Galatians Explained Simply from a Hebraic Perspective (Pt 1)

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An Important Question

Let us first ask an important question that has far-reaching implication including whether you can trust the Bible and whether you are saved or not. In the Epistle to the Galatians, is Paul advocating the abrogation of the Torah-law as mainstream Christianity teaches?

This is the lens through which most Christians view Galatians. For example, the chapter subheadings in my NKJV Bible reveal the antitorah bias of mainstream Christianity. The heading above Galatians 2:11 reads, “No Return to the Law,” and the heading over Gal 3:10 reads, “ The Law Brings a Curse.” When Christians study their Bibles and encounter these subheadings that are written by men and not inspired by the Spirit, what are they to think? Most don’t questions the scholars who translate the Bible or the publishers sell the Bibles. Most readers will automatically thinks to themselves, “After all, these translators and publishers are Bible experts, they know more than I do, so who am I to question them?”

Interestingly, the same author of Galatians elsewhere admonishes us to, “Prove/test all things; hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thess 5:21). This is the responsibility of each saint as he studies the word of Elohim. Therefore, it behooves us to have a touch of intellectual scepticism when studying the Scriptures to insure that we’re not unwittingly putting our faith in the traditions and doctrines of men by which the word of Elohim has been made of none-effect (Mark 7:9, 13), and that we haven’t inherited lies that have been passed on down to us from our spiritual fathers (Jer 16:19). Let us instead be like the righteous Bereans who “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Instead of looking at Galatians as a stand-alone book, let’s view it in the broader context of all the New Testament writers’ and Yeshua’s view of the Torah. After all, the Scriptures cannot contradict themselves. The Bible doesn’t lie, Elohim doesn’t change, and Yeshua declared that the Scriptures can’t be broken (or loosened, untied, dissolved, annulled, John 10:35).

In 1 Cor 11:1, Paul instructed us to imitate him as he imitated Messiah. So let’s follow Paul’s advice.

What did Yeshua teach and do vis-à-vis the Torah?

He never violated the Torah (or sinned), or else he couldn’t have been our sin-free Savior and taken upon himself the consequences or penalty of our sins, which is death.

Yeshua advocated Torah-obedience for his followers (Matt 5:17–19; John 14:15).

Paul goes on to tell us to imitate him as he imitates Yeshua. This includes obedience to the Torah.

Elsewhere, in many places, Paul advocates Torah obedience as we will see next.

How Did Paul View the Torah (“Law”)?

In answering this question, let us allow Paul to speak for himself in order to establish his predisposition with regard to the Torah-law. Was he a proponent or opponent of it? Several Scriptural quotations from his own pen should suffice in answering this question:

Wherefore the law [Torah] is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (Rom 7:12)

For we know that the law [Torah] is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (Rom 7:14)

For I delight in the law [Torah] of Elohim after the inward man… (Rom 7:22)

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin [i.e., violation of the laws/Torah of YHVH, see 1 John 3:4], that grace may abound? Elohim forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom 6:1–2)

Do we then make void the law through faith? Elohim forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Rom 3:31, Romans was written in about A.D. 56)

But we know that the law [Torah] is good, if a man use it lawfully…(1 Tim 1:8, First Timothy was written just before Paul’s martyrdom in about A.D. 66)

But if, while we seek to be justified by Messiah, we ourselves also are found sinners [i.e., violators of the law/Torah], is therefore Messiah the minister of sin [lawlessness/Torahlessness]? Elohim forbid. (Gal 2:17, Galatians was written between A.D. 55 to 56)

Toward the end of Paul’s life and ministry when, according to many Christian theologians, Paul was supposed to have already liberated the first-century believers from the “shackles and bondage” of the Torah-law, yet in the Book of Acts we read the following:

And when they heard it, they glorified YHVH, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe [in Yeshua the Messiah]; and they are all zealous of the law [Torah]: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? The multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law [Torah]. (Acts 20:20–24, written in about A.D. 58 to 60)

While he answered for himself, neither against the law [Torah] of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. (Acts 25: 8; Paul made this statement in a court of law about A.D. 62.)

And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, [i.e., the Torah] yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. (Acts 28:17, written about A.D. 63)

Viewing Galatians Through a Different Lens

In view of the fact that Paul instructed us to imitate him as imitated Yeshua, who was Torah observant, and in light of the fact in numerous places in Paul’s own writings and in the Book of Acts we see that Paul was Torah observant to the end of his life, what conclusion can we come to in light of these facts? Either the Bible is consistent, and the Torah is for all people for all time, or Paul was an inconsistent liar in telling us, on the one hand, to follow the Torah, and on the other hand, telling us not to obey it. Which is it? If Paul is inconsistent, then the truth of the Bible is inconsistent, the Scripture is broken, Yeshua is a liar and the Bible is a lie. Which one is it?

There is another answer to this dilemma. Perhaps the mainstream church has misinterpreted Paul in the Book of Galatians and has come to a skewed view in believing that Paul abrogates the Torah in Galatians. We take the position of the inerrancy of Scripture, that it can’t be broken, that Elohim and Yeshua don’t lie, and that Paul wasn’t a duplicitous schizophrenic. Instead of viewing Galatians as an antitorah tirade courtesy of  Paul, maybe there is something else going on here that needs to be discovered—the real message of Galatians that in no way contradicts the rest of the Bible.

