Charles YTK
28th July 2005, 12:42 PM
Paul and Works of the law.
Many assume, incorrectly that when Paul says "works of the law" he is referring to obedience to the Torah. This is usually not what Paul means. "Works of the law" is a term that Paul uses to denote legalism or adherence to Pharisaical laws of the Oral torah and Jewish traditions. This all becomes a bit confusing because in the 1st century the Judaism that Paul was living in the Torah and Oral Torah (Rabbinical ordinances) and the Jewish traditions were all wrapped up together into one religion, Judaism, and was also the framework of the civil laws of Israel. Therefore it is difficult to distinguish what Paul means when he says "Law". It takes a bit of attention to detail for us to examine the context and adjoining verses. Here is an example. It is the story of Peter withdrawing himself from Gentiles when certain brothers came down frm Jerusalem:
Gal 2: [11] But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. [12] For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. [13] And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. [14] 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 compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? [15] We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, [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, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
A few things should be noted first;
Peter had been eating with Gentiles
Gentiles are considered sinners even by Paul
Paul connects the Jewish behavior to be works of the law.
Two incorrect assumptions usually made by people is that Peter was eating non-kosher food, and secondly that it was a violation of Torah to eat with Gentiles. Nowhere in the verses does it say that Peter was eating unclean food. Only that he was eating with the Gentiles. I eat with Gentiles and I maintain Kosher diet. Peters perceived violation was eating with Gentiles. And no this is not prohibited in Torah. It WAS however a Rabbinical doctrine that Jews were not to eat with Gentiles because they were considered unclean sinners and Pagans. To eat with them therefore would defile a Jew. It is the same situation that Yeshua faced when going to the house of Matthew. As a tax collector Matthew was considered a traitor and no better than a Gentile, plus there were others there who were either Gentiles or considered unclean. As you know any time Yeshua came into close contact with such people like the harlot who anointed him, the Pharisees were outraged because he allowed himself to be in the presence of these sinners and Gentiles.
The point here is, that Torah does not call for this separation. There is no offense in Torah for eating with Gentiles, and especially Gentiles who believe in the God of Israel. What Peter had violated was only Oral Torah and Rabbinical purity laws, the same that Yeshua also was accused of violating. Peter was violating what Paul called "Works of the Law" in other words legalisms and traditions that were not the simple and perfect Torah of God but man made ordinances.
Peter withdraws himself from the Gentiles and aligns himself with the men from Jerusalem out of fear for many still held to the idea that all the law, including Oral Torah and Rabbinical laws had to be followed. Though it is said that these men came from James, it would seem that they did not come with James' authority for James agreed with the doctrine concerning Gentiles as we see in Acts 15.
But notice Pauls position in this example. First we should note that Paul calls this kind of Jewish behavior "Works of the law". It is not Torah as I have already show. Paul connects Pharisaical legalism and purity laws and Jewish customs with the term "Works of the law". He does not stand against Torah observance, but does reject, and rightfully so, the additional doctrines of men that were added to the law, canceling out the effectiveness of Gods law and making a distinction between Jews and Gentiles. And this is why Paul rebukes Peter for his actions. These Rabbinical laws reduced the truth of the Gospel that all men are judged the same, by their faith and not but Jewish piety and not by ethnicity.
Now notice also that Paul refers to the Gentiles as "Gentile sinners". I believe this is because Paul knows that as new believers these former Pagans are not mature or well disciplined in Gods law and to violate Torah is sin. Therefore these new babes are still Gentile sinners. Paul speaks in other places about the need to come to maturity and to no longer live as sinners. But for now he just calls them what they are Gentile believers who are still living in a way that violates Torah. Yet he points out that because we sin, it does not make Yeshua the minister of sin. Paul knows that we must grow into our maturity one day at a time. But he does expect us to grow and not to remain forever sinners who casually break the commandments.
"Works of the law" is legalism and was typical of the Judaism of the second temple period which demanded a man to keep Torah and with it Oral Torah, Rabbinical law, the traditions of the elders, and purity laws. Paul knows it well as he himself was deeply entrenched in this legalistic system which perverts Torah into legalism.
