2002 Reviews and Articles

Review of The Irony of Galatians: Paul's Letter in First-Century Context, by Mark D. Nanos

Kahl, Brigitte W.

Mark Nanos's socio-rhetorical study opens up new horizons for reading Galatians. Challenging the traditional pattern of interpretation, his questions concerning the concrete historical location of the letter go far beyond the standard introductory remarks about "South" or "North" Galatia. Not only the Jewish, but also, most importantly, the civic and imperial contexts of the letter are seriously examined. The implications of this approach are far reaching, both with regard to the "Jewishness" of Paul's gospel and for understanding the ramifications of his message within the political framework of the Roman empire.