Pilgrimage as singing and walking in the way of the law of Christ : interpreting 'dying to the law' in Gal. 2:19

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although being a key statement in dealing with the controversy over the law and faith, Paul's declaration about 'dying to the law, living by faith' in Gal. 2:19-20 has not been properlyinterpreted within the literary, social-historical context nor in relation to the before-mentionedcontroversy. In this study, Gal. 2:19-20 was re-interpreted as part of Paul's autobiographicalnarrative, considering the social-historical context, i.e. the first century Jewish pilgrimage.Based on the antithetical structure between the present worldly empire and the empire of God which runs through the whole letter of Galatians, it was shown that Jesus' followers in those days were under social pressure to submit to the order of the present worldly empire, i.e. first century Judaism with the Jerusalem Temple at its centre. Some of the Jesus' followers (including Peter) gave in to this social pressure, and this led to the crisis in Galatia. Against this background, the researcher argued that the letter to the Galatians should be read from the perspective of an orthodox monotheistic Jew with a new awakening that God's forgiveness and acceptance is now mediated by Jesus Christ, not by the Jerusalem Temple and its priests. It was shown that the whole letter to the Galatians, especially Paul's autobiographical narrative, is orbiting around the controversy over the Jerusalem Temple and Jesus Christ as the new temple.With this context, the research argued that the letter to the Galatians can be better understood with the motif of pilgrimage, which was one of the most important rituals of the existing world order, i.e. first century Judaism. Based on the researcher's definition ofpilgrimage, 'journey to the centre', 'journey to the past' and 'journey to the presence of God',the first century Jewish pilgrimage was re-examined in this study, and then Galatians wasreread from the pilgrimage perspective: Clarifying that the present Jerusalem was not themother-city (pilgrimage centre) of Jesus' followers, and that the law of first century Judaismshould not be identified with the law of God, Paul urges the Galatian believers who weredelivered from the present evil empire, to make a pilgrimage to the presence of God in theheavenly Jerusalem, following the examples of the pilgrims who preceded them: Abraham,Paul himself and most signifiantly, Jesus Christ.Paul's personal confession, 'dying to the law, living by faith' was also re-interpreted withinthis context. Paul's dying to the law was understood as his departure from the external worship and life according to the law of first century Judaism. However, 'dying to the law' must be understood in relation to the other side of the coin, 'living by faith'. Paul's presentlife which is characterized by 'being crucified with Christ', 'life led by Christ' and 'living by faith in Christ' was, in fact, Paul's pilgrimage, singing the way of Christ, walking in the law of Christ.Following Christ who made the journey from the highest place to the lowest of the cross to offer his body in order that sinners may be forgiven and restored as the people of God, Paul is making his pilgrimage, which is characterized by persecution and crucifixion, in order to lead the Gentile sinners to the presence of God. Gal. 2:19-20 is Paul's song to invite the Galatian believers, and ultimately all believers, to participate in the pilgrimage of Christ, which leads us to the lowest place of the cross, and eventually to the presence of God.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University