Abraham In Galatians: Epistolary and Rhetorical Contexts 9781474266437, 9781474231220, 9780567591838

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library of new testament studies

Abraham in GalaTians Epistolary and Rhetorical Contexts

G. walter Hansen

JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT SUPPLEMENT SERIES

29

Executive Editor, Supplement Series David Hill

Publishing Editor David E Orton

JSOT Press Sheffield

ABRAHAM IN GALATIANS Epistolary and Rhetorical Contexts

G. Walter Hansen

Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series 29

Copyright © 1989 Sheffield Academic Press Published by JSOT Press JSOT Press is an imprint of Sheffield Academic Press Ltd The University of Sheffield 343 Fulwood Road Sheffield S10 3BP England

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Hansen, G. Walter Abraham in Galatians 1. Bible. N.T. Galatians Critical studies I. Title II. Series 227'.406 EISBN 9781850751717

CONTENTS Preface Abbreviations

7 9

INTRODUCTION

15

PART I: EPISTOLARY AND RHETORICAL ANALYSES

19

Chapter 1 EPISTOLARY ANALYSIS 1. The Genre of Galatians 2. The Structure of Galatians

21 21 27

Chapter 2 RHETORICAL ANALYSIS A: GENRE AND STRUCTURE 1. Methodology 2. The Rhetorical Genre 3. The Structure of the Argument

55 55 57 60

Chapter 3 RHETORICAL ANALYSIS B: CHIASTIC STRUCTURES AND RHETORICAL TECHNIQUES 1. Chiastic Structures in Galatians 2. Rhetorical Techniques

73 73 79

PART II: EXEGESIS AND FUNCTION OF THE ABRAHAM STORY 95 Chapter 4 THE ABRAHAM ARGUMENT OF GAL. 3.1-29: PAUL'S BIBLICAL REBUKE 1. The Rebuke Section (1.1-4.11) 2. The Propositio (2.15-21) 3. Analysis of Paul's Abraham Argument (3.1-29)

97 97 100 109

Chapter 5 THE HAGAR-SARAH ALLEGORY OF GAL. 4.21-31: PAUL'S BIBLICAL APPEAL 1. The Traditional Perspective 2. A New Perspective: Paul's Biblical Appeal 3. Conclusion

141 141 145 154

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Summary Statement Implications for Pauline Theology

155 155 157

APPENDICES: CONTEXTUAL AND HISTORICAL STUDIES

165

Appendix 1 THE OPPONENTS' USE OF THE ABRAHAM TRADITION 1. Methodological Considerations 2. Circumcision and the Abrahamic Covenant 3. Conclusions

167 167 170 174

Appendix 2 ABRAHAM IN JEWISH LITERATURE 1. The Old Testament 2. Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha 3. The Dead Sea Scrolls 4. Philo 5. Josephus 6. Rabbinic References to Abraham 7. Conclusion

175 177 179 188 189 193 194 199

Appendix 3 PAUL AND JEWISH EXEGESIS 1. Midrashic Exegesis in Gal. 3 2. Typological—Allegorical Exegesis in Gal. 4.21-31

201 202 209

Notes Bibliography Index of Biblical and Other Ancient References Index of Authors

217 281 305 319

PREFACE This study is a modification of my doctoral dissertation accepted by Wycliffe College and The Toronto School of Theology of The University of Toronto in 1985. I am grateful for the exemplary scholarship, perceptive criticisms, and gracious friendship of Professor Richard N. Longenecker, who served as director of the dissertation. The hours spent with him in personal consultation over my work contributed substantially not only to the completion of this study but also to the quality of my life. Professor John C. Hurd, Jr. also deserves special thanks for the valuable insights which were gained in his seminar on the structure of Paul's letters. During my two years at Tyndale House in Cambridge, my research colleagues challenged me to consider new perspectives. Murray Harris and John Barclay were especially helpful. Discussion with my colleagues at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena and Trinity Theological College in Singapore has continued to clarify my thinking. The generosity and encouragement of my parents, Ken and Jean, enabled me to concentrate on this project. Their life together is an eloquent witness to the reality of freedom in Christ. My deepest gratitude is expressed to my wife, Darlene, for her love enabled me to work with joy and confidence. And my children, Nathaniel, Jonathan, and Linnea, also contributed to this work, for precious times with them cleared my mind and refreshed my heart. SOU DEO GLORIA

ABBREVIATIONS Periodicals, Reference Works, and Serials AGJU AnBib ATR AusBR BAG BDF BEvT BFCT Bib BJRL BTB BWANT BZ BZNW CBQ ConBNT CQ CTM DBSup EstBib EvQ EvT ExpTim FRLANT

Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums Analecta biblica Anglican Theological Review Australian Biblical Review W. Bauer, W.R Arndt, F.W. Gingrich, and RW. Danker, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature F. Blass, A. Debrunner, and R.W. Funk, A Greek Grammar of the New Testament Beitrage zur evangelischen Theologie Beitrage zur Forderung christlicher Theologie Biblica Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of Manchester Biblical Theology Bulletin Beitrage zur Wissenschaft vom Alten und Neuen Testament Biblische Zeitschrift Beihefte zur ZNW Catholic Biblical Quarterly Coniectanea biblica, New Testament Church Quarterly Concordia Theological Monthly Dictionnaire de la Bible, Supplement Estudios biblicos Evangelical Quarterly Evangelische Theologie Expository Times Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments

10 FS HeyJ

HKNT HNT HR HSM HTKNT HTR HTS HUCA ICC

IJT

Int

JBL JES

JETS

JJS

JQR

JR JSJ

JSNT

JSS JTS

KD LCL MeyerK MNTC MTZ NIDNTT NKZ NovT NovTSup NTS PTMS RelSRev RevThom

Abraham in Galatians Festschrift Heythrop Journal Handkommentar zum Neuen Testament Handbuch zum Neuen Testament History of Religions Harvard Semitic Monographs Herders theologischer Kommentar zum Neuen Testament Harvard Theological Review Harvard Theological Studies Hebrew Union College Annual International Critical Commentary Indian Journal of Theology Interpretation Journal of Biblical Literature Journal of Ecumenical Studies Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society Journal of Jewish Studies Jewish Quarterly Review Journal of Religion Journal for the Study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman Period Journal for the Study of the New Testament Journal of Semitic Studies Journal of Theological Studies Kerygma und Dogma Loeb Classical Library H.A.W. Meyer, Kritisch-exegetischer Kommentar uber das Neue Testament Moffatt NT Commentary Miinchener theologische Zeitschrift The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology Neue kirchliche Zeitschrift Novum Testamentum Novum Testamentum, Supplements New Testament Studies Pittsburgh Theological Monograph Series Religious Studies Review Revue thomiste

Abbreviations RSR SBLASP SBLDS SBLMS SBLSCS SE SJLA SJT SNTSMS SPB ST Str-B STVP TDNT TF THKNT TLZ TQ TSK VT WTJ WUNT ZAW ZNW ZST ZTK

Recherches de science religieuse Society of Biblical Literature Abstracts and Seminar Papers SBL Dissertation Series SBL Masoretic Studies SBL Septuagint and Cognate Studies Studia Evangelica Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity Scottish Journal of Theology Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series Studia postbiblica Studia theologica Strack and Billerbeck, Kommentar zum Neuen Testament Studia in Veteris Testamenti pseudepigrapha G. Kittel, ed. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Theologische Forschung Theologischer Handkommentar zum Neuen Testament Theologische Literaturzeitung Theologische Quartalschrift Theologische Studien und Kritiken Vetus Testamentum Westminster Theological Journal Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament Zeitschrift fur die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft Zeitschrift fiir die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft Zeitschrift fiir systematische Theologie Zeitschrift fur Theologie und Kirche

Dead Sea Scrolls CD lQpHab 1QM lQIsa lQapGen

11

Cairo Damascus Document Pesher on Habakkuk from Qumran Cave 1 Milhamah {War Scroll) Copy of Isaiah from Qumran Cave 1 Genesis Apocryphon of Qumran Cave 1

12

Abraham in Galatians Works of Philo

Abr Cher Cong Heres Irntnut Leg All Migr Mut Post Praetn QuGen Spec Leg Virt

De Abrahamo De Cherubim De Congressu quaerendae Eruditionis gratia Quis Rerum Divinarum Heres Quod Deus immutabilis sit Legum Allegoriae De Migratione Abrahami De Mutatione Nominum De Posteritate Caini De Praemiis et Poenis Quaestiones et Solutiones in Genesin De Specialibus Legibus De Viritutibus

Works ofjosephus Ant

Ap

Antiquitates Judaicae Contra Apionem

Rabbinic Works References to tractates in the Mishna, Tosephta, Babylonian Talmud, and Jerusalem Talmud are signified by the letters m, r, fc, or y respectively. Bikk. B. Kam. B. Mes. Kidd. Ned. Sanh. Pirqe R. EL Pesiq. R. Gem Rab. Lev. Rab.

Bikkurim Baba Kamma Baba Mesia Kiddushin Nedarim Sanhedrin Pirqe Rabbi Eleizer Pesiqta Rabbati Genesis Rabbah Leviticus Rabbah

Abbreviations

13

Collections of Papyri B.G.U. P. Baden P. Cairo Zen. P. Cornell P. Ent. P. Fay P. Giss. P. Grenf. I P. Harr. P. Herm. P. Lips. P. Lond. P. Mich. P. Merton P. Oxy. P. Princ. P. Ryl. P. Tebt. S.B.

Agyptische Urkunden aus den Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin, Griechische Urkunden Verqffentlichungen aus den badischen Papyrus-Sammlungen Catalogue general des antiquites egyptiennes du Musee du Caire: Zenon Papyri Greek Papyri in the Library of the Cornell University EvT£i)£ei