As we continue to look through the letter of Paul to the Galatians we must stop and ask some questions.
Chapter Three:
The movement of the Spirit contrasted with the religious movements of the Jews.
The Importance of Abraham in all of this and as Julia stated – Paul had framed Abraham as a NON-JEW if you will-a GENTILE. ?
Paul’s living communities as fullfilment of God’s agenda announced through Abraham- BLESS the WHOLE World!
Chapter Two
A nice quote…
Rather, the debate was, “
Jesus, sealed by baptism? Or those who believe in Jesus, and maintain the traditional Jewish sign of circumcision?” The issue on the table — or perhaps it would be more to the point to say the issue dividing the table — concerned the definition and demarcation of the eschatological covenant community.
Who are the true sons of Abraham? Who are the heirs of the promises? Who belongs at the communion table? Those are the questions Paul answers in the core of the letter.
Who are the justified?
V20 Whose faithfulness are we talking about here.
The concept of table fellowship- how important?
Could Paul have left Peter off? if not WHY not?
Main Arguments
1 Who were the main actors in the plot?
2 What were the issues under consideration?
3 Why was Paul willing to take people to task about these issues so readily?
4 How did the community Paul advocates differ from the Jewish believers version in the way they dealt with sin/moral failure?
5 What badges were the community urged to wear as signifiers of their belonging to the community.
6 Paul’s final statement..’All that matters is a new creation’ seems radical, was he correct? are there other things that matter?
A nice quote
It should be noted that nowhere does Paul state a systematic doctrine of the Law.
Rather, he seeks to “destablize an enthroned position that associates the Law with the privileged status of the elect Jewish people.” (Hays)
