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

200 SOME WORKS OF TORAH AND PAUL’S GALATIANS
Perhaps this evidence suggests that Paul’s readers did not know about the
disputes within Judaism, even though those “who are Jews by birth” might
have known the traditions that now appear in Some Works of Torah.
Paul carefully chose the verb tenses in Gal 3:1–3 to make his point.
He asks the Galatians whether they received (in a completed sense) 56 the
Spirit by works of the Law or by hearing (or obedience) of faith. Since
the Galatians started (fully in a complete sense) 57 with the Spirit, which
is not debatable, Paul wants to know if they now are to degenerate in finishing
(in a continuous and incomplete sense) 58 by endeavoring to fulfill
in the flesh the works of the Law.
What concerns the author(s) of 4QMMT is also what Paul is focusing
on in Galatians: the means of salvation. The author(s) of this Qumran
document is (are) interested in virtue, righteousness, and the welfare of
those who receive the document and also “the welfare of Israel.” The
author(s) exhorts his reader(s): “Remem]ber the kings of Israe[l] and pay
heed to their works: those among them who feared [the To]rah were
saved (lwcm) from troubles, and they were see[k]ers of Torah, [forgiv]en
of (their) sins. Remember David who was a man of mercies, [and] also he
was [s]aved (lc[n]) from many troubles, and was pardoned” (Composite
Text, lines 23–26). 59 The Hebrew verb lcn can mean “deliver” or “save.”
As Hermann Lichtenberger states, MMT “makes plain the link between
fulfillment of the Torah and salvation.” 60
It is certainly obvious that 4QMMT is fundamental for perceiving
Paul’s anger and point in Galatians, but it is also wise to avoid sensational
claims. This document, 4QMMT, does not provide “the smoking gun”
that explains Galatians. 61 The issue is more complex than that metaphor
assumes, and there is no reason to posit a “direct” link between 4QMMT
and Galatians. As M. Abegg concludes in a recent publication:
56. The verb is a culminative aorist that denotes completed action. Abegg clarifies
Paul’s meaning: “To paraphrase: if you were saved by the Spirit why are you now
continuing by your own effort?” See Abegg, “4QMMT,” 215.
57. The verb is an aorist participle, denoting perfected action.
58. The verb is an indicative and present middle, indicating progressive action.
59. Qimron et al., “Some Works of Torah” (PTSDSSP 3), 249.
60. Hermann Lichtenberger, “The Understanding of the Torah in the Judaism of
Paul’s Day: A Sketch,” in Paul and the Mosaic Law (ed. J. D. G. Dunn; Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 2001), 16.
61. In an early and very popular article, Abegg (“Paul,” 55) claimed that
“MMT…provides the ‘smoking gun’ for which students have been searching for
generations.…” Abegg now appears to abandon such language; see his “4QMMT,”
203–16.