Epigraphic Database for Ancient Asia Minor

Gabriel Bodard has brought to my attention the Epigraphic Database for Ancient Asia Minor / Epigraphische Datenbank zum antiken Kleinasien. The website is in German and English and contains various Greek and Latin inscriptions from ancient Asia Minor.

They have begun with the Roman province of Galatia – I’m glad to see they got their priorities right! The search fields are quite detailed for location so if you want to see everything that was found at a certain place it is very helpful.

It seems you have to search by exact form. e.g. CRISTOS turns up nothing, but CRISTOU returns 12 results.

Commentary is provided but it is in German, even on the English side.

Another Galatians and the Imperial Cult review on RBL

UPDATE May 6, 2009 to reflect Dr. Nanos’ posted comment.

Review of Biblical Literature has posted a second review of Hardin’s book, this time by Mark D. Nanos. Nanos is not convinced that the problems in Galatia are related to the Imperial Cult in quite the way that Hardin proposes and he takes Hardin to task for combining two issues. Hardin remains within the “churches-separate-from-the-Jewish-communities paradigm” while postulating that non-Christian Jews are opposed to Christian Gentiles refusing to become proselytes due to fear of Roman persecution falling on their community. This leaves us with the illogical conclusion that Jews and Jewish communities would be worried about the separate Gentile church communities being a threat to them. This would perhaps be akin to Han Chinese Buddhists worrying about being persecuted because Tibetan Buddhists are rioting.

Justin K. Hardin, Galatians and the Imperial Cult: A Critical Analysis of the First-Century Social Context of Paul’s Letter. (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, 2/237) Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2008. xiv + 190. 3161495632, 9783161495632.

Dieter Lührmann on Galatians to be available for Libronix

Logos Bible Software has just put the Continental Commentary Series on prepub. This includes Dieter Lührmann’s volume on Galatians published in 1992. The price is a tad steep – $300 for 20 volumes, but it is nice to see Fortress Press making some more of their material available in this manner. Hop the link and make sure this makes it into production.

Vincent M. Smiles on Galatians 3:10-14

I came across the following article this evening:

Vincent M. Smiles, “The Blessing of Israel and ‘the Curse of the Law’: A Study of Galatians 3:10-14.” Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations. 3:1 (2008): 1-17.

In this article Smiles argues that although Paul opposed the Law he still held God’s Covenant with the Jewish people in high regard. The Law and Covenant were separate entities in Paul’s thinking and although the law was null and void the covenant still had value for both Jews and Gentiles.

Smiles previously wrote a book on Galatians back in 1998 and also authored the New Collegeville Bible Commentary volume on First Thessalonians, Philippians, Second Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians.

Vincent M. Smiles, The Gospel and the Law in Galatia: Paul’s Response to Jewish-Christian
Separatism and the Threat of Galatian Apostasy. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1998. 0814658687, 9780814658680.

SBL Rome 2009

SBL has posted the online program book for their International meeting in Rome June 30-July 4, 2009. There are five presentations on Galatians in the Paul and Pauline Literature Section. Head on over to read the abstracts.

Francois Tolmie, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein
“Translation Problem in the Letter to the Galatians.” (25 min)

Rodrigo Morales, Marquette University
“Who was ‘Enslaved Under the Elements of the Cosmos’?: Rethinking Galatians 4:3.” (25 min)

Jeremy Gabrielson, University of St. Andrews-Scotland
“Mapping Violence and Peace in Galatia: How Paul’s Biography Coordinates with Roman Politics.” (25 min)

Martinus C. de Boer, Vrije Universiteit-Amsterdam
“Paul and the Law: A New Look at Gal 5:14, ‘For the entire Law has been fulfilled in one word, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (30 min)

P. Richard Choi, Andrews University
“The Citation of Isaiah 54:1 in Galatians 4:27.” (25 min)

Michael Bird on blessing and sonship in Galatians

Michael F. Bird has posted a short blog entry noting the contrast between Galatians 3:14 blessing/Spirit and Galatians 4:6 sonship/Spirit. He notes that while the former is clearly spoken to Gentiles the latter is likely meant for Jewish believers. Head on over for the whole story.

