CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Chapter One Introduction: A Sociopostcolonial Hermeneutics

Paul as a Sociopostcolonial Hermeneut

Dominant Perspectives on Paul

Beyond the Perspectives on Paul

Insights from Social Sciences: A Concise History

Social Sciences and Galatians

Postcolonial Contributions

Classical and Hellenistic Examples

A Roman Example

A French Example

A Diola Sociopostcolonial Hermeneutics

Chapter Two Identity and the Socioreligious Context of Pre-Christian and Christian Galatians

A History of Research

Who Were the Gauls/Galatians? Gauls in Classical Literature

The Gauls/Galatians Publically Displayed: Classical Typologies

Barbarism Publically Displayed as Vanquished

The Inescapable Eyes of the Gods: The Socioreligious Aspects of Anatolian Galatian Life

Socioreligious Context

Gods, Goddesses, and People in Galatia

Curses, Prayers, and the Quest for Divine Justice

Voices Etched on Stones: The Divine Demand for Confession-Propitiation

Priests and their Function

Chapter Three Senegalese Diola in Context

Who Were the Diola?

Africans as Barbarians and Savages

Barbarians and Savages: Diola People Through French Eyes

The Inescapable Presence of Ala or Ata Emit: The Socioreligious Dimensions of Diola Communal Life

The Diola Socioreligious Setting

The Inescapable Presence of Ata, Ala Emit, and Emitai

Curses and Prayers: The Quest for Divine Justice in the Hank (Community)

The Role of the Priesthood

Prophecy of Resistence and Creation of an Alternative Hank "Community"

Socioreligious and Economic Context

Prophetic Resistence to French Colonial Rule

Chapter Four Modes of Community and Identity Formation: An Exegesis of Galatians 2:11–14 and 3:26–29

Conflict and Parting of Ways with an Enslaving Mission: Galatians 2:11–14

The Locus and Nature of a Freeing Mission: Galatians 3:26–29

Community and Identity Formation in Galatian and Diola Communities

Judean Identity Formation and non-Judean Inclusion

A Pauline Community and Identity Formation

A Diola Community Formation

Chapter Five A Postcolonial Reading of Paul's Epistle to the Churches of Galatia: A Conclusion

Divine Rationale for Colonization in Ancient and Modern Times

Greek Colonization

Roman Colonization

French Colonization

Sociopostcolonial Hermeneutical Contributions

Current African Postcolonial Voices

Paul as a Countercolonist and Sociopostcolonial Hermeneut

A Liberating Inculturation of the Biblical Message

Bibliography

Index