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

163 ation of the historical factors of the book. At least two factors need to be emphasized at this point: the identity of the audience to whom Paul wrote and the uniqueness of Paul's gospel. The audience of Galatians If Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 13-14) reflects the founding of the Galatian churches to which Paul writes, then the membership was probably a mix of Jews, proselytes, "god-fearers" and perhaps "pagan" Gentiles. Unfortunately Paul does not directly identify his readership as either Jew or Gentile in the book. In 2: 15 he certainly uses the first person plural to refer to Jews but the antecedent is more likely the Jewish believers in Antioch or in general than a portion of the group at Galatia. If Paul refers to Jews at other times in the first person plural (e.g., 3: 13; 4:5) then it would make best sense that his contrasting use of the second person plural (3: 14; 4:6) would refer to Gentiles, implying , of course , that his argument if directed to them. 60 More definitive are Paul's references to the readership who "want to be under law" and his warnings to them not to be circumcised (4:21; 5 :2). Tho e who "want to be under law" are most likely not Jews, but Gentiles who were considering becoming Jewish, and clearly those who were contemplating circumci ion were Gentile . Finally , although Paul makes a comparison between the Galatians' pre-conver ion bondage and the bondage they would incur by taking on the law (4:8-9), hi reference to th ir pre i u wor hip of "those which by nature are no god , " be t fit Gentile idolatr . 61 Thu , although 60 f. Betz, alatians, 148 , and T. L. D nald on, ' Th ur Inclu ion of the entile : alatian 3: 13- 14, " ew Te tament tudie 5 ' and th 4-11 , p . Dinn IL r, " lt un ·en · haft und kzr he,