The Apostle Paul’s quotation of Habakkuk 2:4 in Galatians 3:11 provides an example of typology. Darrell Bock dichotomizes typology into typological-prophetic and typological-prophetic.^[1] The latter appears to align with the type or pattern found in Paul’s use of Habakkuk as the passage does not require an additional fulfillment, but instead, the pattern emerges with Paul’s usage. Bock provides five steps that assist the exegete in identifying how the New Testament uses the Old Testament and, more specifically, how to categorize the specific type of usage employed by the New Testament writer.^[2]

The first step is to determine the exegetical-historical meaning in the context of the Old Testament text. Habakkuk begins his dialog with God with two complaints. First, the prophet complains that God is ignoring the wickedness of Judah (Hab 1:3-4). In response to Judah’s wickedness, God answers by stating that Babylon will destroy Judah (Hab 1:6). Habakkuk then complains of God’s injustice, which allows a more wicked nation, Babylon, to destroy a less wicked nation, Judah (Hab 1:13). The Lord responds by urging patience and encouraging the prophet to believe in His plan of purification as “the righteous shall live by his faith [faithfulness]” (Hab 2:14).^[3]

Galatians, Volume 41: (Word Biblical Commentary)

The second step is to investigate the meaning of the Old Testament quotation in an ancient Jewish context. Richard Longenecker explains that Jewish rabbis often interpreted Habakkuk 2:4 in light of Genesis 15:6 where Abraham’s obedient acts of faith were meritorious exhibiting righteousness and deserving reward.^[4] Although Paul’s notion clearly diverges from merit, the connection between faith and obedience in Genesis 15:6 may be the linchpin to Paul’s use of Habakkuk.

The third step is to investigate the New Testament’s use of the text by examining the textual traditions of the MT and LXX. The unvocalized MT renders Habakkuk 2:4 as וצדיק באמונתו יחיה, the righteous shall live by his faith or faithfulness. The pronominal suffix “his” differs from the LXX, which uses the first-person pronoun. The LXX renders Habakkuk 2:4 as δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεώς μου ζήσεται, the righteous one by my [God’s] faithfulness will live, while other LXX manuscripts place the pronoun directly after δίκαιος rendering the verse as δίκαιος μου ἐκ πίστεώς ζήσεται, my righteous one by faith will live.^[5] Moisés Silva asserts that the difference in the pronouns may be explained by the Greek translator confusing the waw (his, ו) in the original Hebrew with a yod (my, י).^[6] Interestingly, in Galatians 3:11 Paul states, Ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται, the righteous one by faith will live, which entirely omits the first-person pronoun μου. Accordingly, Paul’s quotation seems to align closer to the MT than the LXX manuscripts.

The fourth step is to determine the usage of Habakkuk 2:4 in the New Testament context of the letter to the Galatians. The literary context of not only Galatians 3, but also the entire book of Galatians seems to support Longenecker’s assertion that Paul uses the quote in an ad hominin fashion against his opponents to highlight that righteousness is by man’s faith alone and not by works of the law.^[7] However, whether Paul is referring to faith or faithfulness continues to cause consternation for exegetes as, according to Francis Brown, Samuel Driver, and Augustus Briggs, the Hebrew word אמונה normally means “faithfulness.”^[8] Accordingly, to focus on faith to the exclusion of both the semantic context of Habakkuk 2:4 and the concept of obedience within the context of the ancient rabbinic tradition risks placing Paul in a position of potentially undermining the original author’s intent.

Silva points out that the lexical parallels between Habakkuk 2:4 and Genesis 15:6 are unmistakable, and the prophet was encouraging his Jewish readers to follow Abraham’s faith, which is not just a life of belief, but a life of obedience.^[9] In other words, neither Habakkuk nor Paul were decoupling trust and obedience, faith and faithfulness (see Gal 5:13-26). Paul was espousing a believing loyalty that, although far from meritorious, encompassed a justifying faith that embodied faithful obedience. In summary, instead of using Habakkuk 2:4 as a prooftext for an ad hominem response to opponents that may undermine the prophet’s original intent, Paul’s exegetical skills not only correctly uncover the meaning of the Old Testament quotation, but also furthers his argument against the troublemakers.

The fifth step is to determine Paul’s type of usage of Habakkuk 2:4. The MT rendering and context of the Old Testament passage emphasizes a type of faith that trusts God will accomplish his purpose of purifying His people through judgement, which is also a type of faith that rabbinic sources claim embodies faithful obedience. In a typological-prophetic way, Paul uses Habakkuk 2:4 to emphasize to the Galatians a type of faith that trusts God will accomplish his purpose of purifying His people through justification, which is also a type of faith that Paul claims embodies faithful obedience.

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[1] Darrell L. Bock, “Scripture Citing Scripture: Use of the Old Testament in the New,” in Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis, ed. Darrell L. Bock and Buist M. Fanning (Wheaton: Crossway, 2006), 271–72.

[2] Ibid., 274–76.

[3] Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008).

[4] Richard N. Longenecker, Galatians, vol. 41 of Word Biblical Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1990), 119. See also Nahum M. Sarna, Genesis, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1989), 113.

[5] Longenecker, Galatians, 118–19.

[6] Moises Silva, “Galatians,” in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, ed. G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), 801.

[7] Longenecker, Galatians, 119.

[8] Francis Brown, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs, Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon, 1977), 53.

[9] Silva, Commentary on the New, 801.

Bibliography

• Bock, Darrell L. “Scripture Citing Scripture: Use of the Old Testament in the New.” In Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis, edited by Darrell L. Bock and Buist M. Fanning. Wheaton: Crossway, 2006.
• Brown, Francis, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon, 1977.
• Longenecker, Richard N. Galatians. Vol. 41 in Word Biblical Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1990.
• Sarna, Nahum M. Genesis. The JPS Torah Commentary. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1989.
• Silva, Moisés. “Galatians.” In Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, edited by G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.