(The following questions have been developed to help preachers discover some of the fundamental concerns for Law and Gospel preachers; (i.e. how is the Word functioning?) These questions are not meant to be exhaustive, but may be used in conjunction with other fine sets of exegetical questions. For more on Law and Gospel preaching, see my brief guide, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available from wipfandstock.com or amazon.)
1. How does the Word function in the text? The early optional verses are clearly a call to obedience. Here Paul is exhorting his listeners to "fulfill the law of Christ", which is the law of love. In the middle section, Paul introduces the Law: "whoever sows to their own flesh, will reap corruption from the flesh." This is a warning to all to continue living in the Spirit. In the final section, Paul returns to the theme which is the occasion for this letter - circumcision and uncircumcision. He writes once more about the futility of the old system, but then suddenly breaks into a word of Gospel: "a new creation is everything!" Here it is, the announcement that Christ crucified has made all things new; we are new, the community of believers is new, all things are new in Christ.
2. With whom are you identifying in the text? We are the Galatians. We are those who are tempted to believe that sowing in the flesh brings life and peace and joy. We are those who "think we are something" and thereby deceive ourselves. We are those who easily forget that "making a good show in the flesh" is futile. We are those who have been made new in Christ.
3. What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text? Paul's theological argument suggests several couplets: sowing in the flesh/sowing in the Spirit; old creation/new creation.
4. Exegetical work: In the final verse, Paul refers to "the rule" of the new creation. The Greek word is kanon, from which we get the word "canon". Kittel has a fine article on this term which is very helpful: "Here Paul sums up not merely the content of the epistle but the whole doctrine of true Christian behavior. Redemption through the crucifixion of Christ takes the one who accepts it out of the world by whose concepts and standards he [or she] has previously lived and sets him [or her] in a new creation or a new reality...For the Christian there is only one canon, namely, that these concepts of the old world have become meaningless and that he [or she] allows his [or her] whole life to be determined by the new reality of the freedom given in Christ." (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, III, p. 598). Luther also has much to say about this verse in his commentary: "To them which walk after this rule belongeth peace, that is the favour of God, forgiveness of sins, quietness of conscience, and mercy, that is to say, help in afflictions and pardon of the remnants of sin which remain in our flesh. Yea, although they which walk after this rule, be overtaken with any fault or fall, yet for that they are the children of grace and peace, mercy upholdeth them, so that their sin and fall shall not be laid to their charge." (A Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, p. 565)
5. Consider the insights of the pioneers of the New Homiletic? When preaching on a non-narrative text like this, it is even more important than ever to remember the advice of David Buttrick who asked preachers to consider how many moves they were making in the sermon design. Too many moves leads to confusion and lack of focus, too few can produce sections which a listener has trouble attending to for length.
Blessings on your proclamation!
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