Day 55: Galatians 3-4. Law and Promise
Paul begins chapter 3 in the same exasperated tone he's been using from the beginning of Galatians. It's possible, I suppose, to read the whole letter in this same tone, but it seems to me that he calms down just a bit as he tries to explain to the Galatians the difference between the law and the promise.
He begins, now with Jesus, but with Abraham. Abraham first received the promise, the promise that he and his family would be blessed. Later on, that family would become the people of Israel. They would be freed from slavery and lead through the wilderness to the promised land. In the middle of their wilderness wandering they were given the law. But the covenant is not based on the law. It is based on that original promise, given to Abraham, and it is received by faith.
The promise is prior to the law, Paul argues. The law did not come about until 430 years after the promise was given to Abraham. Therefore the promise has precedence. We are not justified (made righteous) through our adherence to the law, but through trust in the promise. In Israel's case it is the promise made to Abraham. In our case it is the promise of Christ -- that through the death and resurrection of Jesus we are made free.
Paul tries to explain the purpose of the law to the Galatians. He says that the law functions like a caretaker, a custodian (you might even say a babysitter). For Paul, the law was given to give boundaries for us "in the meantime". But now, he argues, we are not "under the law" but we are "under" Christ. We don't need a babysitter to tell us what to do, because Christ lives in us.
At the end of chapter 3, Paul writes, "Those of you who have been baptized into Christ has clothed yourselves in Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (3:28)
You might wonder why this is such a big deal for Paul. Remember, it was not that long ago that the first Christians were all Jewish. Jesus was the Messiah for Jews. It was a big deal to think that Jesus could be the Messiah for non-Jews too, and at first many of the Jewish Christian thought that everyone needed to become Jewish before they became followers of Jesus.
Part of what Paul is saying is that in Christ Jesus those old barriers (Jew and Greek) have come down. The things that divide us do not matter as much as the One who unites us. And in Christ everyone is on the same footing: that of faith, or trust, in the promise.
In chapter four, Paul contrasts two children: Ishmael the child of Hagar, and Isaac the child of Sarah. One of them is a child of slavery and the other the child of freedom. Isaac was given the promise of God, and so even though the children of Israel lived in slavery for awhile, they were destined to be free, to live by faith rather than the law.
The question he asks is: which one do you want to be?
Do you want to be free?
He begins, now with Jesus, but with Abraham. Abraham first received the promise, the promise that he and his family would be blessed. Later on, that family would become the people of Israel. They would be freed from slavery and lead through the wilderness to the promised land. In the middle of their wilderness wandering they were given the law. But the covenant is not based on the law. It is based on that original promise, given to Abraham, and it is received by faith.
The promise is prior to the law, Paul argues. The law did not come about until 430 years after the promise was given to Abraham. Therefore the promise has precedence. We are not justified (made righteous) through our adherence to the law, but through trust in the promise. In Israel's case it is the promise made to Abraham. In our case it is the promise of Christ -- that through the death and resurrection of Jesus we are made free.
Paul tries to explain the purpose of the law to the Galatians. He says that the law functions like a caretaker, a custodian (you might even say a babysitter). For Paul, the law was given to give boundaries for us "in the meantime". But now, he argues, we are not "under the law" but we are "under" Christ. We don't need a babysitter to tell us what to do, because Christ lives in us.
At the end of chapter 3, Paul writes, "Those of you who have been baptized into Christ has clothed yourselves in Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (3:28)
You might wonder why this is such a big deal for Paul. Remember, it was not that long ago that the first Christians were all Jewish. Jesus was the Messiah for Jews. It was a big deal to think that Jesus could be the Messiah for non-Jews too, and at first many of the Jewish Christian thought that everyone needed to become Jewish before they became followers of Jesus.
Part of what Paul is saying is that in Christ Jesus those old barriers (Jew and Greek) have come down. The things that divide us do not matter as much as the One who unites us. And in Christ everyone is on the same footing: that of faith, or trust, in the promise.
In chapter four, Paul contrasts two children: Ishmael the child of Hagar, and Isaac the child of Sarah. One of them is a child of slavery and the other the child of freedom. Isaac was given the promise of God, and so even though the children of Israel lived in slavery for awhile, they were destined to be free, to live by faith rather than the law.
The question he asks is: which one do you want to be?
Do you want to be free?
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