Apocalyptic Interpretations of Galatians and the Faithfulness of God

Abstract Galatians regularly predominates in contemporary discussions of Paul’s “apocalyptic” theology. In this essay, two forms of apocalyptic interpretation of Galatians are presented – a “perfected” and a “non-perfected” apocalyptic interpretation in relation to two key test cases: Gal 4,4–5 and 6,16. That discussion then requires a survey of Paul’s discourse of divine faithfulness in other undisputed Pauline texts. In the process, an important but neglected theological axis within Galatians is enhanced, enabling a balanced articulation of the relationship between the novelty of God’s ‘apocalyptic invasion’ in Christ and God’s longstanding faithfulness even prior to the sending of the Son.