390 David J. Armitage If this analysis is correct, it may be asked why Paul expressed himself using conditional clauses rather than more direct forms of address. In v. 7 Paul clearly asserts, using a straightforward present indicative, that there are individuals present in Galatia who are causing trouble. However he does not then directly pronounce judgment on them. Ridderbos concludes from the use of a first class condition in v. 9 that “the apostle is not appalled into timidity in applying the curse concretely” (139), but this description goes too far. Rather, the use of a conditional formulation by Paul makes his statement intrinsically tentative (although this need not equate to timidity). As Betz notes, expressing the judgment conditionally “avoids the outright act of cursing others, and thus respects the early Christian prohibition of cursing” (140). The use of a conditional formula thus makes the apodosis less direct. This is not the only effect. Using a condition rather than a direct pronouncement of judgment implicitly calls on the readers to decide whether the protasis is fulfilled, and thus Paul appeals to their own discernment (141), rather than simply imposing his (142). In v. 8, the use of a hypothetical conditional clause to express what might be directly asserted as “for anybody, preaching a different gospel leads to anathema”, again involves the reader more closely in the logic of Paul’s argument, by trusting them to make the appropriate inference. The point is also made more vivid by Paul’s acknowledgement that the point applies to him as well, which as Cousar points out, proves he is not just anxious to maintain his own status (143). As the preparatory conditions for a rebuke show (Table 5), this speech act may be used in connection with things that have damaged the speaker’s interests, rather than their hearers’ interests. Paul’s inclusion himself in v. 8 is therefore needed to make clear that he is rebuking the Galatians, not in order to further his own agenda, but for the sake of the gospel, and for their sake. Since Paul was not at this point preaching contrary to what (139) RIDDERBOS, Epistle, 51. See also HENDRIKSEN, Commentary, 41, who describes the statement as “not a mere wish, but an effective invocation. The apostle, as Christ’s fully authorized representative, is pronouncing the curse upon the Judaizers”. (140) BETZ, Galatians, 53. (141) SCHIFFRIN, Discourse, 70, observes that it is typical for directives (of which “warn” is an example) to be expressed indirectly. (142) Cf. WALLACE, Grammar, 692: “There is great rhetorical power in ‘if’. To translate eij as since is to turn an invitation to dialogue into a lecture.” (143) C.B. COUSAR, Galatians (Interpretation; Atlanta 1982) 23.