O Foolish Galatians...

[Revelation 14:6-12]

... It seems reasonable that a study of any book is to apply it's content to understanding.

All the chatter posted by you and other SDA in this thread is everything but a study of the content of Galatians. ...

... Argument ...

Hi Cribstyl.

The study has begun on the very context:

http://www.christianforums.com/t7570052/#post57796453

The following [response post] was in answer to your question [as cited] and is part of the context of the Letter to the Galatians as was shown, for the "everlasting gospel" is the very "gospel" that Paul preacheth:

http://www.christianforums.com/t7570052-2/#post57808516

This thread is not about "argument". It is about "all questions Galatians":

http://www.christianforums.com/t7570052/#post57796143

Let us go over Galatians slowly, so that we glean as much as possible. We are going to go back to Galatians 1:1 yet again, for it seems that there is yet more to find there.

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead; ) Galatians 1:1

Look closely. Notice the word and name "Paul". Consider that for just one moment. How is this powerful evidence of the True Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Did he always have that name? No. We find elsewhere that "Paul" was at one time called "Saul of Tarsus".

What do these names mean? Let us look somewhat closer:

"Saul of Tarsus": "Saul" [after the First King of Israel; beginning from littleness, but yet who grieved away the Holy Spirit, becoming arrogant, proud, rebellious and went to the witch of En Dor and finally committed suicide] means "desired" or "asked for" [from "to borrow, make request of, beg for, practice beggary"]. "Tarsus" [after the city] means "a flat basket".

Acts 9:4, 22:7, 26:14, reveal that this "Saul" was righteous in his own eyes, and in Philippians 3:5-6 further reveals the very character of "Saul" by saying "... as touching the law, a Pharisee; ... Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless ..."

"Saul", a Roman freeborn citizen [Acts 22:28], born of Tarsus, in Cilicia, raised at the feet of Gamaliel [Acts 5:34, 9:11], born a Jew of the physical circumcision, circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel [Philippians 3:5], an Israelite of the physical seed of Abraham, of the small tribe of Benjamin [Romans 11:1] and raised and living as a Pharisee [Acts 26:5], who witnessed the stoning of the martyr Stephen and consenting to it [Acts 8:1, 22:20], and having had persecuted [a "blasphemer" of] the Saints greatly [Acts 11:19] and asking [begging] for letters to the synagogues to seek out and destroy those of the "way" [Acts 9:2], this "sect" [Acts 24:5, 28:22] of "Nazarenes" and also called "Christians" [Acts 11:26]

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: Galatians 1:13

And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. Galatians 1:14

"Paul": means "small or little [littleness]" [a Remnant saved, by the Grace of God from the Tribe of Benjamin, the small tribe; becoming meek, humbled before God, a "servant"]

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Corinthians 15:9

After the Gospel of Christ Jesus:

"Paul" ["born again", "born of the Spirit"], once called "Saul" [from the first birth, born of the flesh] now converted after the Road to Damascus experience and after several years in Arabia [Acts 9:3-27, 22:6-11, 26:12-20; Galatians 1:11-24] went about preaching the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST and won many [Acts 9:22, 15:12; Galatians 2:8]. Paul was then passing through Athens, Corinth, Cenchrea, Ephesus, Caesarea, Antioch, Galatia and Phrygia "strengthening the disciples" [Acts 18:1-23]

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace, Galatians 1:15

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Galatians 1:16

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. Galatians 1:23

And they glorified God in me. Galatians 1:24

"Saul" [before Christ]:

[1] Once a physical Jew;
[2] Of the stock of the physical circumcision;
[3] Of the physical seed of Abraham;
[4] A Pharisee;
[5] A freeborn Roman, a kingdom of earth;
[6] Raised at the feet of Gamaliel, a teacher of traditions of the fathers;
[7] Consenting to death of the Christians;
[8] Seeking Out to destroy the Christians.
etc.

"Paul" [with Christ]:

[1] Now a Spiritual Jew;
[2] Of the vine of the spiritual circumcision;
[3] Of the spiritual seed of Abraham, of faith;
[4] A Christian, An Apostle;
[5] A Citizen of the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of Heaven;
[6] Raised in new life, to be at the feet of Jesus, the Teacher of Righteousness;
[7] Seeking the fruits of the Holy Spirit, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law, goodness and righteousness and truth;
[8] Seeking to save the souls of men by preaching the "Gospel of Jesus Christ".
etc.

