"Do You Not Hear the Law?": Paul and the Gentile Problem

Deep Dive into "Do You Not Hear the Law?": Paul and the Gentile Problem by Matthew ThiessenMatthew Thiessen’s chapter challenges the common interpretation that Paul’s reading of Genesis in Galatians 4:21-31 is a critique of Judaism or the Jewish law. Instead, Thiessen argues that Paul is specifically addressing the issue of Gentile judaizing, responding to missionaries who taught that Gentiles must undergo circumcision to become sons of Abraham and inherit God's promises.To counter this teaching, Paul directs his readers to the story of Ishmael and Isaac. While modern scholars often accuse Paul of an unnatural, allegorical misinterpretation of Genesis 17, Thiessen demonstrates that Paul's reading is actually grounded in a careful understanding of the text. Genesis 17 and the book of Jubilees both emphasize that covenantal circumcision must occur precisely on the eighth day after birth. Although Ishmael was circumcised, he underwent the rite at age thirteen and was ultimately excluded from the covenant, proving that not all circumcisions hold covenantal value.Paul uses this narrative to show that if adult Gentile believers undergo circumcision, they parallel Ishmael rather than Isaac. Because they are not circumcised on the eighth day, they inherently fail to keep the whole law of circumcision at the very moment they undergo the procedure. Consequently, they become modern-day Ishmaels, born of human effort rather than divine promise, and are destined for slavery and exclusion rather than freedom and inheritance.Ultimately, Paul’s allegory of Hagar and Sarah represents two competing Gentile missions. Paul does not reject Judaism or the continuing significance of the law for Jews, but he vehemently attacks the misapplication of the Jewish law to Gentiles, insisting that circumcision offers them no covenantal benefit.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730