Paul and the Stories of Israel

Much recent scholarship on Paul has searched for implicit narratives behind Pauls scriptural allusions. A. Andrew Das reviews six proposals for grand thematic narratives behind the logic of Galatians: the covenant; the influx of nations to Zion; Isaacs near sacrifice; the Spirit as cloud in the wilderness; the Exodus; and the imperial cult. Das weighs each of these proposals exegetically and finds them wanting, examples of what Samuel Sandmel famously labeled parallelomania. Das reflects on the risks of seeking comprehensive stories behind Pauls letters and offers a path forward.