Toto

What does the word "bewitched" imply? Are their witches invoked here? Minor malevolent deities of some sort?

I recall reading this passage in an article on Hebrew polytheism, but I have lost the reference.

Clivedurdle

Galatians - Gauls - Celts - Druids - witches. QED

Clouseau

Not witches specifically; it's just the English translation that could imply that, but the sense is to go from speaking well about someone to deceiving them, and thence to magical arts; 'charming' might be a better word, with the right connotations, though it is less strong. The GNB does it the best, imv, with 'Who put a spell on you?' which emphasises that Paul is trying to give the Galatians the impression that they are not in their right minds, without implying witchcraft specifically.

Clouseau

What's known as a stretch!

Steven Carr

I see.

So a claim that the Romans had crucified a person was an amazing claim which needed to be proved with pictorial language, even theatrical techniques, as otherwise people would scoff at the very idea that the Romans ever crucified people.

Why then do historicists say that the crucifixion of Jesus is not an extraordinary claim and can be accepted on the word of Tacitus, who wrote a 100 years later, and may have been just repeating what Christians of the time were telling him?

After all, apparently even the Bible tells us that the fact that Jesus was crucified is not something that should be accepted by 'plain, sober argument'. It needs pictorial techniques and theatrical language.

Perhaps though, Paul simply didn't have any 'plain, sober arguments', such as the plain, sober argument that nobody disputed that Jesus had been crucified, in much the same way that nobody disputes that JFK was killed.

Steven Carr

So Paul thinks the crucifixion should be accepted on theological grounds, as mere belief with the 'mind' of the crucifixion on historical grounds is not enough?

So perhaps the crucifixion was invented on theological grounds?

Clivedurdle

Actually, a completely serious post - check any concordance - Paul is referring to the Galatians returning to their old gods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galatia

Clivedurdle

Just trying to work out if Celts practised circumcision, cannot see anything conclusive, but what is interesting is Paul's attitude in Galatians and how in Acts it says Paul circumcised Timothy.

gurugeorge

I thought he was talking against Jewish Christians who'd come sneaking around to the Galatians to convert them to a more Jewish form of Christianity after Paul had been round the first time? In which case he's talking about his more universal brand of "being crucified with Christ" is redemption versus the "observance of Jewish law is redemption" brand of Christianity.

Or maybe I'm thinking of a different letter.

Clivedurdle

I note the OP does not finish with the bit about calendars...