Brigitte Kahl

Brigitte Kahl a New Testament scholar with an extensive knowledge of Roman History and Antiquity offers us a fresh and rigorous perspective on the the Apostle Paul and his mission to the Gentile Galations. She uses the backdrop of the Great Altar of Pergamon depicting the defeat of the barbarian Gauls by the gods. The overarching power of Rome and its emperor is a constant theme and this power must be celebrated as a civic duty which poses a challenge to Paul’s message. Circumcision is not required for the Galation converts. But this and the caution against participating in the civic relgion of the State goes against the compromise the State has set up with the Jewish community and also posed a dilemma for Peter and the Jerusalem community. The Gauls as members of the new Jesus movment are thrust outside this perimeter of civic safety by their alligence to Jesus and the monotheism that Paul preaches. Paul considers the role of the Roman State as idolatrous and misleading. Rome would prefer to see the Gauls towing the party line and fighting amonst themselves instead of posing a threat to Rome and the emperor. We thus see Paul in a new light, faithful to the Torah’s monotheism but going beyond to encourage solidarity in the messianic movement of Jesus that is lifted above the secular religion of the State. This critical re-examination of Paul is to be welcomed as a part of new thinking by new theological voices.… (mais)