Numbers 15: [15] One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. [16] One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
Many assume, incorrectly that when Paul says "works of the law" he is referring to obedience to the Torah. This is usually not what Paul means. "Works of the law" is a term that Paul uses to denote legalism or adherence to Pharisaical laws of the Oral torah and Jewish traditions. This all becomes a bit confusing because in the 1st century the Judaism that Paul was living in the Torah and Oral Torah (Rabbinical ordinances) and the Jewish traditions were all wrapped up together into one religion, Judaism, and was also the framework of the civil laws of Israel. Therefore it is difficult to distinguish what Paul means when he says "Law". It takes a bit of attention to detail for us to examine the context and adjoining verses. Here is an example. It is the story of Peter withdrawing himself from Gentiles when certain brothers came down frm Jerusalem:
Gal 2: [11] But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. [12] For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. [13] And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. [14] 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 compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? [15] We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, [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, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
A few things should be noted first;
Peter had been eating with Gentiles
Gentiles are considered sinners even by Paul
Paul connects the Jewish behavior to be works of the law.
Two incorrect assumptions usually made by people is that Peter was eating non-kosher food, and secondly that it was a violation of Torah to eat with Gentiles. Nowhere in the verses does it say that Peter was eating unclean food. Only that he was eating with the Gentiles. I eat with Gentiles and I maintain Kosher diet. Peters perceived violation was eating with Gentiles. And no this is not prohibited in Torah. It WAS however a Rabbinical doctrine that Jews were not to eat with Gentiles because they were considered unclean sinners and Pagans. To eat with them therefore would defile a Jew. It is the same situation that Yeshua faced when going to the house of Matthew. As a tax collector Matthew was considered a traitor and no better than a Gentile, plus there were others there who were either Gentiles or considered unclean. As you know any time Yeshua came into close contact with such people like the harlot who anointed him, the Pharisees were outraged because he allowed himself to be in the presence of these sinners and Gentiles.
The point here is, that Torah does not call for this separation. There is no offense in Torah for eating with Gentiles, and especially Gentiles who believe in the God of Israel. What Peter had violated was only Oral Torah and Rabbinical purity laws, the same that Yeshua also was accused of violating. Peter was violating what Paul called "Works of the Law" in other words legalisms and traditions that were not the simple and perfect Torah of God but man made ordinances.
Peter withdraws himself from the Gentiles and aligns himself with the men from Jerusalem out of fear for many still held to the idea that all the law, including Oral Torah and Rabbinical laws had to be followed. Though it is said that these men came from James, it would seem that they did not come with James' authority for James agreed with the doctrine concerning Gentiles as we see in Acts 15.
But notice Pauls position in this example. First we should note that Paul calls this kind of Jewish behavior "Works of the law". It is not Torah as I have already show. Paul connects Pharisaical legalism and purity laws and Jewish customs with the term "Works of the law". He does not stand against Torah observance, but does reject, and rightfully so, the additional doctrines of men that were added to the law, canceling out the effectiveness of Gods law and making a distinction between Jews and Gentiles. And this is why Paul rebukes Peter for his actions. These Rabbinical laws reduced the truth of the Gospel that all men are judged the same, by their faith and not but Jewish piety and not by ethnicity.
Now notice also that Paul refers to the Gentiles as "Gentile sinners". I believe this is because Paul knows that as new believers these former Pagans are not mature or well disciplined in Gods law and to violate Torah is sin. Therefore these new babes are still Gentile sinners. Paul speaks in other places about the need to come to maturity and to no longer live as sinners. But for now he just calls them what they are Gentile believers who are still living in a way that violates Torah. Yet he points out that because we sin, it does not make Yeshua the minister of sin. Paul knows that we must grow into our maturity one day at a time. But he does expect us to grow and not to remain forever sinners who casually break the commandments.
"Works of the law" is legalism and was typical of the Judaism of the second temple period which demanded a man to keep Torah and with it Oral Torah, Rabbinical law, the traditions of the elders, and purity laws. Paul knows it well as he himself was deeply entrenched in this legalistic system which perverts Torah into legalism.
Numbers 15: [15] One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. [16] One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.