Title

I Am Astonished That You Are So Quickly Turning Away! (Gal 1:6): Paul and Anatolian Folk Belief

School/Department

Talbot School of Theology

Publication Date

7-2005

Abstract

This article explores dimensions of the pre-Christian religious beliefs of Paul's converts in Galatia to gain a better understanding of the contextual setting of his letter. The research draws on a corpus of inscriptions that have come to be known as the 'Lydian-Phrygian confessional inscriptions', as well as inscriptions from the cult of Hosios and Dikaios ('Holy' and 'Just'). The author concludes that the obligation to fulfill cultic requirements and perform good works to maintain a favorable standing with the local deities in their pre-Christian religious experience would have made the Galatian Christians susceptible to the message of Paul's opponents

Keywords

Lydian-Phrygian confessional inscriptions

Publication Title

New Testament Studies; Cambridge

Volume

51

Issue

3

First Page

429

Last Page

449

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