Lexington Books / Fortress Academic
Pages: 410
Trim: 6⅜ x 9½
978-1-9787-0975-1 • Hardback • September 2020 • $125.00 • (£96.00)
978-1-9787-0976-8 • eBook • September 2020 • $50.00 • (£38.00)
Jeremy Wade Barrier is associate professor of biblical literature at Heritage Christian University.
Prologue
1. Introduction
Part One: Paul’s Perspective on Medicine and Physiology in Galatians
2. Pneuma in Ancient Physiology
3. Pathophysiology in Galatia
Part Two: Cultural Systems for Paul and Galatia
4. Evil Eye in a Cultural-anthropological Context
5. The Evil Eye and Fascinum in Galatians
Part Three: Taking Pneuma from Physiology to Theology
6. Physiological Pneuma and the Doctrine of the Trinity: From Paul to Augustine
7. Physiological Pneuma in the Apocryphon of John
8. Conclusion, Possible Implications, and Further Inquiries
In his well-written and provocative book Jeremy Wade Barrier provides a fresh reading of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, concentrating on intercultural differences between Paul and his addressees rather than theological discourse about “works of the law” versus “justification by faith”. The focus on the cultural background of the Galatians challenges usual interpretations of the letter as a reaction to Paul’s Jewish-Christian opponents. Barrier argues that Paul is criticizing his addressees for integrating circumcision in their pagan view of apotropaic rituals and is offering baptism as the appropriate and effective alternative ritual. Moreover, the emphasis on sorcery and the “Evil Eye” sharpens the view of the religious and cultural context presupposed in the letter. Future interpretation will have to look more carefully on the discourse behind the letter, particularly on the meaning of the verb “bewitch” in Galatians 3:1.
— Jens Schröter, Humboldt University Berlin