The theme of nationality and ethnic grouping is certainly not the first concern of Paul’s argument. However, the way he treats this theme sheds light on his understanding of the importance of different ethnic or national groups from the viewpoint of their identity. This work brings together Galatians 3,23-29 and Romans 10,12-21 and focuses on the theme of religious and national identity in both passages. The theological and ethical implications for today’s Christian communities, both in their internal relationships and external involvements, ought to lead to intellectual honesty in the life of every believer. The ethical standards of those who believe in Christ should probably be seen as a never-ending process of reinterpreting eschatological expectation for the living community today.

The Author: Miroslav Kocúr, born in 1969, completed his M.A. in Theology at the Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. In 1999, he took his Licentiate in Holy Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome (including a program at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem). His doctoral thesis was written and defended at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2002. Miroslav Kocúr is now an Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at the Comenius University in Bratislava and the Catholic University in Ružomberok, Slovakia.