Jesus and Paul: Global Perspectives in Honor of James D. G. Dunn for his 70th Birthday

Continuum will be releasing another book in honour of James Dunn on September 1, 2009 which includes two essays on Galatians, both written by an editor.

Oropeza, B. J., C. K. Robertson and Douglas C. Mohrmann, eds. Jesus and Paul: Global Perspectives in Honor of James D. G. Dunn for his 70th Birthday. (Library of New Testament Studies) London: T&T Clark International, 2009. 0567629538, 9780567629531.

Douglas C. Mohrmann, “Of ‘Doing’ and ‘Living’: The Intertextual Semantics of Leviticus 18:5 in Galatians and Romans.”

Brisio Javier Oropeza, “Running in Vain, but Not as an Athlete (Galatians 2:2): The Impact of Habakkuk 2:2-4 on Paul’s Apostolic Commission.”

HT Nijay Gupta

Stephen Motyer’s article on Galatians 3:28 posted online

Rob Bradshaw of BiblicalStudies.org.uk has just posted Motyer’s article online. Head on over to read it online or download it in pdf format. Thanks a lot Rob!!

Stephen Motyer, “The Relationship Between Paul’s Gospel of ‘All One in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28) and the ‘Household Codes.’” Vox Evangelica. 19 (1989): 33-48.

Biblical Studies Carnival 40

James Gregory has posted the latest Biblical Studies Carnival and welcomed me to the biblical blogosphere.

Thanks James! And thanks for another great monthly round up!!

Galatians at SBL 2009

The SBL 2009 preliminary program book for this year’s meeting to be held in New Orleans from November 21 – November 24 has been posted. It is a rich year for presentations related to Galatians. An entire session will be devoted to discussing Hans Dieter Betz’s Commentary on Galatians which was published 30 years ago. Betz’s commentary emphasises Paul’s use of rhetoric, something which is still essential.  Listed below are all of the currently listed Galatians presentations with the session title in bold.

Biblical Criticism and Literary Criticism
Kathy Barrett Dawson, Duke University
“Intertextuality and Mimetic Reversal in Gal 1-2: Pauline Autobiography and the Inclusion of the Gentiles.” (30 min)

Construction of Christian Identities
Sheila Briggs, University of Southern California
“‘No longer Jew or Greek’–Ethnic Identity in Galatians.” (25 min)

Lung Kwong Lo, Divinity School of Chung Chi College, CUHK
“Unity and Diversity of Ethnic Identities in Early Christianity: ‘Neither Jew nor Greek (Gal. 3: 28)’ Revisited.” (25 min)

Corpus Hellenisticum Novi Testamenti
Theme: Hans Dieter Betz’s Commentary on Galatians, 30 Years Later
Troy Martin, Saint Xavier University, Presiding (20 min)
Udo Schnelle, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Panelist (20 min)
Helmut Koester, Harvard University, Panelist (20 min)
Richard Longenecker, Wycliffe College, Panelist (20 min)
Margaret Mitchell, University of Chicago, Panelist (20 min)
Hans Dieter Betz, University of Chicago, Respondent (20 min)

History of Interpretation
Kelly Whitcomb, Vanderbilt University
“Law and Spirit, Law and Grace: A Rhetorical and Socio-Historical Comparison of Sarah and Hagar in Galatians 4:21-5:1 and Ilarion’s Sermon ‘On Law and Grace.’” (25 min)

Intertextuality in the New Testament Consultation
Rodrigo J. Morales, Marquette University
“Israel’s Infancy and the Elements of the Cosmos: Reconfiguring Hosea and Ezekiel in Galatians 4:1–11.” (25 min)

Korean Biblical Colloquium
Hung-Sik Choi, Torch Trinity Graduate School of Theology
“A Reconsideration of the Antithesis between peritome/akrobustia and pistis di agapes evnergoumene in Galatians 5:6.” (30 min)

Papyrology and Early Christian Backgrounds
Jeff Hubing, Northern Seminary
“Redefining the Epistolary Form and Function of Galatians 6:11-17.” (20 min)

Pauline Epistles
Brigitte Kahl, Union Theological Seminary and Brigitte Kahl, Union Theological Seminary
“Jewish Torah, Roman nomos, and the Hazard of Galatian Foreskin: A Critical Re-Imagination.” (25 min)