《加拉太书》的文化与神学之争

The Debate in Galatians on Culture and Theology

杨克勤(Yeo Khiok-khng)

《基督教文化學刊》 18期 (2007/12) Pp. 43-62

並列摘要

The purpose of this article is to understand the controversy of the identity symbol of the people of God in the debate between Paul and the intruders in the Letter to the Galatians. The debate concerns the relationship between theology and culture. Paul's understanding of culture is theological. His genius is in not differentiating faith from culture, theology from religion. In both the meaning-creating worldview and in the identity symbol of a people, theology and culture are intertwined. Paul's genius lies in his sensitivity to cultural and religious behaviors that marginalize others and bring them into bondage. In the case of Galatia, Paul views ＂works of the law＂ as nomistic services, ones that define Jewish identity culturally and religiously before the coming of Christ. But this conventional nomism characterizes Jewish cultural and religious identity and is exclusive of Gentiles; therefore when imposed upon Gentile believers the ＂works of the law＂ also define them to be Jewish culturally and religiously. Paul's opponents are not able to differentiate the cultural and religious dimensions of nomistic services. But Paul is able to discern the ＂works of the law＂ in light of the Christ event (especially the Cross), based on whether a behavior contributes towards the freedom or salvation of a community. The truth of the gospel as Paul sees it is able to avoid cultural imperialism. He knows theologically that in the age of the Messiah the ＂works of the law＂ can not serve as the identity symbol for Jewish and Gentile Christians-only Christ can. By contrast, the problem with Peter's hypocritical behavior lies in the theological ambiguity of trying to syncretize the ＂works of the law＂ with ＂faith in Jesus Christ＂ as the symbol for both Jewish and Gentile-Christian identity. From Paul's point of view the basic theological issue between his opponents and himself is ＂Christ or the law＂, not ＂faith or works＂. The basic issue is how to conceive of Gentile Christians as the people of God, as children of Abraham and part of the commonwealth of Israel and yet be Gentiles.