Professor of Bible, Missions & Ministry, Associate Dean
Abilene Christian University
Christopher R. Hutson (PhD, Yale, 1998) is Professor of Bible, Missions & Ministry at Abilene Christian University, and the Associate Dean of the ACU College of Biblical Studies. His primary area of research is the Pauline letters. He is the author of First and Second Timothy and Titus in the Paideia commentary series (Baker Academic, 2019) and is currently writing a commentary on Galatians for the new Immersed in the Word commentary series (ACU Press).
Friday, May 29 | 10:30-11:05 | Main Room
Exegetical Reflections on the ECM Text of Galatians
The ECM text of Galatians includes eleven changes from NA28. Six are inconsequential; two significant for understanding the structure of Paul’s argument; and three for thinking about Paul’s theology.
I propose to treat the six minor changes lightly. But I’ll examine the change at 2:14 from οὐχί to οὐκ as a point for pondering the validity of the CBGM.
Two changes are significant for understanding the structure of Paul’s arguments. First, the change at 1:11 from γάρ to δέ resolves the perennial problem of whether to treat v. 10 as the conclusion of the previous unit or the beginning of a new unit. Second, the change at 4:25 from δέ to γάρ clarifies the structure of Paul’s allegory.
Three changes are of interest for Paul’s theology. First, the change at 1:3 from ⸂ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου⸃ to καὶ κυρίου ἡμῶν has implications for Christology. Second, the change at 1:4 from ὑπέρ to περί is stimulating for thinking about atonement. Gathercole (2015) has made much of the phrase ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶνin 1 Cor 15:3 in defense of substitutionary atonement, but we may consider whether περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν provides more room for Christus Victor. Third, the change at 2:20 from ⸂υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ⸃ to θεοῦ καὶ Χριστοῦ is significant for the πίστις Χριστοῦ debate. Such scholars as Carlson (2016), Wasserman (2015), and Nes (2013) have considered the value of the variant reading that ECM adopts as the primary text. The ECM reading weakens one datum in favor of subjective genitives in 2:16. The ECM changes are not decisive for any of these theological issues, but all three changes prompt reflection.