Wij hebben geen eer - Galatians 6 = We Have No Glory (Gal 6), 1967 - 1980

For Oosterhuis and Huijbers, the ritual values of songs for worship was that they be drawn from, or allude to, the Scriptures. This gathering song for Holy Thursday is drawn from three Pauline epistles, reflecting the Apostolic Church’s celebration of the Resurrection. Paul visited and wrote to the Galatian Church communities around AD 57, to encourage persistence against the hostility of the resident Jewish faction there. Scholars identify the region of Galatia as embracing Lyaconia and Pisidia, pastoral communities in the interior of Asia Minor, north of the Taurus Mountains, in present day Turkey, part of Paul's missionary journeys. To support them in their struggles, Paul contradicted the teachings of Peter, about adhering to Jewish rules and customs, especially related to circumcision, fasting and other conduct. To adhere to the Law, Paul argued, was to reject the person of Jesus whose teachings of love surplanted the Law. Although Timothy was in Ephesus, Paul's first letter came from Macedonia, where he was in captivity and feared for his life. The second letter dates from around AD 67, shortly before Paul's martyrdom. Timothy and Titus were among Paul's closest confidants, and three letters (two Timothy, one to Titus) were to encourage them how to organize and govern the communities now in their care. The name Timothy means gift of God.