Texts in Conversation
Jubilees describes a detailed calendar of days, months, and years as a part of the structure of creation, following the sun instead of the moon. Paul in Galatians warns Gentile believers against participating in these Jewish debates about the calendar.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Jubilees 2:9
Pseudepigrapha
8 On the fourth day the Lord made the sun, the moon, and the stars. He placed them in the heavenly firmament to shine on the whole earth, to rule over day and night, and to separate between light and darkness. 9 The Lord appointed the sun as a great sign above the earth for days, sabbaths, months, festivals, years, sabbaths of years, jubilees, and all times of the years. 10 It separates between light and darkness and serves for wellbeing so that everything that sprouts and grows on the earth may prosper. These three types he made on the fourth day.
Galatians 4:10
New Testament
8 Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all. 9 But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? 10 You are observing religious days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. 12 I beg you, brothers and sisters, become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!
Search:
Notes and References
“... The sequence of words is similar to that found in some Jewish texts, as in Jubilees 2:9: ‘And the Lord set the sun as a great sign upon the earth for days, sabbaths, months, feast (days), years, sabbaths of years, jubilees, and for all the appointed times of the years.’ At the same time, however, it is striking that Paul’s list of terms contains no ‘technical’ references to Jewish religious celebrations (in this respect, contrast the very similar Colossians 2:16, ‘Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day’). Paul may therefore choose a rather vague way of referring to the Jewish observances to tie them as closely as possible to the ‘elements’ (Hays 2000: 288) and perhaps also to the religious observances in the Galatians’ pagan past ...”
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.