Digital Logos Edition
This commentary traces Paul’s theology as it unfolds in his letter to the church at Galatia, and illuminates how the Galatians likely received and comprehended it. The author asks readers to imagine themselves as silent witnesses to Paul’s dictation of the letter and to observe, through a historical perspective, how Christians at Galatia might have understood Paul’s words.
“Claim 1. The stoicheia are the gods the Galatians once venerated” (Page 253)
“The Galatians venerated the four elements of the universe as gods; this veneration involved calendrical observances” (Page 254)
“Claim 2. The veneration of ta stoicheia involves calendrical observances (4:10)” (Page 254)
“The conclusion must then be that Barnabas was not present when Paul founded the churches in Galatia. That conclusion supports the ‘North Galatia’ hypothesis.” (Page 5)
“Paul cannot have intended what the Galatians were in no position to understand” (Page 2)