“Those of the Circumcision” (Gal 2:12) 157 νόμου. In Gal these phrases are antonyms as in the whole letter πίστις and νόμος are in opposition to each other. In summary the “οἱ ἐκ“-constructions can have two different meanings. They either refer to a social or ethnic group from which people come or they mean a certain religious orientation people have. The latter meaning fits best for οἱ ἐκ περιτομῆς in Gal 2,12. Paul wants to indicate that the people from James have their basic theological foundation mainly in the Torah - here symbolized by the word “circumcision”44 - and not in Christ. So a third conclusion may be drawn: in Gal 2,12 the expression “those of the circumcision” refers to Christian Jews who get their identity from the fulfilment of the Torah.45 And it is exactly this last point, that Paul wants to emphasize. Therefore the question of religious identity comes up again in Paul’s appeal to Peter. 5. The Origin of the expression οἱ ἐκ περιτομῆς Paul’s use of οἱ ἐκ–construction in Gal 2,12 and in Gal 3 is hardly accidental, since parts of Paul’s speech to Peter reported in Gal 2,14b–21 already allude to some themes treated in Gal 3. This concerns especially the statements about justification by Christ and not by works of law.46 The main idea of the epistle that obedience to the law is not necessary for gentiles is not only supported by the Antioch episode but also by Paul’s earlier allusion to the apostolic council.47 Knowing that Gal is a care- fully worked out piece of ancient rhetoric,48 we may conclude, that Paul consciously uses phrases like οἱ ἐκ περιτομῆς in Gal 2,12. This phrase is the opposite of οἱ ἐκ πίστεως in Gal 3,7.9. We can regard ὅσοι ... ἐξ ἔργων νόμου (Gal 3,10)49 and οἱ ἐκ περιτομῆς (Gal 2,12) as synonyms50 meaning people with a basic religious orientation in the Torah. 44 Circumcision is here used as a pars pro toto for the whole Torah. 45 Cf. Bring, Galater 84. This is a possibility Schmithals, Paulus und Jakobus 54-55 men- tioned but excluded. A similar meaning is suggested by J. P. Louw / E. A. Nida (Edd), Greek- English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains, vol 1-2 (New York 21989) Nr 11.51 with regard to Act 11,2: “those who were in favour of circumcising Gentiles”. 46 Compare especially Gal 2,16-17 with 3,8.11. 47 Here the believers are addressed in Gal 2,5 directly in the final clause ἵνα ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ εὐαγγελίου διαμείνῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς. 48 This was first pointed out by H. D. Betz, «The Literary Composition and Function of Paul´s Letter to the Galatians», NTS 21 (1975: 353-379) and Betz, Galatians 14-25. An overview of all attempts of rhetorical criticism concerning Galatians is given in S. E. Porter, «Paul of Tarsus and His Letters», Handbook of Classical Rhetoric in the Hellenistic Period 330 B.C. – A.D. 400 (ed. S. E. Porter) (Boston / Leiden 2001) 541-547. 49 Cf. with regard to Gal 3,7-10 Mußner, Galaterbrief 216.223. 50 Cf. Betz, Galatians 141-142.