The truth of the gospel : an exegetical and theological study of the Antitheses in Galatians 5.2-6
The present work is an exegetical and theological study of the antitheses in Galatians 5.2-6. Chapter 1 justifies the present work by pointing out the fact that both the six ~antitheses~ in 5.2-6 and the passage itself have not been given sufficient recognition in the history of interpretation of Galatians. First, Paul contrasts circumcision and Christ in terms of ~benefit~ in 5.2-3; the salvific benefit of Christ is contrasted with the uselessness of circumcision (ch. 2). The salvific benefit of Christ is Paul's ultimate theological basis for his opposition to the agitators' theological rationale for circumcision, in particular the salvific efficacy and benefit of circumcision. Second, the law is contrasted to Christ in terms of the sphere of justification (5.4b vs. 5.4a), not as two antithetical means of justification (ch 3). With Godâs eschatological transfer from the law to Christ as the sphere of justification Paul redefines the boundary of God's people and replaces it from the law to Christ. Third, Paul contrasts the law with grace as two mutually exclusive foundations of justification (5.4b vs. 5.4c - ch. 4). Paul rejects the law as the soteriological basis of justification because God's saving grace  and XÏÎčÎżÏÎżÏ should be understood as shorthand for the incompatibility between ethnocentnc covenantalism and the gospel of Christ's faithfulness in terms of two mutually exclusive soteriological belief-systems. Sixth, Paul sets ÏŃÏÎčÏÎżÎŒÏÎœÎŹÎșÏÎżÎČÎœÎ±ÏÎŻÎ± in antithesis with ÏÎŻÏÏÎčÏ ÎŽÎčâ ÎŹÎłÎŹÏÎ·Ï Î­ÎœÎ"ÏÎłÎżÏÎŒÎ­ÎœÎ· (i.e. Christ's faithfulness working through his love) as two antithetical bases of justification (5.6 - ch. 7). The antithesis between ~circumcision vs. uncircumcision~ and Christ's faithfulness working through his love should be interpreted as a microcosm of the two incompatible belief-systems between the agitators' ethnocentric covenantalism and Paul's gospel of the cross. Chapter 8 consists of the summary and implications for Pauline interpretation. The antitheses function as a summary of Paul's argument to the Galatians, the answer to the pivotal issues at stake in Galatians, the solution of the crisis in Galatia, the rationale for Paulâs opposition to the agitators' gospel, and interpretive clues for understanding Paulâs theology in Galatians. In conclusion, Gal 5.2-6, where the six antitheses appear, is the truth- claim of Paul's gospel, the summary and climax of Paul's argument to the Galatians, and a hermeneutical key to Paul's letter to the Galatians.
Choi, Hung-Sik
Circumcision; Faithfulness of Christ; Paul
The truth of the gospel : an exegetical and theological study of the Antitheses in Galatians 5.2-6. The present work is an exegetical and theological study of the antitheses in Galatians 5.2-6. Chapter 1 justifies the present work by pointing out the fact that both the six ~antitheses~ in 5.2-6 and the passage itself have not been given sufficient recognition in the history of interpretation of Galatians. First, Paul contrasts circumcision and Christ in terms of ~benefit~ in 5.2-3; the salvific benefit of Christ is contrasted with the uselessness of circumcision (ch. 2). The salvific benefit of Christ is Paul's ultimate theological basis for his opposition to the agitators' theological rationale for circumcision, in particular the salvific efficacy and benefit of circumcision. Second, the law is contrasted to Christ in terms of the sphere of justification (5.4b vs. 5.4a), not as two antithetical means of justification (ch 3). With Godâs eschatological transfer from the law to Christ as the sphere of justification Paul redefines the boundary of God's people and replaces it from the law to Christ. Third, Paul contrasts the law with grace as two mutually exclusive foundations of justification (5.4b vs. 5.4c - ch. 4). Paul rejects the law as the soteriological basis of justification because God's saving grace  and XÏÎčÎżÏÎżÏ should be understood as shorthand for the incompatibility between ethnocentnc covenantalism and the gospel of Christ's faithfulness in terms of two mutually exclusive soteriological belief-systems. Sixth, Paul sets ÏŃÏÎčÏÎżÎŒÏÎœÎŹÎșÏÎżÎČÎœÎ±ÏÎŻÎ± in antithesis with ÏÎŻÏÏÎčÏ ÎŽÎčâ ÎŹÎłÎŹÏÎ·Ï Î­ÎœÎ"ÏÎłÎżÏÎŒÎ­ÎœÎ· (i.e. Christ's faithfulness working through his love) as two antithetical bases of justification (5.6 - ch. 7). The antithesis between ~circumcision vs. uncircumcision~ and Christ's faithfulness working through his love should be interpreted as a microcosm of the two incompatible belief-systems between the agitators' ethnocentric covenantalism and Paul's gospel of the cross. Chapter 8 consists of the summary and implications for Pauline interpretation. The antitheses function as a summary of Paul's argument to the Galatians, the answer to the pivotal issues at stake in Galatians, the solution of the crisis in Galatia, the rationale for Paulâs opposition to the agitators' gospel, and interpretive clues for understanding Paulâs theology in Galatians. In conclusion, Gal 5.2-6, where the six antitheses appear, is the truth- claim of Paul's gospel, the summary and climax of Paul's argument to the Galatians, and a hermeneutical key to Paul's letter to the Galatians.
truth gospel exegetical theological study galatians present_work exegetical theological study antithesis galatians justifies present_work point fact passage give sufficient recognition history interpretation galatians first paul contrast christ term benefit salvific benefit christ contrast salvific benefit christ paul ultimate theological basis opposition theological rationale particular salvific efficacy benefit second law contrast christ term sphere justification antithetical mean justification god eschatological transfer law christ sphere justification paul redefine boundary god people law christ third paul contrast law grace mutually_exclusive foundation justification paul reject law soteriological basis justification god save grace understood incompatibility gospel christ faithfulness term mutually_exclusive soteriological belief systems sixth paul set antithesis christ faithfulness work love antithetical base justification antithesis christ faithfulness work love interpret microcosm incompatible belief systems paul gospel cross consist summary implication pauline interpretation antithesis function summary paul argument galatians answer pivotal issue stake galatians solution crisis rationale paul opposition gospel interpretive clue paul theology galatians conclusion gal antithesis appear truth claim paul gospel summary climax paul argument galatians hermeneutical key paul_letter galatians