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Philippians 3:4

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Philippians 3:5

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Philippians 3:6

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Philippians 3:7

Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, Philippians 3:8

"Saul" once one whose name means "desired", a "begger", "poor", thinking himself righteous, but truly a sinner, but now he is "Paul" who is "...count[ing] all things [but] loss for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord..."

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Philippians 3:9

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Philippians 3:10

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Philippians 3:11

The evidence of even the very name of "Paul" signifies the powerful Grace of God and the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, Romans 1:1

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:16

Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, Romans 16:25

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 2 Timothy 1:8

Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Timothy 1:9

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 2 Timothy 1:10

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 2 Timothy 1:11

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Titus 2:28

So even the name of "Paul" is not preaching himself, but rather it is preaching "the Gospel of Jesus Christ".

 

[Torah]

The crux of “Foolish Galatians” was Proselyte.

Paul's rereading of the Torah after his Damascus Road experience brought new light to the issue of the proselyte. If Abraham were the first proselyte, he stood forever as the model for the rest. What caught Paul's attention was the fact that Abraham had been blessed as a covenant member before he was circumcised. [Romans 4:9-12]
Since in Paul's day "circumcision" was a short-hand way of saying "Jewish," Paul now realized that Abraham had become a covenant member as a non-Jew—he had attained the status of covenant member by faith, not by the ritual of the proselyte. If this were true for Abraham, it was also true for all Gentiles who exercised faith in the Messiah Yeshua. Even Yeshua Himself spoke of Abraham as having seen Him:

John 8: 56"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."
Since this saying of Yeshua's caused such consternation among His enemies, it may well be that Paul knew of it. Once he began to reread the Torah after his Damascus Road experience, Paul understood Abraham's faith to have been directed toward Yeshua. In this way Abraham was a model for the "uncircumcised" as well as the "circumcised."[Romans 4:11-12] Abraham's story proved that God's election, confirmed by the individual's faith, was the path to covenant status for the Gentile. This fact would be foundational for Paul as he labored to preach the gospel among the Gentiles.

Paul had come to realize that attributing a status of "righteous" on the basis of a proselyte ceremony constituted an attempt to gain righteousness by one's own efforts. But such a teaching overlooked an essential element that the Torah emphasized in the scope of Abraham's covenant status, namely, that his covenant status preceded his circumcision. His "righteous" status was on the basis of faith, not on becoming a proselyte. For if Abraham, God's chosen, had "believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness," then the initial message of the Gospel to the elect must be one of faith, not ritual.

But this message of the Gospel which centered upon the exercise of faith in Messiah in no way diminished nor negated the Torah / teaching. To Paul's antagonists, the position that a Gentile could become a covenant member without being circumcised sounded as though the Torah had been ignored. In reality Paul was restoring the Torah's message of salvation by faith. He understood that a Gentile who thought he could actually gain right standing with God through becoming a proselyte was trusting in something that could never actually save him. He may feel content in his new social status as a "Jew," but before the bar of God's justice he was still counted as unrighteous.


Paul realized, then, that he would need to take a very hard-line approach toward Gentiles who were being persuaded that becoming a proselyte gained them salvation. In their ill-founded confidence, such Gentiles were doomed. Thus, denying a Gentile the ritual of a proselyte (circumcision) must be read in this context, and not as a negation of Torah. Paul needed to teach the Gentiles that the first step in their conversion was one of genuine faith in Messiah. Only after they understood that their righteousness was reckoned to them and not earned were they in a position to appreciate both the value and necessity of
Torah-obedience.

Once again, Abraham becomes the example, for his faith was evidenced by his obedience. God's sovereign choosing had brought Abraham to the covenant, and his faith in God had sealed his membership in it. But as a chosen covenant member, Abraham obeyed God and circumcised both himself and all the males of his household. [Genesis 17:23-27] For Paul the order of events was crucial: faith comes first (gaining the status of covenant member), then obedience to God's commandments (living as a covenant member).
This order was no doubt emphasized in Paul's mind by the arrangement of the covenants as well. [Galatians 3:17] The Abrahamic covenant precedes the Mosaic covenant. But what is the significance of this order? For Paul it was that justification, i.e., right standing before God (emphasized in the Abrahamic covenant and the faith it requires) comes before sanctification, i.e., being set apart unto God in one's actions (the emphasis of the Mosaic covenant with its required obedience). Redemption (the exodus from Egypt) comes first and then Torah (standing at Sinai).
To suggest that the ritual of circumcision is the gateway to right standing with God is to teach that Sinai (submission to Torah) precedes the exodus, or that the Mosaic covenant comes before God's promise to Abraham. It reverses the biblical order and is contrary to Torah. This was crucial for Paul.

