They belong therefore to the community’s consciousness of itself as the nucleus of the restored Israel, reconstituted through a new exodus as the new “congregation of YHWH.” (2) The pillars: Paul uses this term to describe three of the Jerusalem leaders: James the brother of Jesus, Peter, and John the son of Zebedee (Gal 2:9). It is clear from his account that this was how they were known in the Jerusalem church. The term may well have been applied also to other such leaders. It probably reflects
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