Reading for January 13th

 Read Galatians 3.6-18. In 3.6-18: God's promise to Abraham. This treatment of Abraham should be compared with Rom 4. In verse 6: Gen 15.6; see Rom 4.3. In verse 7: Abraham's true descendants are not the circumcised, but those who have faith like his (Rom 4.16). In verse 8: Gen 12.3;18.18. In verse 9: Those who believe, both Jews and gentiles, share Abraham's capacity for faith. In verse 10: Deut 27.26. The emphasis is on all the things: obligation to do everything the law says. Since this is impossible, the law is a curse. Romans omits this argument (see James 2.10). In verse 11: For Paul, faith as an alternative way of relating to God is expressed in Hab 2.4, however it is understood (Rom 1.17). In verse 12: Paul uses Lev 18.5 to show that the law is based on doing, not believing (Rom 10.5). In verse 13: The curse of the law is not being able to do everything in the law (v. 10). A curse was needed to break the curse: Christ's death by crucifixion broke the law (Deut 21.23). In verse 14: The blessing of Abraham is God's promise to abraham mentioned in v. 8. In verses 15:-18: The illustration of the will is based on Gen 13.15; 17.8; 24.7. Paul sees the singular use of offspring, literally "seed" ("sperma") as significant. Since it is singular, it cannot refer to Abraham's many descendants who made God's promise possible-Christ (v. 16). In verse 17: Ex 12.40. The covenant with Abraham envisioned that through a single person the gentiles would be blessed. Since this was like a ratified will, the law that came later did not void the earlier agreement. This can only mean that the law was not the channel through which the promise was kept alive. The promise bypassed the law. Comments or Questions..