Analyzing Paul's use of Midrash in Galatians 3:6-9, focusing on how Paul argues that Gentiles are justified by faith, not circumcision. We detail Paul's argumentative structure, highlighting his use of analogical midrash by comparing Genesis 15:6 and Genesis 12:3 to demonstrate the inclusion of Gentiles in God's covenant through faith, making them spiritual descendants of Abraham.

Introduction

In this series, we look at three important questions that arise when reading Galatians:

1. How do Gentiles enter the covenantal relationship with YHWH if not through physical circumcision?
2. What is the sign—if not physical circumcision—that God had accepted Gentiles into a covenant relationship with Him?
3. How do Gentiles believers (Messianic Gentiles) walk in a righteous way?

In Galatians 3:6-9, we see Paul draw a Midrash Halakha (legal midrash) to emphasise that circumcision in the flesh for Gentiles was not required by God to justify them. Paul is in urgency to write to the churches in Galatia and counter those Messianic Jews who were brought in to compel the Gentiles to get circumcised, if not a full conversion to Judaism. Thereby, they—the newly converted Proselytes—would now have to obey the whole Torah including the oral traditions. Something (oral traditions of men) that Yeshua Messiah was opposed if put above God's own commandments.

Statement & Conclusion

We see Paul making a series of statements and conclusions. Let's have a look.

Statement 1

Sha'ul is citing the Tanakh here. Specifically, Genesis 15:6. Immediately followed by a conclusion.

Conclusion 1

We can fairly certainly conclude that "Those of faith" is referring to (Messianic) Gentiles. However, it can also be applied to Messianic Jews, although those would have been circumcised in the flesh on the 8th day. And Jews generally are the physical descendants of Abraham, i.e. children of Abraham. Paul might hint to the fact that not all Jews were Messianic Jews in his days. Non-Messianic Jews would still be children of Abraham, but not of faith in Messiah. Paul is drawing a razor sharp line in the sand here. Not only calling out Non-Messianic Jews and Gentiles alike, it seems.

Statement 2

Conclusion 2

Scripture foreseeing...

The most startling passage in here is "the Scripture, foreseeing". Nowhere in the Tanakh can we cite that God would justify the Gentiles by faith. Where is Paul getting this from?

Dr Anne Davis ^[1] concludes that Paul must be using an Analogical Approach to Midrash.

Analogical Midrash

An analogical midrash takes 2 citations from Scripture which are legally and conceptually similar. This is a common methodology in the Talmud^[2] and we can assume that even in the first century Paul—maybe even Yeshua and the apostles—could have been familiar with this practice. If not, it would seem as if Paul was yet again pioneering in this.

3 Steps to Analogical Midrash

1. Identify two verses from Scripture which are legally and conceptually similar
2. The subject of the first verse is applied to the second verse in reciprocal analogy
3. Drawing a deduction from reciprocal analogy, i.e. form a conclusion to uncover a hidden meaning of Scripture.

In this passage in Galatians, we see that Paul is doing just that. His conclusion—as opposed to our Western methods—comes in the middle of the argument, not at the end. This is typical Hebraic methodology we must get used to in order to fully grasp the concepts that are unveiled before our eyes.

The two passages which Paul cites ^[3] have the same subject (Abram). Let us dissect.

• Abram had faith in God's promise (before he was circumcised)
• God's promise was to bless Abraham and Sarah with a son not yet born
• Likewise, the Gentiles who have faith in God's promise (His Son) will be blessed with the Holy Spirit

This is the reciprocity between the two passages, between Abraham and Gentiles.

Messianic Gentiles becoming Abraham's Seed—not physically like ethnic Jews, but by faith.

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Footnotes