Tool Beta
The Ancient World Behind the Text
Pick a passage anywhere in the New Testament. See the customs and ideas a first reader knew without being told.
Galatians 3:1-14, Who bewitched you? Abraham's blessing and the law's curse
Paul asks the Galatians who has bewitched them, since they received the Spirit by believing, then argues from Abraham that those who believe share his blessing, while Christ took the law's curse by being hung on a tree.
Galatians 3:1-14, in every translation this tool compares.
Paul asks the Galatians who has put them under a spell, since they saw Christ's crucifixion portrayed so plainly. They received the Spirit by believing the message, not by keeping the law, so why turn to the flesh now? Abraham was counted righteous for trusting God, which makes believers his true children and heirs of the promise that all nations would be blessed through him. The law brings a curse on those who rely on it, but Christ took that curse on himself by being hung on a tree, so that Abraham's blessing could reach the Gentiles.
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-ideas\/magic-and-sorcery\/","n":"Magic and sorcery","s":"Spells, charms and incantations were sold and used across the ancient world, by Jews as well as pagans, and many feared the evil eye. People told a sorcerer, who worked in secret and for pay, from a holy man who acted openly.","r":""}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-ideas\/spirit-of-prophecy\/","n":"The Spirit of prophecy","s":"Jews of Jesus' day linked God's Spirit above all with prophecy. Many believed the prophets had fallen silent long ago, and they looked for the day God would pour out his Spirit again.","r":""}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-ideas\/children-of-abraham\/","n":"Children of Abraham","s":"Jews called Abraham our father, and many believed that being his descendants all but guaranteed a place among God's saved people. The Gospels and Paul argue over who his true children are.","r":""}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-ideas\/curse-and-blessing\/","n":"Curse and blessing","s":"God's covenant set blessings for keeping it against curses for breaking it, and Deuteronomy spelled both out. Curses were also a familiar part of ancient religion, magic and everyday life.","r":""}
- {"u":"https:\/\/jayms.com\/bible-study-tools-2\/ancient-world-ideas\/crucifixion\/","n":"Crucifixion","s":"Rome's public, shaming death for rebels, after flogging, with the charge posted for passers-by to read.","r":""}
The word for bewitched refers to spells or the evil eye, "a jealous look with magical efficacy" (Keener); the ESV Study Bible says Paul borrows the language of pagan magic, and Wright sets the evil eye against Christ shown before their very eyes, while the Zondervan dictionary reads the word as a strong metaphor. Many Jewish sources tied the Spirit to merit, yet the Galatians had received it soon after leaving paganism (Keener). The rival teachers wanted the Galatians to complete their faith as full converts to Judaism did, by circumcision (Keener and his notes). Genesis 15:6 was a popular Jewish proof text for Abraham's faith as one of his works, and Jewish teachers saw Abraham as the model convert, though Genesis counts him righteous years before his circumcision (Keener and his notes). Paul links texts by shared key words, a standard Jewish method, and has chosen the only two Old Testament texts that join righteousness and faith, Genesis 15:6 and Habakkuk 2:4 (Keener and his notes). Heiser reads the good news announced to Abraham as delivered to him in person by the visible Word.
- Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, introductions to Galatians 3:1-5 and 3:6-14, and on Galatians 3:1, 3:2, 3:3, 3:6 and 3:8-9
- NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, notes on Galatians 3:1, 3:3, 3:6 and 3:8
- ESV Study Bible, study note on Galatians 3:1
- N. T. Wright, Galatians, Commentary, The Spirit and Faith (3:1-5)
- Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm, ch. 16, Abraham's Word
- J. D. Douglas and Merrill C. Tenney, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, entry bewitch
