Gal. 3:28

Eric Weiss eweiss at gte.net
Sat Aug 15 00:58:31 EDT 1998


I didn't know about the other 9 LXX usages of ARSEN KAI QHLU - I'll have
to check it out. I always thought the switch to KAI was because it was
an obvious reference to Gen. 1:27. One of Paul's dominant themes in
Galatians is the "new creation" - see 6:15 where his
circumcision/uncircumcision would probably mean the same as the
"Jew/Greek" in 3:28. THE crowning achievement of God's creation in
Genesis 1 is the creation of mankind in God's image (EIKWN), as ARSEN
KAI QHLU. To underscore the fact of this "new creation" - in which the
EIKWN of God is now said to be Christ (II Corinthians 4:4) - Paul says
that in this "new creation" even the most fundamental aspect of the old
creation has been superseded by an even truer image of God, that is,
Christ - the new so supersedes the old that in Christ there is no more
ARSEN KAI QHLU. He seems to do all that he can to convince his readers
that a return to any form of the old creation/covenant way of relating
to God is wrong and foolish, and hence he does all he can to show that
in Christ all is new.

--
"Eric S. Weiss"
http://home1.gte.net/eweiss/index.htm
eweiss at gte.net
S.D.G.





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