Stay tuned. There is more to follow on this subject…

 

6 thoughts on “Galatians Explained Simply from a Hebraic Perspective (Pt 1)

  1. If you are correct (and I’m not saying you aren’t) how do we Paul’s position on circumcision, how do we explain the end of animal sacrifice (required by Mosaic law), and how do we explain Yeshua as High Priest when the law of Moses requires priests to be Levites?

    • You ask a lot here, and I have explained all these things in various teachings I have done over the years.

      To answer your questions in the briefest way:

      Circumcision is an act of obedience that helps bring one closer to Elohim and a special set-apart way, and not a requirement for salvation.

      The Epistle to the Hebrews explains the end of the animal sacrifices. Go read that.

      Hebrews also explains Yeshua’s priesthood. He is part of the older order of Melchizedek that predates and supersedes the temporary and parenthetical Levitical priesthood. This is the same priesthood all believers are part of. Yeshua is our head high priest.

      • 1 Cor 7:18-19
        . 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

        Galatians 5:6
        For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

        Galatians 5:2
        Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.

        But yet Mosaic Law requires circumcision…confusing.

  2. Natan, Referring to the heading : HOW DID PAUL VIEW THE TORAH ( LAW) ….
    I saw the verse Romans 7:12 it reads wherefore the Torah ( law) is holy and the commandment holy, just & good…..I was thinking re the discussion blog post you
    Had on the origin OF the word HOLY ….WHEN REFERRING TO THE RUACH / SET APART SPIRIT OF ELOHIM AS OPPOSED TO THE WORD HOLY SPIRIT.

    SO I CHECKED MY DAVID STERN VERSION ( complete Jewish bible – translated by David Stern and it does use the word holy.Torah is holy: that is , the commandment is holy, just & good. Quoting Romans 7:12.

    So I’m now thinking in book of revelation Chapter13..verse 10 it is about the Beast coming up out of the sea with 10 horns & 7 heads….in verse 1 ..verse 9 those who have ears, let them hear!

    Verse 10 ..”IF ANYONE IS MEANT FOR CAPTIVITY,
    INTO CAPTIVITY HE GOES.!
    IF ANYONE IS TO BE KILLED WITH THE SWORD,
    WITH THE SWORD HE IS TO BE KILLED! ”

    THIS IS WHEN GOD’S HOLY PEOPLE MUST PERSEVERE & TRUST.!
    Ie . AGAINST THE BEAST.

    So it appears in many versions translations King James as well the word holy is mentioned many times.

    Just checked Revelation chapter 4: v 8 David Stern translation again…Each of the 4 living beings had 6 wings & was covered with eyes inside & out: & day & night they never stop saying ” Holy ,holy, holy is Adonai, God of Heaven’s armies the one who was ,who is & who is coming!”

    Hard to not get away from this fact. It is written certainly many times…thruout scripture.
    Shalom.

  3. On another thread re Pauls letters to the Galatians …I reference the issue of circumcision as mentioned in Natans reply 05/08/2016 ….
    Paul was saying there was no other burden being put on them Gentiles.

    Galatians Chapter 2 : verse 1 …Paul saying after 14 yrs I again went up to Jerusalem ( Yerushalayim,) this time with Bar- na ba; & I took with me Titus. He went up in obedience to a revelation, & I explained to them the Good news as I proclaim it amongst the Gentiles.- but privately, to the acknowledged leaders. I ( Paul) did this out of concern that my current or previous work might have been in vain.

    Verse 3 But they didn’t force my Gentile companion Titus to undergo b’rit-milah,

    Verse 4. Indeed, the question came up only because some men who pretended to be brothers ( in the faith ) had been sneaked in – they came in surreptitiously to spy out the freedom we have in the Messiah Yeshua, so that they might enslave us verse 5. Not even for a minute did we give in to them, so that the truth of the Good news might be preserved for you.

    Paul in chapter 2:v7 states he had been entrusted with the Good news for the Uncircumcised ( Gentiles) , just as Kefa ( Peter) had been for the Circumcised.( Jewish Torah observant believers) ….on 8th day after birth.

    Chapt.2:v15 we are Jews by birth, not so -called Goyim ; even so we have come to realise that a person is not declared righteous by Elohim on the ground of his legalistic observance of Torah commands, but thru the Messiah’s trusting faithfulness.For on the ground of legalistic observance of Torah commands, no one will be declared righteous.

    Chapter 5 is interesting because it mentions the Messiah has come & freed them. Stand firm & don’t be tied up again by a yoke of slavery. Paul states that if they undergo circumcision (b’rit- milah the Messiah will be of no advantage to them @ all, because they will be obligated to observe the entire Torah verse 4: trying to be declared righteous by Elohim thru legalism have severed themselves from the Messiah ! They would fall from grace …verse 5. For it is by the power of the spirit. Verse 6 : neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters what matters is trusting faithfulness expressing itself thru love.

    So the term legalistic & legalism is mentioned quiet a few times in these chapters.
    So man should be grateful for Yeshua fulfilling all of the Torah ….that we may be set free from the power of falling short of Elohims glory : circumcised or uncircumcised in the flesh : it is by the power of his set apart spirit that we undergo a circumcision of the heart.

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