The Law Is Not a Curse

An in-depth study of Galations recovers the ancient worldview and its use of language. Enter the first century world of Israel by "listening to the text" as the earliest Christians would have heard it. Through linguistic analysis you will feel the rhythm and hear frequent repetitions, strange insertions, chiastic structures and startling patterns that lead to depth of meaning. Paul was a Jew who knew the scrolls of the Old Testament intimately, which were the only Holy Writings at the time since the New Testament had not yet been written. You will learn to recognize Paul's allusions to the Hebrew Scriptures as well as perceiving clear citations. Then, since Jews of the first century did not learn from books as we do today but internalized the Holy Writings by memorizing entire passages, you will spend time in the Hebrew Scriptures before returning to the New Testament. You will come to realize how intimately connected the two testaments really are. Paul's midrash occurs in Galatians 3:6-13 with a powerful conclusion in verse 14. If we fail to understand the mechanics of the midrash, our literal reading will fall short of capturing Paul's powerful message, and may even lead to such misinterpretations as "the law is a curse to Israel." A workbook accompanies the book for an additional cost, which is designed for group study. With each chapter you will learn and practice a new skill that leads to depth of understanding the biblical text. Provocative discussion topics penetrate the Hebraic nature of the New Testament, and thoughtful questions stimulate opportunities for life application.