Tom howard Contender of the Faith

I believe the answer lies in this verse, Galatians 5:11, "And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offence of the cross ceased."

Here Paul speaks of the persecution that the believing Jews have dealt to Paul for his stance on the "freedom from the law" issue. The Jews were having a hard time changing from a law based religion to a grace based. Its spelled out here in, Acts 15:1, "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved."

He must be speaking here of these 'Judaizers', those sect of early Christians who believed Gentiles had to convert to Judaism in order to embrace Jesus as the Messiah. To bring into conformity with Judaism. To adopt Jewish customs and beliefs. This seems to fit the ''envy and rivalry" definition, with their 'brand' of preaching!

This issue was even played out in Pauls confrontation with Peter (as even Peter was getting caught up in it) in Galatians 2: 14,15. "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 compell you the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,"

Paul was irritated here with, now even Peter, but quickly brought the stalwart truth in verse 16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ,..."

Thats why the Big three Paul, James and Peter, had to meet in Antioch to settle the matter.

January 30 2014 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report