Community-Identity Construction in Galatians: Exegetical, Social-Anthropological and Socio-Historical Studies (Library Of New Testament Studies)

The issue of community-identity construction in Galatians is considered using two methods: first, by applying anthropological theories to the mechanism and natures of community-identity and its construction, and second, by comparing the Galatian community with another minority religious community. Asano argues that Paul's effort at identity construction is partially conditioned by his self-awareness as an autonomous apostle and by the external pressures of the significant groups elsewhere. Paul's conflict, depicted in Galatians 2 and projected upon the Galatian situation, is understood as a conflict between the ethno-centred and the 'instrumental mode' of community constructions, the latter of which is free from the constraints of core ethnic sentiment. Galatians 4.21-31 is identified as a conceptual framework (or 're-created worldview') for the community members to be assured of their authentic existence under marginalizing pressure. This re-created worldview is ritually acted out in baptism with the egalitarian motif (Galatians 3.28) to help internalize the authentic identity. Finally, Paul's letter is suggested to have functioned as a physical locus of community-identity. Thus the autographic marker (Galatians 6.11) directs the attention of the audience not only to the conceptual content but to the presence of the founding apostle that the letter replaces.