05_Biblica_1_A_Ferda_Layout 1 30/01/13 13:17 Pagina 566 566 TUCKER S. FERDA Turning now to the logic of Eph 1,13-14, we see, at core, a simple argument that has a premise, presents evidence, and draws a conclu- sion. The evidence is the experience of being sealed (v. 13), and the conclusion is that those sealed are guaranteed “inheritance” and “re- demption” (v. 14). The premise, however, is not stated, and thus the logic of the connection between Spirit-sealing and “inheritance” and “redemption” is not immediately clear. One finds in several of the uncontested Paulines and in Acts a similar argumentum ab experientia (Luther ’s phrase) which seems to assume the same premise 34. (i) Paul says in Galatians, “And because you are sons (o[ti de, evste ui`oi,), God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts which cries out, ‘Abba, Father’! Therefore, no longer are you a slave but a son, and if a son, then also an heir through God” (Gal 4,6-7). The claim is that God gave the Spirit because the Galatians are legitimate sons through Christ, and heirs of Abraham’s promise (cf. 3,22; 3,26, “For all are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus”). The premise of the statement, therefore, is that God’s sons have the Spirit, which allows Paul to argue that the latter (reception of the Spirit) is evi- dence for the former (the Galatians are sons of God). (ii) In the beginning of Paul’s discussion of the law and the promise in Galatians 3, he asks rhetorically, “Did you receive the Spirit evx e;rgwn no,mou or evx avkoh/j pi,stewj;” (3,2). Paul shows why this question is important at the conclusion of his discussion of Abraham’s faith (vv. 6-14): “(Christ became the curse) in order that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, with the result that we might Der Brief an die Epheser, 69; BARTH, Ephesians, 95. The notion is gram- matically possible, as MOULE, Idiom Book, 102, notes that two participles can be used in one sentence with reference to two successive actions. So too, one might expect the hearing then believing succession if the link with other “missionary reports” is judged correct. But the point is not essential to my argument here. Cf. J.D.G. DUNN, Jesus and the Spirit. A Study of the Religious and Charis- 34 matic Experience of Jesus and the First Christians as Reflected in the New Tes- tament (Philadelphia, PA 1975) 260; S. MCKNIGHT, “Covenant and Spirit: The Origins of the New Covenant Hermeneutic”, The Holy Spirit and Christian Ori- gins. Essays in Honor of James D.G. Dunn (eds. G.N. STANTON – B.W. LONGE- NECKER – S.C. BARTON) (Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge 2004) 51. © Gregorian Biblical Press 2012 - Tutti i diritti riservati