The gospel he preached was the same gospel given to Abraham, [Galatians 3:8] a gospel which first centers upon the blessings in Messiah (appropriated through faith) and then effects radical changes in one's life (accomplished through obedience).

That Paul was not against circumcision for Gentiles is proven by his having Timothy circumcised. In first century halachah, it is doubtful that Timothy would have been considered Jewish. The Mishnah . [Kiddushin 3:12f] indicates that Jewish lineage could only be determined in marriages ruled valid. The "marriage" of a Jewish woman to a Gentile would not be considered valid, and thus the children from such a union would not be considered Jewish. [Shaye J. D. Cohen ["Was Timothy Jewish? (Acts 16:1-3)," JBL105/2 (1986) 251-268] presents conclusive evidence that Timothy would not have been considered Jewish by the halachic authorities of Paul's day.]


The only exception would be if the husband were a proselyte.
The primary text on the issue of Timothy being circumcised is Acts 16:1-3:

And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.


That Timothy's father was not a proselyte is clear from the statement that he was known as a Greek. Note also 2Timothy 1:5:


For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you [Timothy], which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

Paul speaks of Timothy's grandmother and mother, but does not mention his father as the source of his training in the Scriptures. This hints strongly that Timothy's Greek father was not a "God-fearer" [Acts 10:2] and that his religious training was done by his mother.

What exactly was Timothy's status within the Jewish community of his day? Most likely, he was considered a Greek. Is Timothy an example of a non-Jew who, for reasons unknown to us but acceptable to Paul, underwent circumcision as the appropriate measure for a Torah submissive Gentile? Is it possible that Paul was convinced of Timothy's genuine understanding of justification by faith alone, so much so that receiving circumcision was permissible as a Torah observant act without any sense of gaining status with God?

Often when Paul speaks of "circumcision" he is not referring to the physical act of cutting per se, but of the entire ritual by which a non-Jew became a Jew according to Rabbinic standards. As such, what he prohibits in a text like
I Corinthians 7:18-19 is the idea that one needs to change his social status to enter the covenant.
Was any man called already circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.

Paul did not want Gentiles to think they needed to become Jews nor that they even could become Jews. Neither did he want Jews to think that they needed to cease being Jews nor that they could. Paul expects both Jew and Gentile to keep the commandments. It seems very possible, then, that Paul would have had no problem with a Gentile remaining a Gentile, yet being circumcised. What he would never allow was a Gentile undergoing the Rabbinic ritual of a proselyte with the notion that such a ceremony would gain him the status of "righteous." This was surely "another gospel" and to Paul anathema.


Summary
Paul, based upon his understanding of the Tanach, [Old Testament] taught the sinfulness of mankind regardless of ethnic status. Since there was none who did good and all had sinned, all were unrighteous and therefore all in need of redemption. Such redemption could only be given for one could never affect one's own redemption and ethnic status did not guarantee it.
It was rather through God's own selection that people were brought near to Him and redeemed through His divine means. Seeing an election on both a corporate as well as an individual level, Paul realized that eternal salvation was granted to the individual, not the group.

While national election secured blessings for this world, only individual election that secured individual faith in the Messiah through the working of God's grace could gain a place in the world-to-come.
The gospel, then, for Paul was that God was continuing in faithfulness to the promise He had made to the Fathers, a promise that included the ingathering of the Gentiles—a promise which was in all ways centered upon Yeshua. Through the proclamation of Yeshua as Messiah, the elect would be gathered, Israel would be provoked to jealousy, and God's eternal plan to save His. people would be realized.

Shalom

The crux of “Foolish Galatians” was Proselyte.

One must understand that rabbinic Judaism of the early centuries of the Common Era. Primary the teaching that covenant membership was based upon one's ethnic status as a Jew. And following close behind was the position that the Law, [including the oral Law ] was for covenant members only, meaning only for the Jews. [The oral Law in many cases held more Wight than the Law given by G-d. A good example of this is in Mark 7:1-13.]


