Wilderness Apostasy and Paul's Portrayal of the Crisis in Galatians

2004/10/01 by Todd A. Wilson, TODD A. WILSON
Arts and Humanities · #Archaeology and Historical Studies #Biblical Studies and Interpretation

paper · doi:10.1017/s0028688504000311

crossref issued 2004/10/01 · crossref published 2004/10/01 · crossref published-print 2004/10/01 · openalex publication_date 2004/10/01 · crossref published-online 2004/10/11 · crossref created 2004/10/13 · crossref deposited 2019/05/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/07/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

J. Louis Martyn has identified perhaps the central question of Galatians: what time is it? This essay sheds fresh light on that question, however, by asking a corollary one: where are the Galatians? For Paul, it is argued, the Galatians are in the wilderness, somewhere between an Exodus-like redemption and the inheritance of the ‘kingdom of God’ (5.21). Paul utilises this narrative location as part of his rhetorical strategy to redress a developing crisis within his churches. The Galatians are on the verge of a wilderness apostasy, hence Paul colours his rebukes and warnings with language that evokes Israel's own tragic wilderness failings.

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