05_Biblica_1_A_Ferda_Layout 1 30/01/13 13:17 Pagina 570 570 TUCKER S. FERDA 4,1), Paul says that “(Abraham) received a sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith which was in uncircumcision” (sfragi/da th/j dikaiosu,nhj th/j pi,stewj th/j evn th/| avkrobusti,a|, 4,11). It is probable that Paul picks up a common idiom when call- ing circumcision a “seal” 43. After all, Paul’s objective in Rom 4 is to take a common interpretation of Abraham and subvert it, and we know that the description of Abraham as one “justified by works” was prevalent 44. As Paul’s exegetical treatment of Abraham is best understood in light of a presupposed anti-type, it would be fitting if “seal” was connected to circumcision and hence the Abrahamic portrait Paul here attempts to rework. In addition, that Paul has precedent from the scriptures to call circumcision a “sign” (cf. Gen 17,11) shows that he is not inventing his own terminology, and it would be consistent if he also had precedent from Jewish tradition to call circumcision a “seal” in the very same sentence. There are several other sources which call circumcision a seal and they likely preserve this early tradition. In the Epistle of Barn- abas 45, the author anticipates an objection from an imaginary Jewish interlocutor: “But you will say, ‘Surely the people were circumcised as a seal!’” (kai. mh.n perite,tmhtai o` lao.j eivj sfragi/da, 9.6) 46. The potential objection provided by the author of Barnabas presupposes that the use of “seal” for circumcision was common parlance. It is also noteworthy that Barnabas parallels Romans in discussing cir- cumcision-as-seal in the larger context of a debate about covenant identity markers. The use of “seal” for circumcision also appears in the Targums. In Targum Canticles 3.8, the interpreter claims “every one of them So FITZER, “sfragi,j, sfragi,zw, katasfragi,zw”, TDNT VII, 946-50; 43 BEASLEY-MURRAY, Baptism in the New Testament, 175 (“possible”); HUGEDE, L’Épître aux Éphésiens, 42-43, n. 128 (“probable”); DUNN, Romans 1-8, 209; AUNE, Revelation 6-16, 459. Cf. Sir 44,20a; Jub. 16.28; 24.11; 2 Bar. 57.1-2; CD III, 2; 1 Macc 2,52; 44 Jas 2,21. See U. LUZ, Das Geschichtsverständnis des Paulus (Munich 1968) 177-180; F. HAHN, “Genesis 15,6 im Neuen Testament”, Probleme biblischer Theologie. Festschrift für G. von Rad (ed. H.W. WOLFF) (Munich 1971) 94-97. M.W. HOLMES, The Apostolic Fathers, 373, claims the parameters are 45 after 70 CE but before 134 CE. For arguments that date Barnabas as early as the time of Vespasian, see J.B. LIGHTFOOT, Apostolic Fathers (ed. J.R. HARMER) (Grand Rapids, MI 1956) 134-135; J.A.T. ROBINSON, Redating the New Testament (Philadelphia, PA 1976) 313-319. Translated by HOLMES, The Apostolic Fathers, 409. 46 © Gregorian Biblical Press 2012 - Tutti i diritti riservati