This neces­sitated a "ritual of conversion" to accom­modate the Gentiles who wanted to enter the covenant. The Sages ruled that the conversion ritual would give a Gentile the status of a Jew. The "way in" for a Gentile, therefore, was through circumcision, that is, the conversion ritual.


This teaching from the circumcised group was that Messiah would come to the Jew only. If a gentile wanted part of the Messiah [have salvation] he had to “FIRST” go through the ritual of being circumcised first and keeping all the Law including the oral Law. Then and only then could he be a covenant member and receive salvation.


To suggest that the ritual of circumcision is the gateway to right standing with God is to teach that Sinai (submission to Law) precedes the exodus, or that the Mosaic covenant comes before God's promise to Abraham. It reverses the biblical order and is contrary to Torah. This was crucial for Paul.


Often when Paul speaks of "circumcision" he is not just referring to the physical act of cutting per se, but of the entire ritual by which a non-Jew became a Jew according to Rabbinic standards.

For Paul the order of events was crucial: faith comes first (gaining the status of covenant member), then obedience to God's commandments (living as a covenant member). [Genesis 17:23-27]

 

[Cribstyl]

FYI, I'm still here daily , just dont want to initiate to much dialog without a good topic of discussion.

 

[Revelation 14:6-12]

http://www.christianforums.com/t7570052-3/#post57820636

"... It was not to exalt self, but to magnify the grace of God, that Paul thus presented to those who were denying his apostleship, proof that he was “not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.” Those who sought to belittle his calling and his work were fighting against Christ, whose grace and power were manifested through Paul. ..." [Sketches from the Life of Paul; Page 194] - http://text.egwwritings.org/http://text.egwwritings.org

Let us then continue looking at the Letter to the Galatians:

Paul, himself also, states that he, "... fully preached the Gospel of Christ..."being"... committed to ..."his"... trust ..."which was"... not after man ..."but rather directly by the "revelation of Jesus Christ", and that"... if any other Gospel ...", being brought in by "any" another [man or"... angel from heaven ..."], was preached, then they [who preached the 'not' gospel]were to "... be accursed ...".

Why so? For salvation is found only in the True Gospel of Jesus Christ, for only in Him do we truly find salvation from "our sins" and also that "he might deliver us from this present evil world".

For if we "believeth not on" [John 3:18;p] the Lord Jesus Christ, we are "condemned already" [John 3:18;p], for the "wages for sin [is] death" [Romans 6:23;p], and as the scriptures hast said, "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" [Romans 3:23;p] and "there is none righteous, no, not one" [Romans 3:10;p] and "all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousness [are] as filthy rags" [Isaiah 64:6;p] so that "every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God" [Romans 3:19;p].

It is obvious that Paul makes it abundantly clear that his gift of Apostleship and that Apostleship in the knowledge of the True Gospel came from no man and no other Apostle of and/or on earth, and he was "not a whit behind" [2 Corinthians 11:5;p] the others [as "false brethren brought in unawares" seemed to be claming of him among other things; Galatians 2:4], for it came by the personal revelation of Jesus Christ [the "Apostle" from Heaven; Hebrews 3:1] and is therefore perfect and without defect, angels also were to be tested by this absolute truth [Galatians 1:8-9].

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead; ) Galatians 1:1

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. Galatians 1:11

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:12

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Galatians 1:16

Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Galatians 1:17

After this, Paul briefly met with another Apostle [Simon “Peter” Barjona] for 15 days after having been 3 years in Arabia, and having seen no other except “James the Lord's brother”:

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. Galatians 1:18

But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. Galatians 1:19

Paul himself was even “unknown by face” in the regions of “Syria”, “Cilicia” and the “churches of Judaea which were in Christ”:

Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; Galatians 1:21

And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: Galatians 1:22

Then 14 years later, Paul comes again unto “Jerusalem”:

Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with [me] also. Galatians 2:1

And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. Galatians 2:2

Paul was preaching the True Gospel to the Gentiles and even to the Jews who would listen, and therefore he could say “Grace” and “Peace”:

Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father, and [from] our Lord Jesus Christ, Galatians 1:3

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other]. Psalms 85:10

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:24

Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Romans 3:30

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8

Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:9

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; Ephesians 2:11

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: Ephesians 2:12

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; Ephesians 2:14

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; Ephesians 2:15

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Ephesians 2:16

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. Ephesians 2:17

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Ephesians 2:18

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Colossians 2:13

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Colossians 2:14

[And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: Colossians 2:16

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ. Colossians 2:17