Quote:
Originally Posted by bearbear
Are you saying that Paul is intentionally stating Leviticus 19:18 as a shadow of John 13:34 and expecting the reader to make that association? Perhaps he was aware of that...
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Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Paul often referenced the things written in the LAW as 'allusions'. A stylistic device he used to give color to, and to bolster his points. He was not prescribing them. His understanding was that all the things written in the LAW were only a shadow and a copy. A pattern of New Testament realities.
For example, he quoted this law to the Corinthian believers:
He begins by saying, "For it is written in the Law of Moses"
"Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn" (Deuteronomy 25:4).
And then he asked them, 'Doth God take care for oxen?' (1Cor 9:9)
In other words, is this written in the LAW because God is so, so concerned about how you treat your cows? No, of course not. Neither did Paul instruct the believers to rush to their fields to make sure their oxes were muzzled. But Paul appealed to the shadow and type of the LAW to urge and exhort the church in Corinth to support him materially as he preached the gospel.
And so it is with the thorny Galatian verse we're discussing.
"...by love serve one another..." (New Testament exhortation)
"... for the whole law is fulfilled in one word: Love thy neighbor as thyself'..." (Old Testament allusion)
[/QUOTE=bearbear;113224]I think we may be complicating things a little because after all this is a letter and not a doctrinal dissertation. [/QUOTE]
All doctrinal dissertations are based on 'primary sources' such as this letter were you able to get a hold of the original copy.
[/QUOTE=bearbear;113224]Interestingly Paul does the same in Romans 13:1-14 and avoids restating Jesus' words, but focuses on restating the OT commands and again states that Leviticus 19:18 sums up all the law. So this may be a practice of Paul to give milk when he's not confident that "Christ has been fully formed" (Gal 4:19) yet in his audience.[/QUOTE]
I see your point, here. It's possible that's what he is doing in quoting the Old Testament.
[/QUOTE=bearbear;113224]What we're debating about now seems like splitting hairs compared to another kind of over-analyzing that could have eternal consequences.[/QUOTE]
I'm beginning to feel the same way. Paul advised us to steer clear of questions, and contentions, and strivings about the LAW (Titus 3:9).
He said that they were not profitable, and that they were vain. I think we've reached that point. We're basically on the same page and I don't see any forward motion on this question.
Let's heed his advice. Let's put this to bed.
God's blessings