Ephah,
How do you interpret these writings of Paul?
Galatians 3:15-21
\t15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.
\t16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.
\t17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
\t18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
I understand this to say that the Law does not replace the promise given to Abraham, is different from the promise given to Abraham (different in purpose), and is less powerful than and subordinate to the promise given to Abraham.
19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
\t20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.
\t21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.
The Law is only contrary to the promise if it too can make someone righteous. But righteousness, while demanded by the Law, is not a promise of the Law. If the Law can do that then the promise is of no use.
\t24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
\t25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Christ did say that if we loved Him we would keep His commands. But He also said that He was a ‘greater than Moses’. The commands that Christ Himself gave; love one another are higher than the Law of Commandments given by Moses. Christ too was a Law Giver.
How do you interpret this passage from Galatians?
Galatians 4:8,9
8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.
9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
These were Gentiles who had become Christians. They were being taught that they had to keep the Law of Moses in order to be Christians. The way I understand these verses, Paul is saying a Gentile who leaves idolatry to become a Christian is turning to something as weak as the idolatry he left if he begins to keep the Law as though it were necessary for his salvation. Paul calls the Law “weak and worthless" for making someone righteous.
