same with other ethnic groups. In addition, these groups were segregated by gender, the men joined the same group and the women joined their groups. He notices some people walking about, looking for a group in which they felt comfortable. As he continued to observe, he realized that these people were uncomfortable with those within their own groups. They were looking for every different between themselves and clearly uncomfortable with the slightest dissimilarity. He walked up to one individual and asked him why he was in prison. The person replied that they were not in prison. Rick realized that these people were almost blind and could not see the prison fence surrounding them. He then walked over to one of the guards on the tower who was holding a gun and asked him why these people were in prison. The person was greatly agitated by this question and told Rick that he was not a guard, but a preacher. Concerned about being shot by this guard, he left. He walked along the wall and found a lady guard. She claimed to be a teacher, who was opening the minds of these people to give them a world view. Rick went back into the prison yard and a young man walked up to him named Stephen. This individual had heard the Gospel, and was looking for wisdom. Rick spent a lot of time talking with him about his spiritual journey. He finally convinced this young man to walk through the fence and climb over the high wall. This person’s greatest challenge was overcoming his fear. Although Stephen was partially blind, his vision became restored as he made his way out this prison. When Rick met this man on the other side of the wall, he gave him additional instructions on his spiritual journey. This story by Rick Joyner reflects the message of the epistle of Galatians because so many people are bound with fear and too blind to walk free after accepting Christ Jesus. Many people continue in their bondages. However, once they decide to walk in freedom, their vision becomes strong and clear. When they decided to walk in their freedom, they are able to recognize the bondages of this world’s systems and the blindness that binds people in these systems. Paul addresses these very issues in his epistle to the churches of Galatia. The Importance of the Message of the Epistle of Galatians in Church History - It is one thing to be set free from the bondages of this world by God’s amazing grace when we are first saved, but a mature believer understands the struggle to stay free. There are many ways that we can be seduced and tempted back into following the course of this world. We all know Christians who have gone back into the world because of old bondages into which they returned. The epistle of Galatians teaches us that salvation is found exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ and nothing else, while showing us how to stay free from the bondages of this world so that we can live a Spirit-filled and a Spirit-led life. Therefore, some have called it the “Magna Carta of Christian Liberty.” J. Vernon McGee also calls it “the manifesto of Christian liberty, the impregnable citadel, and a veritable Gibraltar against any attack on the heart of the gospel.” Such titles have been placed upon the epistle of Galatians because it makes one of the strongest declarations of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone, placing it at the center of a number of great revivals during the two thousand years of Church history. This small epistle became a mighty weapon of the Reformation period because of its liberating message. It restored to the Church its spiritual liberties in Christ. For example, when Martin Luther (1483-1546) needed fuel to launch his attack upon a corrupted Church, he relied heavily upon the epistle of Galatians, because it had transformed his life. J. B. Lightfoot says Martin Luther’s commentary on Galatians “cost him more labour, and was more highly esteemed by him, than any of his works.” For this reason, Martin Luther called it his “Katy von Bora” (an affectionate name given to his wife), saying that he was married to it. John Bunyan (1628-88) testifies that Martin Luther’s commentary on Galatians was one of his most treasured books outside of the Holy Scriptures. Luther’s commentary on the epistle of Galatians led to the conversion of John Wesley (1703-91) and Charles Wesley (1707-88) in 1738, which led to the rise of the Methodist movement and revivals in England and other places. J. B. Lightfoot (1828-89) says the epistle of Galatians provides the “ground” to combat modern Rationalism, which “denies the divine origin of the Gospel.” In a world that is constantly changing, as even church creeds change through the centuries, the message of Galatians reminds us that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will forever remain unchanged, transforming lives by bringing them to the eternal cross of Calvary.