tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5759844.post116074935241893616..comments2024-03-21T14:59:20.729-04:00Comments on NT Blog: Paul's lack of travel plans in GalatiansMark Goodacrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115370166754797529noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5759844.post-1161131959952649622006-10-17T20:39:00.000-04:002006-10-17T20:39:00.000-04:00Perhaps Simon has the right idea--Galatians was wr...Perhaps Simon has the right idea--Galatians was written in hurry and anger before a meeting in Jerusalem with an uncertain outcome--but not the meeting of Acts 15 as he suggests; rather, the meeting of Acts 18:22. Too, while Ben Witherington III sees connectivity between Gal. and Hebrews (NTS, v. 37, 1991, pp. 146-52), perhaps it is not (as he suggests) Galatians influencing Hebrews but the reverse. Scenario:(1)(Acts 18:1-17)Paul, Silvanus (Silas), Timothy and two arrivals from Rome (i.e., Priscilla and Aquila) at Corinth. Silvanus, a "Hebrew", writes Hebrews to the "Hebrews" in Jerusalem to convince them that Paul has things right. He closes (13:23-24)by mentioning the status of Timothy and by sending greeting from the two arrivals from Rome, but does not also send greeting from Paul--for he is to convey Hebrews to Jerusalem and, so, is to personally greet the "Hebrews". (2)(18:18) Paul takes a Nazarite vow at Cenchreae to consecrate himself for his Jerusalem journey (3)(18:19-20) Paul arrives at Ephesus and learns of the situation in Galatia. He dashes off Galatians. (4)(18:21-22a) He journeys to Jerusalem to deliver Hebrews to the "Hebrews" and to try to hammer out an agreement with the three Pillars on how to handle the situation in Galatia. (5)(18:22b-23) Paul journeys to Galatia to personally visit those to whom we wrote Galatians.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5759844.post-1161087088176441862006-10-17T08:11:00.000-04:002006-10-17T08:11:00.000-04:002 Timothy does strike me as rather pauline and sim...2 Timothy does strike me as rather pauline and similar to Philippians. It assumes Galatia to be still in Paul's ambit (unless we read 'Gaul' in ch4). The picture given would have to assume that neither Paul nor one familiar with Paul's mission wrote it. The proposed picture would also have to assume a north Galatian theory, given that Ac 20 init includes south galatianists (Derbe, from memory, just about qualifies as part of the Galatian province tho' there were fluctuations; and Timothy was from Lystra). Otherwise I tend to agree with the picture given, & particularly like the use of comparative travel plans. Galatia is a letter apart in its format in so many ways - but I hadn't noticed this one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5759844.post-1161012399691054362006-10-16T11:26:00.000-04:002006-10-16T11:26:00.000-04:00Paul had been badly misunderstood in Galatia to he...Paul had been badly misunderstood in Galatia to he wrote this stern letter without social pleasantries to emphasise to the readers that he really meant what he said. The lack of pleasantries does not show that he had given up on the Galatians. Indeed, I see no despair in Paul's arguments. For example he writes "I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you". The tearful letter was another severe letter, and it was written in confidence that things would come good (2 Cor 2:3; 7:14).<BR/><BR/>I don't think we can know for sure whether Galatians was successful. The survival of the letter may suggest that it was. It seems that the readers respected the letter sufficiently to preserve it.<BR/><BR/>It is true that the Galatians did not participate in the collection of 55/56, but this does not convince me that they had fallen out with Paul. I place the collection from Galatia just before the second missionary journey.<BR/><BR/>Richard rfellows@shaw.caRichard Fellowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06777460488456330838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5759844.post-1161010599436676932006-10-16T10:56:00.000-04:002006-10-16T10:56:00.000-04:00Mark, if Galatians is written just before the Jeru...Mark, if Galatians is written just before the Jerusalem council, then this lack of hopes or plans is equally explainable. Paul is uncertain how the council will go, uncertain how the "pillars" will respond given Peter's and James' apparent reneging on their prior affirmation of Paul's gospel. He is uncertain how the Galatians will respond, uncertain about this whole region he has just recently poured his life and energies into. Paul is certain about his call and his gospel revelation, but he's uncertain about almost everything else related to his personal "mission."Michael Pahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225370303628344885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5759844.post-1160986509817739752006-10-16T04:15:00.000-04:002006-10-16T04:15:00.000-04:00I wonder if Galatians is a rather exceptional lett...I wonder if Galatians is a rather exceptional letter in that it has no travel plans but it also has precious little personal, relational material either. Paul offers no report on how he prays for the church, no greetings from the people with Paul as he writes. Does this suggest a very early letter written and sent in a hurry ahead of leaving for the meeting in Jerusalem (reported in Acts 15:2b-35), meaning Paul has no time for niceties - and, because he's so angry at what happening, no inclination either? I'm of the school that thinks Galatians 2:11-14 is the incident Luke cryptically refers to in Acts 15:1-2a that triggers the Jerusalem council. If Galatians was written as Paul packed for this meeting (metaphorically - I realise he didn't have much to pack!), it could explain the almost complete lack of personal information in the letter.simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13470335172330595542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5759844.post-1160973084062951632006-10-16T00:31:00.000-04:002006-10-16T00:31:00.000-04:00Pretty interesting observation, Mark.Just as it is...Pretty interesting observation, Mark.<BR/><BR/>Just as it is for Philippians, the travel plans in Philemon are similarly striking because Paul is a prisoner for that one too (Phlm 1)Stephen C. Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18239379955876245197noreply@blogger.com