The role of ἐπαγγελία in Galatians with particular focus on 3:14-22.
This study focuses on Paul’s use of ἐπαγγελία in Galatians, and particularly in Gal. 3:14-22. This has been a matter of relative scholarly neglect in Pauline studies, although the term is prominently and intensively employed 8 times in those 9 verses and sits in direct relationship with almost every other major idea / concept used in Paul’s argument. The methodological approach provides an in-depth exegetical analysis of Gal. 3:14-22, drawing on insight from Relevance Theory and Discourse Analysis and set within contextual understanding of the letter. This enables an appreciation of the concept template ἐπαγγελία and leads to three significant implications concerning its use in Galatians: The first implication concerns Paul’s use of ἐπαγγελία to establish a promise-narrative. This plays a key role in the letter. Such a promise-narrative: underpins his understanding of the gospel (εὐαγγέλιον); establishes the place of the law (νόμος) with a limited, temporal function; enriches an understanding of his use of πίστις and δικαι-language; and leads on to Paul’s ethical paraenesis – what it is for believers to live as children of promise (ἐπαγγελίας τέκνα 4:28ff). The second implication is how Paul draws on the Abrahamic narrative as a whole. The Genesis text is the primary literary context for his use of ἐπαγγελία, a term which he uses to present a promise-reading (not simply a proof-texting) of the Abrahamic narrative in its entirety. This reading enables a better processing of terms which Paul uses in his argument, not least σπέρμα, διαθήκη and κληρονομία. The third implication is that Paul’s use of ἐπαγγελία and his promise-narrative is foundational for his communication concerning the Spirit in the lives of believers. Such language enables him to speak of: the Spirit’s assurance – rooted in the promise of the Spirit (3:14); the Spirit’s ethic – consequently, the fruit of the Spirit (5:22) emanating from children of promise born of the Spirit (4:28-29); and the Spirit’s community – believers living as one in the singular seed and promisee, Christ (3:28).
promise, galatians, Pauline studies, Pauline theology, Relevance Theory, discourse analysis
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