Weak Elements, Weak Flesh

Reviews / Votes

An attractive re-reading of Paul's Letter to the Galatians ... the work invites additional examination of the prevalence of medical literature and terminology both in Hellenistic Judaism and in the New Testament. For those interested in the potential interactions between Philo and Paul, Clark's Weak Elements, Weak Flesh is a stimulating source. * Review of Biblical Literature * Anyone familiar with Galatians will have known all along how important for Paul's argument is the point about the nomos acting as a paidagogos until the coming of the Messiah, and of pistis. But nobody for sixteen centuries has seen this as (perhaps among other things) medical language. From now on, it will be just as impossible for serious readers of Galatians to ignore this as it would have been for Paul's original hearers. Dr. Clark is to be congratulated both on his ferreting out of the relevant texts and for his lucid, clear analysis and display of highly complicated sources. -- N.T. Wright, University of Oxford Dr. Ernest Clark is a thoughtful man of God whose scholarship bears the signs of deep prayer. He carefully searches the Word of God, and seeks to adhere to what he discovers with his life and thoughts. -- Robert Presutti, Spiritual Director at Our Lady of Bethesda Ernest revives a long-forgotten Christian understanding of the ambiguous expression, 'the elements of the world,' forcing modern interpreters of Paul to reassess their views on the meaning of the expression. His compelling arguments and sharp critical engagement with the key interpreters of Paul in the field of study are a delight for his readers. I highly recommend the book to all interested in learning Paul in his original context. -- Roji Thomas George, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies