In the first-year study of this project on the method of “mirror-reading,” I provided a critical discussion of 1) the typical approaches to mirror-reading, 2) the criticism of Lyons, and the attempt by John Barclay to establish a more reliable and sci ...
In the first-year study of this project on the method of “mirror-reading,” I provided a critical discussion of 1) the typical approaches to mirror-reading, 2) the criticism of Lyons, and the attempt by John Barclay to establish a more reliable and scientifically controllable criteria for the “inevitable” method of mirror-reading. Here it is also pointed out that Barclay’s methodological maneuver in fact aims at getting round the literal reading of such passages as 5:3 and 6:12-13, statements essential in reconstructing the situation in Galatia.
On the basis of this, the second-year study suggests my own set of answers to the key questions about the Galatian crisis. First, the study examines recent major studies on the eschatological aspect of Paul’s argument in Galatians, with the suggestions that Paul perceives the situaion and presents his own solution to it iherently from a future-eschatological perspective. This will provide a larger framework for understanding Paul’s argument as a whole. Second, the crucial concept, “the works of the law,” is reexamined. Both the traditional and the so-called new perspective take this phrase to mean “observance of the law” as a whole, not just such prominent elements as circumcision, Jewish caledar, and food laws. Yet such an understanding results from complete ignorance or relativization of those key verses which are vital in correct reconstruction of the situation, 5:3 and 6:12-13. From this, the study proposes that Paul perceives the situation basically as one of religious hypocrisy or hypocritical spirituality in which the Galatians are preoccupied with those “fleshly” items which Paul calls “works of the law,” while neglecting proper obedience to the law. Third, the study shows the moral concern which runs through the whole of Paul’s diagnosis of the crisis and his antidote to it in both the theological and the ethical discussions. Finally, it also demonstrates how this reading of Galatians cohere with Pauline theology as a whole, and how it stands in line with the biblical tradtion of prophetic protestation against Israel’s religious hypocrisis from the OT prophets to John the Baptist and to the historical Jesus.
My position on the interpretation of Galatians is already clear through the monographs and research articles published thus far both in English and in Korean. My aim in this study is examining and sharpening my own reading of the letter through a serious and critical dialogue with more recent studies on the letter. Thus, more space will be given to those who directly mention or interact with my work in their commentaries or articles (e.g., the commentaries by Thomas Schreiner and Douglas Moo).
A substantial revision of the original proposal was inevitable due to the cutdown of the length of the project. Most of the second and third year studies was condensed into the new second year study, but a few topics have to be dropped in the course. I have decided to bypass a more general discussion about hypocrisy and religious hypocrisy, as well as discussions with the recent philosophical readings of Paul (as was already mentioned in the first-year report).
As a result, this study not a fresh proposal of my view on Galatians but a reexamination and a substantial reconfirmation and sharpening of it through a critical dialogue with more recent interpreters of the letter. In that sense, it has been an especially rewarding to find many recent interpreters tend to move toward those lines of interpretation similar to the one I myself has been suggesting.
I am currently working one the first draft of the second-year study. I am yet to consult a few massive works on Paul published within a few years. With that work done, I will have done most of the work for the project. So far this study follows the outline suggested in the last proposal, with slight changes here and there such as the shortening of the eschatology section in the early part of the study. Further changes may come in the process of preparing a final manuscript.
The second study, like the first, is also being written in English. The first one, originally planned for publication in one of the major international journals, was actually published in Korean Evangelical New Testament Studies at the request of the editors. This is also uploaded as part of the report.