The Relationship of Jewish and Gentile Believers to the Law Between A.D. 30 and 70 in the Scripture

149 because no one has the ability to "do" the law. 11 Moo reasons that Paul's assertion, "as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse" (Gal 3: 10) is based upon the unexpressed premise of the verse that no one who "relies on the works of the law" can possibly obey its commandments "in sufficient degree and number so as to gain merit before God . " 12 An Evaluation Many recent scholars have begun to question the traditional wisdom of this paradigm, however from several perspectives. First, as even Luther noted, the curse of Deuteronomy is not upon those who "do the law" but upon those who fail to "do" it. 13 The near context of Deuteronomy involves severe curses for the deliberate transgressor , but the Law of Moses was full of grace and made ample provision of forgiveness for the penitent. As Hubner has pointed out, the meaning of Deuteronomy 27:26 is not a "tongue in cheek" challenge to perfection in all points but a summons to basic covenant loyalty. 14 The levitical 11 Ibid. Schlier also notes, "Fast is l µµ tvE tv nfiat v Tote; yEypaµµtvotc; ToO not fiam mha ein Begriff, <lessen Schwergewicht auf dem not fi'am ruht," Heinrich Schlier, Der Brief an die Galater (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht , 1965), 132. 12 Ibid., 98 . Moo also states, "In arguing for this meaning of the phra e, we ba i all upport the use made of this phrase among the Reformers . They were mo t anxiou to refute current Roman Catholic notions of meritorious works . . . ." 13 Referring to Paul's a sertion and proof from Deuteronomy in Gal 3: 10, Luth r a " ow the e two entence of Paul and Mo e eem clean contrary. Paul aith, h r hall do the works of the law, i accur ed. Mo e aith, who ever hall n t do th rk f th la are accur ed . How hall the e two aying b reconcil d tog ther . Or el ( hi h i m r ) how hall the on b pr ved by the other?" Luther, alatian , 3 6. 14 f. H n Hubner , Law in Paul' Thought, tran . J m 'I Utr - 1e ju l in a in le omt 1 a ur ed " n th f r n