“Redeemed From The Curse Of The Law” The Use Of Deut 21:22–23 In Gal 3:13 -- By: Ardel B. Caneday
Journal: Trinity Journal
Volume: TRINJ 10:2 (Fall 1989)
Article: “Redeemed From The Curse Of The Law” The Use Of Deut 21:22–23 In Gal 3:13
Author: Ardel B. Caneday
TrinJ 10:2 (Fall 1989) p. 185
“Redeemed From The Curse Of The Law”
The Use Of Deut 21:22–23 In Gal 3:13*
DEERFIELD, ILLINOIS
I. Introduction
The NT uses ξύλον with two notable points of reference within the OT. One, which is confined to the Apocalypse (Rev 2:7; 22:2, 14, 19) with its referent in the “tree of life,” continues the imagery of Gen 2:9; 3:22, 24.1 The other (Gal 3:13; Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29; 1 Pet 2:24) apparently alludes to Deut 21:22–23.2
Of several NT allusions that apply Deut 21:22–23 to the cross of Jesus, Paul’s citation in Gal 3:13 is the clearest: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become on our behalf a curse for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree.’“ This NT citation of an obscure OT text has been the occasion of several recent studies, beginning with Lindars’s programmatic study.3 He sees Paul’s use of Deut 21:22–23 as a “sharpened form in which this text
*A paper read at the Evangelical Theological Society Midwestern Section Annual Meeting at Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 16–17, 1990.
TrinJ 10:2 (Fall 1989) p. 186
was already being used by the enemies of the Church.”4 Accordingly, Paul employed Deut 21:22–23 in a creative and ad hoc manner as it served his polemic purpose.5 Kim follows Lindars and summarizes,
So the Jews must have looked upon the crucified Jesus as accursed by God … The allusions to Deut 21.23 in Acts 5.30; 10.39; 1 Pet 2.24 suggest that from the be...
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