Did the Apostle Paul preach the end of the Law?
How do passages like Col 2:16 and I Tim 4:3-4 that advocate freedom from the law compare/contrast/harmonize with Jesus' teachings in Matt 5:19 and Like 16:17, and with the Apostle John's teaching in I Jn 2:4, that no one should teach that the law should be broken? Do they agree on matters of the Law and Grace or they don’t? Please cover any relevant verses that will assist in this topic.
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Asked October 13 2014
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Nathan Toronga
Ariel HaNaviy
Did the Apostle Paul preach the end of the Law? The short answer is “no.” Paul not only DID Torah, he also taught others to DO the Torah. For instance, these facts can easily be observed by James’ instructions to Paul in Acts 21:24, “…thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the Law.” James was addressing this specific rumor among the Judean Jews concerning Paul: “…that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.” Paul demonstrated by his lifestyle that the Law did not come to an end in Messiah. Moreover, Paul admitted to this fact later on in his life (Acts 21:24; Acts 24:14-16; Acts 25:8; Acts 26:4, 5). Notice also that James does not add any supposed “three-part” breakdown to the Law (moral, ceremonial, civil). He just says “Law.” This would indicate those three designations are probably unsanctioned man-made distinctions, and as such, are confusing and unnecessary. We can also easily observe Paul’s view of the Law in Rom. 3:31, “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the Law.” We could also use Rom. 7:22, “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being.” Also see Rom. 7:25. “So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” What came to an end in Messiah is the curse of the Law for those in Messiah (Rom. 8:1). However, this curse is still in effect for those outside of Messiah. What also came to an end in Messiah was the wall of separation that was erected by the Jewish communities in Isra'el who were wishing to keep a religious separation between Gentiles and Jews (Eph. 2:11-22). In Messiah, both Jews and Gentiles who embrace Yeshua (Jesus) as LORD become “one new mankind.” As one new mankind, they both comprise the Remnant of Isra'el and both inherit the blessings and promises of God—which includes the Torah given to Isra'el. Besides, if Paul taught the end of the Law, then, as a disciple of Yeshua, he would be going against the words of his Master, “Do not think I came to do away with the Law…” (Matt. 5:17) Yeshua clearly defined his use of the word “fulfill” in this passage by giving us the immediate example of Matt. 5:19, “Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Based on Yeshua’s words, if Paul wanted to be great instead of least in the kingdom, then Paul needed to not only DO the commandments of the Law, but teach others to DO them as well. Which brings us full circle: by his life, Paul not only DID the Torah, he taught others to DO it as well.