Rainer Reuter, «'Those of the Circumcision' (Gal 2:12) Meaning, Reference and Origin» filologia-neotestamentaria, Vol. 22 (2009) 149-160 page 159

Vol 22 (2009)

Rainer Reuter, «'Those of the Circumcision' (Gal 2:12) Meaning, Reference and Origin», Vol. 22 (2009) 149-160

According to a certain lexicographical consensus the phrase oi ek peritomes is interpreted either as meaning Jewish Christians or simply Jews. A closer observation of the verses shows that in all cases oi ek peritomes means 'circumcised people,' 'Jews'. When New Testament authors refer to Christian Jews it is always indicated by special reference markers in the context. The same is the case in Gal 2:12. While the meaning of oi ek peritomes is Jews, the reference demanded by the context are James-people as Christian Jews. Moreover, Paul used this particular phrase because of its special semantic extension. In the Pauline corpus constructions with oi ek … either mean the social or ethnic origins of a person or a basic theological orientation. The latter meaning fits best in Gal 2:12 because the following context shows a strong contrast between oi ek pisteos and osoi ... ex ergon nomou and its synonym oi ek peritomes. Therefore oi ek peritomes in Gal 2:12 means Jews, refers to the James-people and characterises them as zealous observers of Torah.

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“Those of the Circumcision” (Gal 2:12) 159 pseudo-Pauline writing at least stands in the tradition of Pauline litera- ture.55 For Acts a connection to Pauline literature is also most probable.56 The fact that this redactional Pauline phrase οἱ ἐκ περιτομῆς is found in Act 11,2 and also in variation in Act 10,45 may be an additional hint for this literary relationship between Luke and Paul. Rainer REUTER Sonderbach 6a 33142 Bueren GERMANY rainerghreuter@mac.com 55 Cf. the synoptic overview in R. Reuter, Synopse zu den Briefen des Neuen Testa- ments. Teil II: Die Pastoralbriefe (ARGU 6, Frankfurt/M. / Berlin / Bern / New York / Paris / Wien 1998) 11-433 and the history of research depicted in R. Reuter, Textvergleichende und synoptische Arbeit 93-95.124-127. 56 Cf. H. Leppä, Lukes’s Critical use of Galatians (Diss. Helsinki 2002)183-184 and especially with regard to Act 10,45; 11,2 and Gal 2,12 Leppä, Lukes’s Critical use 37-39.