Benefaction in Galatians

Description

Paul's use of χάρις in his letter to the Galatians provides a gateway to understanding the letter within the broader cultural framework of civic benefaction. In this book, David Wyman examines literary and documentary sources to reconstruct a Hellenistic cultural encyclopedia of gift-giving and civic benefaction within which to situate Paul's letter to the Galatians. This perspective illuminates numerous words, phrases, themes, and relational dynamics within the letter. Paul inherits and uses aspects of benefaction in a way that conforms to his cultural context yet reveals his own individuality. Cover Title Preface Table of Contents List of Abbreviations Editorial Signs for Papyri and Inscriptions Chapter 1: Benefaction in the Study of Galatians 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Thesis 1.3 Survey of Post-1980 Research on Benefaction in Galatians 1.3.1 Benefaction Studies and New Testament Studies 1.3.2 Frederick W. Danker 1.3.3 James R. Harrison 1.3.4 John Barclay 1.3.5 David A. deSilva 1.3.6 Ferdinand Okorie 1.4 The Course of the Argument Chapter 2: Benefaction – Gratitude and Decisions 2.1 Gratitude 2.2 The Calculus of Giving, Receiving, and Thanking 2.2.1 Calculus of Giving 2.2.2 Calculus of Receiving or Rejecting 2.2.3 Calculus of Gratitude 2.2.4 Cultural Misunderstanding 2.3 Gift as Bait Chapter 3: Benefaction – Select Motifs 3.1 Benefits and Patterns of Benefaction 3.1.1 Civic Freedom 3.1.2 Promise 3.1.3 Starting and Completing 3.1.4 Word-Deed Congruence 3.1.5 Benefits to the Worthy and Unworthy 3.1.6 Generosity and Abundance 3.1.7 Time 3.2 Relational Dynamics of Benefactors and Recipients 3.2.1 Ingratitude 3.2.2 Fidelity and Disloyalty 3.2.3 Kinship Language 3.3 Memory, Imitation, and Survival 3.3.1 Memory 3.3.2 Imitation 3.3.3 Community Survival Chapter 4: Endangered Benefaction 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Danger and the Gods 4.3 Self-Endangerment in the Greco-Roman World 4.4 Benefactors Facing Dangers and Serving in Crises 4.4.1 Diplomacy 4.4.2 Ousting Garrisons 4.4.3 Defending City and Country 4.4.4 Disease 4.4.5 Famine and Food Supply 4.4.6 Financial Trouble or Debt 4.5 Summary Chapter 5: Endangered Benefaction in 1 Maccabees and Josephus’s Life 5.1 1 Maccabees and the Family of Endangered Benefactors 5.1.1 Judas 5.1.2 Eleazar 5.1.3 Jonathan 5.1.4 Simon and All the Sons of Mattathias 5.2 Josephus and His Life 5.3 Conclusion Chapter 6: Convergence of Motifs 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Infidelity and Risk 6.3 Fidelity and Risk 6.4 Endangered Benefaction at Daulis 6.5 Conclusion Chapter 7: Endangered Benefaction in Galatians 7.1 The Galatians as Endangered Recipients 7.1.1 “The present age of evil” (Gal 1:4) 7.1.2 “The elements of the world” (Gal 4:3, 8–9) 7.1.3 Mandatory Gentile Circumcision 7.1.4 Conclusion 7.2 The Generosity of God’s Messiah: Christ the Endangered Benefactor 7.2.1 Christ the Endangered Benefactor, Text 1 (Gal 1:4) 7.2.2 Christ the Endangered Benefactor, Text 2 (Gal 2:20) 7.2.3 Christ the Endangered Benefactor, Text 3 (Gal 3:13) Chapter 8: Civic Freedom and “The Law of Christ” 8.1 Freedom as Manumission? 8.2 Freedom as Civic Freedom 8.3 Civic Freedom and “The Law of Christ” 8.3.1 Torah, Pneuma, and Freedom 8.3.2 Civic Virtue Among Christ-Devotees 8.3.3 “The Law of Christ” Chapter 9: Other Aspects of Benefaction in Galatians 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Benefaction and Belonging: God’s Promise and Paul’s Kinship Diplomacy 9.2.1 Adoption 9.2.2 Scope and Nature of the Inheritance 9.2.3 The “Seed of Abraham” 9.2.4 Spirit and Trust/Fidelity 9.3 Kephas and the Fearful 9.4 Galatians 3:1–5 9.4.1 God the Supplier 9.4.2 Starting and Completing 9.5 Gratitude, Ingratitude, and Decisions 9.6 Benefits to the Worthy and Unworthy 9.7 Time 9.8 Fidelity and Imitation 9.9 Conclusion Chapter 10: Conclusion 10.1 Summary of Chapters 10.2 Significance of This Study Bibliography Index of References Index of Modern Authors Index of Subjects