The Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls: The ... - josephprestonkirk

JAMES D. G. DUNN AND JAMES H. CHARLESWORTH 199
Remember David, who was a man of mercies, [and] also he was [s]aved
from many troubles, and he was pardoned. And also we have written to
you some of the works of the Torah according to our decision, for the good of
you and your people. For we have s[e]en in you prudence and knowledge
of the Torah. Consider all these (things) and seek of him that he make
straight your counsel, and that he remove from you evil thoughts and the
counsel of Belial so that you may rejoice in the latter time, when you will
find that some of our pronouncements are true. And that it might be
accounted to you as righteousness, when you do what is pleasing and good
before him for your good and for Israel. (4Q398 frags. 14–17, 2.1–8) 50
As Dunn illustrates, 4QMMT provides an essential theological background
for comprehending Paul’s argument and interlocutors according
to Galatians. It helps us understand the language he has chosen, especially
“works of the Law.” Recall again Paul’s major point in Galatians:
We who are Jews by birth and not sinners from the Gentiles, know that a
person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ.
We have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ,
and not by works of the Law, because by works of the Law no one 51 shall be
justified. (Gal 2:15–16, my translation and emphases)
The redundancy—three times the term “works of the Law” appears in
only one verse (2:16)—and the fact that each time the expression appears
without the article (the anarthrous form e1rgwn no/mou) indicates that
Paul is focusing on this term and that the expression was not well-known
to his Gentile readers. 52 In Gal 3:2 Paul again employs the phrase, and
again it is without the article:
O stupid 53 Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus
Christ was placarded as 54 crucified? Only this do I wish to learn from you:
Did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are
you ignorant? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the
flesh? (Gal 3:1–3) 55
50. Underlining is mine. For text and translation, see Elisha Qimron et al., “Some
Works of Torah,” in Damascus Document Fragments, Some Works of Torah, and Related
Documents (PTSDSSP 3), 187–254.
51. Literally, “not all flesh,” or “no one of the flesh.”
52. For example, note that since Zerah and Tamar are well-known to Matthew’s
readers, he refers to them as kai\ to_n Za&ra e0k th~j Qama&r (Matt 1:3).
53. Or “foolish,” “ignorant.” Note, however, that Paul is aggressive and is not trying
to be tactful.
54. Or “publicly portrayed as.”
55. Translation mine, similar to the RSV.