Brethren and Masters:
W ANOHTOI GALATAI, ... hOIS KAT' OFQALMOUS IHSOUS CRISTOS PROEGRAFH
ESTAURWMENOS (Galatians 3:1).
Is it possible that we have here a Semitism? In Hebrew the phrase LiPhNeY
"before the face of" is used to mean "in someone's presence". This is
quoted from Malachi 3:1 /uphinnah-derek lephanay/, etc in Mark 1:2 IDOU
APOSTELLW TON AGGELON MOU PRO PROSWPOU SOU, ktl. Luke has it PROPOREUSHi GAR
ENWPION KURIOU, ktl (Luke 1:76).
ISTM that Lightfoot is correct in paraphrasing "Christ's death in vain?
O ye senseless Gauls, I placarded Christ crucified before your eyes. You
suffered them to wander from this gracious proclamation of your King..."
(JB Lightfoot, /Galatians/, p 133).
Paul the Semite uses the Semitic /Liphneikhem/, before you, as 'before your
very eyes'. The Galatians were earwitnesses of Paul's preaching, not
eyewitnesses of Christ's crucifixion. Paul must have been a very graphic
presenter: OU GAR EKRINA TI EIDENAI EN hUMIN EI MH IHSOUN CRISTON KAI TOUTON
ESTAURWMENON (1 Corinthians 2:2).
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? ... sometimes it causes me to
tremble, tremble, tremble.... It depends how vivid our imagination can be.
-- Revd Ben Crick, BA Bristol, 1963 (hons in Theology) <ben.crick@argonet.co.uk> 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)