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What did Rabbi Sha'ul (Paul)
really mean in Galatians
Many misunderstand the writings of Rabbi Sha’ul (Paul) in his
letter to the Galatians. This misunderstanding has created
doctrines that pit the clear teachings of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus
the Christ) that Torah is still to be taught and followed (Matt
5:17-19 – “Think not that I am come
to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but
to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,
till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of
these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be
called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do
and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven.”)
Pitting Sha’ul against Messiah is a totally untenable position
due to two facts: 1. Their teachings do not contradict when
understood in the contextual, cultural and historical setting, 2.
If the did contradict, Messiah, who is the living Torah and the
Elohim himself, would always be correct, and Sha’ul would have
been a false teacher.
Background
Let’s look at one of the passages from Galatians to help
clarify. First we must understand that the scriptures Sha’ul
refers to are the Tanakh (Christians tend to call it the Old
Testament, Messianics prefer the First Covenant), as the B’rit
Chadasha (New or renewed Covenant) had not be written at this
time. We must also understand, that the only Gospel they had in
Galatia, would be either a letter, or word of mouth from a
believer or Emissary (Apostle), such as Paul (Sha’ul). Galatia
was a region in Turkey, roughly where modern Ankara is. It was
settled in 325 BCE\BC by Gauls. The predominate ethnic background
was mixed Gaul & Greek. There was a Jewish presence in
Galatia.
The letter
When reading Galatians, it is very important to keep the facts
listed above in mind, and to remember this is a literal letter,
written to a literal church, suffering from the addition of a
false doctrine. The letter is written specifically to Gentiles,
who contrary to Acts 15 are being taught that they must be
circumcised, and rigorously keep the entire Torah (referred to as
Law in the text) to be saved. The main point of discussion is
circumcision, with many teaching circumcision, which is required
to convert to Judaism, was required of Gentile believers. This
teaching clearly violates the teachings in Acts 15, as laid down
by the Jerusalem Elders (Yochanan (John), Kefa, (Peter), and
Ya’akov (James)).
Below is a selected text using the Complete Jewish
Bible. I think you will agree, that Sha’ul and
Messiah are in complete Harmony.
3 But
they didn’t force my Gentile companion Titus to undergo b’rit-milah.
4 Indeed, the question came up only because some
men who pretended to be brothers had been sneaked in — they came
in surreptitiously to spy out the freedom we have in the Messiah
Yeshua, so that they might enslave us.
5 Not even
for a minute did we give in to them, so that the truth of the Good
News might be preserved for you.
6 Moreover,
those who were the acknowledged leaders — what they were makes
no difference to me; God does not judge by outward appearances —
these leaders added nothing to me.
7 On the
contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News
for the Uncircumcised, just as Kefa had been for the Circumcised;
8
since the One working in Kefa to make him an emissary to the
Circumcised had worked in me to make me an emissary to the
Gentiles. 9 So, having perceived what grace had
been given to me, Ya‛akov, Kefa and Yochanan, the
acknowledged pillars of the community, extended to me and Bar-Nabba
the right hand of fellowship; so that we might go to the Gentiles,
and they to the Circumcised.
10 Their only request
was that we should remember the poor — which very thing I have
spared no pains to do.
11 Furthermore,
when Kefa came to
Antioch
, I opposed him publicly, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 For
prior to the arrival of certain people from [the community headed
by] Ya‛akov, he had been eating with the Gentile believers;
but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he
was afraid of the faction who favored circumcising Gentile
believers.
13 And the other Jewish believers
became hypocrites along with him, so that even Bar-Nabba was led
astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that
they were not walking a straight path, keeping in line with the
truth of the Good News, I said to Kefa, right in front of
everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Goy and not
like a Jew, why are you forcing the Goyim to live like
Jews?
15 We are Jews by birth, not so-called ‘Goyishe
sinners’; 16 even so, we have come to realize
that a person is not declared righteous by God on the ground of
his legalistic observance of Torah commands, but through
the Messiah Yeshua’s trusting faithfulness. Therefore, we too
have put our trust in Messiah Yeshua and become faithful to him,
in order that we might be declared righteous on the ground of the
Messiah’s trusting faithfulness and not on the ground of our
legalistic observance of Torah commands. For on the ground
of legalistic observance of Torah commands, no one will
be declared righteous.
a
17 But
if, in seeking to be declared righteous by God through our union
with the Messiah, we ourselves are indeed found to be sinners,
then is the Messiah an aider and abettor of sin? Heaven forbid!
18 Indeed,
if I build up again the legalistic bondage which I destroyed, I
really do make myself a transgressor. 19 For it
was through letting the Torah speak for itself that I died
to its traditional legalistic misinterpretation, so that I might
live in direct relationship with God. 20 When the
Messiah was executed on the stake as a criminal, I was too; so
that my proud ego no longer lives. But the Messiah lives in me,
and the life I now live in my body I live by the same trusting
faithfulness that the Son of God had, who loved me and gave
himself up for me.
21 I do not reject God’s
gracious gift; for if the way in which one attains righteousness
is through legalism, then the Messiah’s death was pointless.
Below is the same text using the KJV (King James Version).
Where the text uses Law, substitute Legalistic keeping of Torah
(for Salvation). I think you will agree, that it now makes perfect
sense, and Sha’ul and Messiah are in complete Harmony. Note also
the use of compelled, further making the point, as it is the
Legalistic forcing of adherence to Torah that is being discussed,
not the walking in Torah to please G-d, and emulate His perfect
son, that Messiah told us would not pass away.
But neither Titus, who was with me,
being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And that because
of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy
out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might
bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no,
not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with
you. 6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they
were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:)
for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to
me: 7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the
uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the
circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in
Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty
in me toward the Gentiles:) 9 And when James, Cephas, and John,
who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto
me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship;
that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the
circumcision. 10 Only they would that we should remember the poor;
the same which I also was forward to do.
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the
face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came
from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come,
he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the
circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him;
insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their
dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly
according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before
them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of
Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles
to live as do the Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not
sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by
the works of the law (Legalistic Torah Observance), but by the
faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that
we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works
of the law (Legalistic Torah Observance),: for by the works of the
law (Legalistic Torah Observance), shall no flesh be justified. 17
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also
are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God
forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I
make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law (Legalistic
Torah Observance), am dead to the law (Legalistic Torah
Observance), that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not
frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law
Legalistic Torah Observance), then Christ is dead in vain.
The only other way to reconcile the verses is to claim Messiah did
away with the Torah, which contradicts Matt 5:17-19 (and others
statements by Messiah), or to “Dispensationalize” scripture,
which is dividing it up into pieces, saying only this part is for
today, which violates the fact noted in the Intro that only the
Tanakh existed when this was written, and violating Sha’uls
teaching that “all scripture is profitable for doctrine,
reproof, correction”.
Sha’ul is clearly teaching Legalistic keeping of Torah does not
save, and that is 100% true, only Messiah saves. He clearly is
also not teaching the Torah is done away with (which would
contradict Messiah).
Shalom,
Blessings,
BeShem Yeshua!
Cameron, Messianic Minister
Understanding Scripture in the
original Literal, Contextual, Historical & Cultural meaning.
Jew & Gentile bound together
as one in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus)!
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