Think Wink.

Michael F. Bird at Euangelion has posted a great read on Paul’s argument found in Galatians 3:10-14, specifically how Paul uses the Old Covenant citations. Here are some highlights.

Moyise schematizes Andrew Das’ argument as follows:

1. Dt. 27.26 rightly threatens a curse to all who do not keep the law.
2. It is evident that no one keeps the law perfectly.
3. Hence, everyone is under a curse.

4. Lev. 18.5 promises life to those who keep the law.
5. It is evident that no one keeps the law perfectly.
6. Hence, no one receives life through the law.

The underlying premise here is did the law and subsequent Jewish interpreters believe that the law required perfect obedience? The fact of an atonement system in Judaism and Sanders’ critique of Judaism as merit orientated have usually assumed to count a view of perfect obedience as being required for “salvation”. What can we say?

First, I think we need to keep in mind Paul’s two major universal premises which are (a) universal judgment, and (b) God’s desire to bring Gentiles into the family of Abraham. Towards that end, Paul is engaging in a redemptive-historical argument so as to show that the Sinaitic covenant brings curses not life. As the learned Joel Willitts states: “In other words, to be related to the Sinai covenant is to be related to the age (or historical period) of unfaithfulness and judgment (covenantal curse). On the other hand, being related to the new eschaton signified in the terms pistis (3:23) means being related to the age of faithfulness and blessing (covenantal promise) through Christ’s redemption.”

Again we see that the NT authors read their Bibles in a redemptive-historical way. They read the Bible along its storyline Thus Paul could see that the Law given by Yahweh to Israel via Moses only brought curses upon his people. That is what one sees when he just reads the Old Covenant story, Israel is being cursed by God over and over again. The New Covenant changes that. Being saved by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus no longer means curse but righteousness and justification.

Martin Luther and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Evangelical Training

Justification