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Paul's Letter To The Galatians
A Humanities Essay That Teaches The Study of The Bible As A Historical
Document
PAUL'S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS:
When Paul attended the Jerusalem Conference in 48 or 49, a decision
was made that gentiles would be allowed to become Christians without
becoming Jews first (ie. have a circumcision, and follow the Jewish Laws).
Paul, being the one that defended the gentile's right to be Christians,
became the apostle to the gentiles. Why would Paul, a Jew, want to be an
apostle to gentiles? According to him, Jesus appeared to him in AD 32 or
36, and told him to preach the good news to the gentiles (Gal 1:16).
Paul uses scripture to explain why gentiles should not be required to
be circumcised, or obey Jewish Law; however, there are no direct quotes in
scripture that say this. One would wonder why Paul, someone who grew-up
in a "good" Jewish family, would not follow in the footsteps of Jewish
Christian Missionaries, and require Christian converts to become Jews
first. He certainly had to fight to have his belief accepted! In my
opinion, Paul tried to follow the example of the original apostles (who
knew Jesus) by "converting the multitudes." I think Paul understood human
nature better than the other apostles preaching circumcision to the
gentiles. Perhaps he thought that gentiles would accept Christianity more
easily if it was natural to their lifestyle --I'm sure that the thought
of circumcision, and strict dietary laws scared gentiles from
Christianity! It seems that the "Judaziers" preached a God that was hard
to please.
Paul's major problem confronted in his letter to the Galatians is the
preachings of the Judaziers. Apparently, men who preach circumcision and
the Law had been trying to "pervert" the Galatians, and change their
beliefs away from Paul's preachings (Gal 1:7). Paul is so angered that
the Galatians are so easily convinced (Gal 1:6), that he actually wishes
the Judaziers to mutilate themselves (Gal 5:12)! So, the letter to
Galatians uses 4 specific tactics to make Galatians come back to the
teachings according to Paul.
Paul begins by defending his credibility as an apostle. He writes a
brief autobiographical history, stressing that he once persecuted
Christians, and then converted when Jesus appeared to him. Also, he tells
the outcome of the Jerusalem Conference, probably to convince them that
other apostles have accepted his theology. This part of the letter is a
bit like a resume of qualifications. I could imagine that the Judiazers
who came to Galatia after Paul, denounced him as an apostle: that he never
met Jesus, and was not truly educated to be an apostle.
Next, Paul writes that "obedience to the Law could not earn approval by
God; approval is possible only through faith in Christ" (Perrin, pg. 184).
Faith in the crucified Christ will bring righteousness, not the Law (Gal
2:21). Having circumcision will do nothing to make one better in the eyes
of God.
Then, Paul uses an allegory of The Two Covenants: Abraham's child of a
slave woman represents Jerusalem living under the Law, and the child of
the free woman represents Jerusalem being free! This tactic, along with
Paul's use of familiar Jewish argument style, quoting scripture after
scripture to prove a point (Gal 3), are common preaching styles; probably
taught to him during whatever rabbinic training he got (perhaps when he
spent time with Peter). Paul also tries to appeal to the Helenistic
enthusiasm in Christianity in Gal 3:1-5.
Although Paul makes some very convincing arguments in favor of his
beliefs, I cannot agree with his interpretation of Christ Jesus
Christianity. Compare these two quotes from New Testament Scripture (The
first is by Paul in Galations. The second is a quote of Jesus in the Book
of Matthew.):
"knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law
but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in
Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ
and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law
no flesh shall be justified." (Gal 2:16)
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the
Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill ....
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these
commandments, shall be called least in the kingdom of
heaven.." (Matt 5: 17 & 19)
Although I realize the Book of Matthew was written after Galatians, the
preachings of Jesus were made before Matthew was even a Christian! Points
to consider before accusing Paul of defying Jesus would be to find out if
Paul had access to all the words of Jesus. The Quell was supposedly
present during Paul's lifetime. It is also possible that Matthew added
these words of Jesus in his book, but they may not have been true ... he
has added other unproven events before. Weather Paul was aware of these
words or not, he was obviously preaching a fundamentally different belief
than Jesus was.
Paul argues his position only up to Gal. 5:12, after that, he
contradicts his preaching until 6:10, where he ends the letter. This area
is full of rules/laws for the Galatians to live by. Of course, he
justifies that Christians live by these laws because they "Walk in the
Spirit of Christ." (Gal 5:16) If Christians are to "imitate" Jesus'
actions & morals, then why should they decide to follow some, and not
others? This is more evidence of Peter trying to create a "convenient"
religion.
The problem of acceptance of Jewish Law, I believe, is the fundamental
split in Christianity. It can still be seen today: Catholicism represents
Paul's view of Christianity, while Seventh Day Adventist Christians keep
Jewish Law. However, if Paul had preached the Law, I don't believe that
Christianity would even be present today (especially among the gentiles).
He did much to advance Christianity; however, Gentile Christianity became
a religion of Paul, rather than a religion of Jesus.
Word Count: 1,018
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