Contrary to what some believers think, Paul was not given new
information from God. The revelation he
was given only illuminated what already existed in scripture. Paul quoted scripture from the Old Testament
when presenting his argument. In Acts
9:22 it is written, “Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded
the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.” Luke
chose the word proving very
intentionally. The wording is such to explain that Paul was
proving through evidence. The only
evidence available at that time was the TaNaKh (Old Testament). Paul used evidence illuminated to him in the
only scripture that existed. It is
important to remember this fundamental point when reading Paul’s letters. It has been commonly mistaken that Paul
created new theology, started a new religion, or abandoned the Old Testament. This is false. He clearly quoted and interpreted existing scripture to show
where they had gone wrong and how to correct the mistakes they had made. Paul preached the importance of faith before
works not faith instead of works. He fought against the same thing
that Jesus did. Men had adopted the idea
that one could earn their way to righteousness and had added too many additional traditions and man made laws, treated them as equal to or more important than God's laws.
This is the very definition of legalism.
If I had to guess, these are probably the same arguments,
scriptures, and logic he used when presenting his vision and teaching to the
beit din referred to in beginning of Galatians 2 and then again to the Jerusalem
council in the Acts 15.
·
v3:1 – bewitched
and portrayed
o
Bewitched = deceived
§
“that you
should not obey the truth” is the Greek but NIV, NASB, ESV, and many others
remove this phrase (http://biblehub.com/text/galatians/3-1.htm). NKJV and KJV includes it.
§
Although it does not change the overall meaning,
subtly it almost seems as though it lessens the impact of Paul’s phrasing
o
“before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly
portrayed as crucified”
§
The phrasing is confusing, but it seems he is
simply reiterating that they have been taught, with proof through scripture,
that Jesus is the Messiah.
§
Similar to Acts 9:22 that Paul was “proving
Jesus was the Christ.”
·
v3:2 -5 – Back to the fundamental point
o
Romans 9:30-32 – Faith first was always the
goal.
o
Similar to verse 2:16 – Paul’s broken record
approach makes it obvious, to us and hopefully those reading, that faith has to
come first.
o
v3:4 – suffer many things in vain.
§
Referring back to the culture, it was required
in any Roman territory to be part of their god and idol worship daily. Ray VanderLaan, in his study guide, In the Dust of the Rabbi explains the
Roman/Greek culture in that day as a very religious culture. Religious in the sense that each community
had a central god, another god for the marketplace, and probably several idols
in their temple to represent the different gods they believe for healing,
harvest, farming, fertility, rain, sun, etc.
This polytheist (multiple god) religion was not optional for
citizens. You had to participate, or the
other citizens feared you would anger the gods for ignoring them.
§
Jewish citizens had immunity, under Roman
authority, so long as the local synagogue would offer a sacrifice to the God of
Abraham daily in the name of the village.
This kept the political peace and gave Jews freedom to worship their
God.
§
The problem for non-converted Gentiles
(Godfearers) was without official Jewish status or recognition from the local synagogue;
they more than likely struggled every day trying to avoid idol worship. I’m sure they would have to justify they were
worshiping with the Jews, but not converted to Jewish.
§
I believe that Paul is referencing this day to
day suffering they go through. The
persecution of their day. He is just
reminding them, “Why did you go through that only to give in to those that are
pressuring you, knowing it won’t help your salvation?”
·
v3:6-14 –Paul is providing the scriptural proof
text for his argument that faith is the key.
This would have most likely been the same scriptural references he gave
the beit din in Gal 2:2 and again probably to the Jerusalem council in Acts 15.
o
In verse 6, Paul is quoting Genesis 15:6 “and he
believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”
§
God provided an unconditional covenant with
Abram. Abram did not even participate in
the covenant ritual, as God put him to sleep.
God promised the land and promised more descendants than stars in the
sky.
§
There was no action required by Abram. Only to have faith in God.
§
It was at least 13 years later before the
conditional covenant sign of circumcision was added. (Gen 16:16 – Gen 17:1)
o
In verse 7 and 8 Paul is quoting from Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse,
and in you all the families of the earth
shall be blessed.”
o
Both of the passages that Paul references are
examples of God making a promise first, and asking for action second. Not the other way around.
§
Abram had to trust God first, then “go from your
country…” (Gen 12:1)
§
Abram had no children at an old age, yet
believed God that he would, and that belief was counted as righteousness.
(Gen 15:6)
o
v3:10 –Deut 27:26 or Deut 28:15. To be justified
by the law, one must obey all of the laws.
o
v3:11 – Habikuk 2:4
o
v3:12 – Paul wrote, “the law is not of faith”
then quotes Leviticus 18:5
§
Obeying the law is an objective based on
physical works
§
Faith is an objective based on the heart
o
v3:13 – Deuteronomy 21:22-23
§
Obviously, Paul is not saying that Jesus himself
was cursed
§
Jesus took on the curse of our guilt even though he was innocent.
o
Another valuable verse that Paul did not use is
Hosea 6:6 (not to put words in Paul’s mouth, but to recognize there are other
lessons in the Old Testament that support his teaching.)
§
Hosea and his wife are supposed to be an analogy
of God and His people
§
Hosea’s wife, like Israel, would be faithful,
then leave, yet God directed Hosea to forgive her and be faithful to her, in
the same way that God remains faithful to Israel.
§
Faith was always God’s intent. Righteousness based on obedience was man’s
way of creating a tangible objective.
It is imperative to keep in mind that Paul did not introduce
new information. Paul used Old Testament
scripture as the foundation for his argument.
God gave the foundation from the very beginning that faith was key. When evaluating Paul (or any apostolic
writing) there is always a thread leading from the Old Testament (TaNaKh). The apostles, and Jesus for that matter, did
not have the New Testament, so all of their teaching was directly from the
TaNaKh.
No comments:
Post a Comment