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Galatians 2:3-5 – Did Paul Teach Against Circumcision?
by Jon Sherman
Does Paul teach against circumcision and thus teach against God’s law? Galatians 2:3-5 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. The issue of circumcision is perhaps the most complicated subject to study in the new testament. This is not really b ...
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from your source:
"So why then does it appear that Paul is teaching against circumcision in Galatians 2?
He isn’t."
....
"This circumcision story starts off in Antioch (Galatia):
Acts 14:26-28 From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they spent a long time with the disciples.
While in Galatia some men come from Judea with this gospel for the Galatians:
Acts 15:1 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."
Already it should be clear that this is not a matter of whether we should or should not observe the Law of God, but rather if the Law of God assists in salvation. This is a theological problem of the first century and not so much in the Christian churches today.
Thus there is a difference between correctly observing the Law of God because of our faith and the incorrect doctrine of legalism, which attempts to earn salvation by forfeiting grace."
....
"Peter establishes in Acts 15 that it is by faith that we are saved and that there is no Biblical difference between Jews and Greeks as it relates to salvation. Paul teaches the same once we read past Galatians 2 and enter into Galatians 3. In the first century mainstream Jewish leadership had a problem with the idea that Gentiles could simply have faith and thus become believers regardless of what commandments they were or were
not immediately obedient to.
Peter makes the point that no one has been able to bear the burden of the gospel that teaches that we must keep God’s law in any capacity to be saved. The point would be is that all have fallen short and thus we need grace through faith.
Peter states that the Gentile converts have been given the Holy Spirit in their faith, thus they will begin to learn and practice God’s law AFTER faith is established because that is the whole point of the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 14:16-17; 26, 15:26; 16:13, 17:17, Psalm 119:142, Jeremiah 31:31-33). This would obviously rebuke the position offered in verse 1. Thus Peter would declare that legalism is a false doctrine."
....
"Acts 15:5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."
The point that these “believing” Pharisees were trying to make is that converts should still be told that following the Law of God is part of being a believer. Christians would agree with that today would they not? We agree that we should not murder, or lie, etc. These Pharisees were “believers” meaning they were in God’s plan of salvation. They are not “legalizers” like the false brethren in verse 1. These Pharisees have true faith in order to be defined as believers. Thus James must still address the point established in Acts 15:5 and rule against the point in Acts 15:1."
- Article Entry | Passion for Truth Ministries < click
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Acts 15
The Council at Jerusalem
5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
The Letter to the Gentile Believers
22Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24
Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
The Believers at Antioch Rejoice
30So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 33And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
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The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
WomanLovesTX;
could you save me some time if possible, and point me to 'exegesis' from
Passion For Truth (Two-House Theology) which explains
why the Jerusalem Council did not record forever something like this:
"The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have tried to help you in your sanctification with words, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment, but it is not intended to subvert your souls, rather eventually you will be required to be circumcised.
But for now, it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.
Paul (or one of us) will teach you later about how to be circumcised and how to keep the sabbath.
Fare ye well.
and would you show me where those later instructions are found in the New Testament?
thanks - i'll watch for your reply.
zone.