Biblical Essay: Analysis of 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
belief...
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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.
Aquinas, St. Thomas. COMMENTARY on SAINT PAUL'S EPISTLE to the GALATIANS. Trans. F. R. Larcher. Albany: Magi Books, 1996.
gain respect but the process of just trying to stay alive hindered them from doing so.
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