The epideictic dimension of Galatians as formative rhetoric: The inscription of early Christian community

Modern rhetorical theory suggests that epideictic creates and sustains valu es by addressing issues of legitimacy, inclusion, exclusion, and virtue. By focusing on the epideictic dimension in Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, t his paper explores Paul's efforts to form an emerging Christian community t hat at once identified with its Judaic roots and yet dissociated itself fro m a conservative sect of Jewish Christians, who were attempting to colonize the young Galatian churches.