[B-Greek] Gal. 3:2 EX ERGWN NOMOU
Jim West
jwest at highland.net
Fri Oct 20 13:20:24 EDT 2006
david.bielby at vcfbn.org wrote:
> I've been pondering this phrase and would like to know what some of you think about the
> sense of this phrase in Galatians. The whole verse is:
>
> Gal. 3:2 TOUTO MONON QELW MAQEIN AF hUMWN, EX ERGWN NOMOU TO PNEUMA
> ELABETE H EX AKOHS PISTEWS;
>
> I am most persuaded by the view that says EX ERGWN NOMOU is a reference to the
> way of life under the law (Mosaic system)...rather than translating this as 'Observing or Obeying the law'
> or simply as 'the works of the law' or even as 'good works'.
>
> My question is this: What do you think this phrase means in this context and why?
>
Interesting question David. And one full of potentially fascinating
possibilities. So, rather than tell you what Luther thought or another
commentator (since you asked us to say what we think) here's my go at it:
Paul is asking the Galatians, who have recently been plunged into a
controversy over the value and purpose of the Torah of Moses, whether it
was by means of that Law that they received the Spirit or by faithful
hearing (of the Gospel he proclaimed). It's as if he were saying- "So,
Galatians, tell me, did you come to Christ and thereby receive the
Spirit because you were so good at keeping the law; or because you heard
the Gospel and responded positively?"
In this scenario the phrase in question simply means "by keeping the
law" or perhaps "by being a performer of the law".
That's my reading.
HTH
Jim
--
Jim West, ThD
http://web.infoave.net/~jwest -- Biblical Studies Resources
http://drjimwest.wordpress.com -- Weblog
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