March 19th 2011

March 19, 2011 http://hodf.org 1


March 19th 2011March 19th 2011What does the word circumcision

mean in Galatians 5:2,3?Does “law” (nomos) always mean

the written Torah?What problems does a new

proselyte face?Is “legal Jewish status” necessary

for salvation?Galatians 4:19 - 5:5


Galatians 5:2Galatians 5:2See, I Paul say to you, that if you

become circumcised, Messiah shall be of no use to you. ISR

Can one be circumcised and not be cut off from Messiah?


Galatians 5:2Galatians 5:2Answer: Acts 16:3 Paul directed

Timothy to be circumcised.Therefore, just cutting of the flesh

in and of itself does not place one where Messiah is of no use.


Galatians 5:3Galatians 5:3Galatians 5:3 And I witness again to

every ( a;ndrej ) man [avnqrw,pw] being circumcised that he is a debtor to do the entire Torah [no,mon]. ISR

1. avnqrw,pw| Generic term for a human being, humanity in general. [Fri]

2. What does “circumcised” mean if it doesn’t mean the literal “cutting of the flesh”?


Galatians 5:3Galatians 5:3Galatians 5:3 And I witness again

to every man [avnqrw,pw] being circumcised that he is a debtor to do the entire Torah [no,mon]. ISR

Answer: Here, circumcision is a “figure of speech” for becoming a proselyte, that is, gaining legal Jewish status.


Galatians 5:3Galatians 5:3The issue…The Galatian teachers were

attempting to persuade the new Gentile believers that they had to gain legal Jewish status in order to be full-fledged members of God’s household. (Acts 15:1)


Mark D. Nanos, The Irony of Galatians

“It cannot be proven, but is generally agreed among interpreters who may disagree about virtually everything else regarding what this letter meant or means, that the context of this language regarding circumcision is that which arises in terms of Jewish proselyte conversion.” p.88


Galatians 5:2-3Galatians 5:2-3Galatians 5:2-3 [re-translated (part

1)]See, I Paul say to you, that if you

become a proselyte, Messiah shall be of no use to you.

And I witness again to every person who becomes a proselyte, that they are a debtor to do the entire Torah [no,mon].


The Entire TorahThe Entire Torah3. What is the “entire Torah” [no,mon]?Could be the written Torah interpreted

by Yeshua. Gal. 6:2; 1Cor. 9:21Could be the written Torah interpreted

by the elders which would include the oral Torah, which are the traditions.

Would understanding “becoming a proselyte” help us?


Becoming a ProselyteBecoming a ProselyteWould be a person (male or female)

who would become a convert to the Jewish religion.

Yeshua speaks about that here…Mat 23:15 Woe unto you… for you

encompass land and sea to make one proselyte, and when he converts, you make him two times more a child of hell than yourselves.


Becoming a ProselyteBecoming a ProselyteMat 23:15 What did he mean

when he said, “you make him two times more a child of hell than yourselves.”

There must be a danger in becoming a proselyte from Yeshua’s perspective.


Becoming a ProselyteBecoming a ProselyteConsider Lev 19:34Lev 19:34 But the stranger that

dwells with you shall be unto you as one born among you…

In the first century, a proselyte had to do more than just observe the written commandments of Torah.


Becoming a ProselyteBecoming a ProselyteIn the Sifra 91a, -> Lev. 19:34“Any candidate should be rejected

unless he binds himself to observe not only every commandment of the Torah but all the precepts of the scribes, even to the least of them.”


The Entire TorahThe Entire Torah3. What is the “entire Torah”?Within in the context of becoming a

proselyte, (which Yeshua frowns on)Having Messiah be of no benefit to

them, being severed from Messiah (2-3)

Seeking to be justified by obedience to Torah requirements as defined… (4)

Through the lens of Rabbinic halakah


The Entire TorahThe Entire Torah3. What is the “entire Torah”?The Torah as defined and

expanded by rabbinic halakah, also known in the first century as the traditions of the Elders.


Galatians 5:2-3Galatians 5:2-3Galatians 5:2-3 [re-translated (part 2)]See, I Paul say to you, that if you


And I witness again to every person who becomes a proselyte, that you undertake an obligation to do the entire Torah as defined and expanded by the traditions of the elders.


Side BarSide BarISR – What do you mean?Galatians 5:3 And I witness again to

every man [avnqrw,pw] being circumcised that he is a debtor to do the entire Torah [no,mon].

4 You who are declared right by Torah have severed yourselves from Messiah…

Does this really make any sense???


Galatians 4:21Galatians 4:21Gal. 4:21Tell me, ye that desire to be under

the law [no,mon], do ye not hear the law [no,mon]? KJV

Say to me, you who wish to be under Torah, do you not hear the Torah? ISR


Galatia ProblemsGalatia ProblemsBrief reviewThe controversy in Galatia is

whether “legal Jewish status” is necessary for salvation. (written before Acts 15)

Paul sums up his argument beginning at 5:1 so lets review verses 2 and 3.


Galatians 5:2-3Galatians 5:2-3Galatians 5:2-3 [re-translated (part 2)]See, I Paul say to you, that if you


And I witness again to every person who becomes a proselyte, that you undertake an obligation to do the entire Torah as defined and expanded by the traditions of the elders.


Galatians 5:1Galatians 5:1Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty

wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. KJV

In the freedom with which Messiah has made us free, stand firm, then, and do not again be held with a yoke of slavery. ISR


SlaverySlaveryWhat is slavery [doulei,aj]?This reference to slavery is

explained in the previous section, the Sarah/Hagar story, explained allegorically.

Let’s explain the Sarah/Hagar story in parts prior to reading the verses in Galatians 4.


Sarah/HagarSarah/Hagar1. We know that the Gentile

believers are being influenced by the Galatian teachers to believe that the “ritual of legal conversion”, that is, becoming a proselyte, would assure them right standing with God.

2. To show the error of such thinking, Paul chooses to use the Sarah/Hagar story allegorically.


Sarah/HagarSarah/Hagar3. In this allegory, he likens the person

who is trusting in their legal Jewish status to the “Hagar plan”.

4. This is where Abram and Sarai relied upon the flesh (of Hagar) to produce the son of promise, who was the first born.

5. Instead, they produced Ishmael, who was born into slavery. Gen 21:10


Sarah/HagarSarah/Hagar6. In contrast, Isaac is born as the

son of promise and is clearly the result of God’s miraculous intervention. Gen 18:11

7. Paul wraps up the allegorically teaching at verse 31 by saying (paraphrase) “We then, brethren, are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.”


Sarah/HagarSarah/Hagar8. In saying this, he is according

“slavery” with reliance upon one’s ethnic status (= the flesh) for right standing.

9. The “yoke of slavery” is then further described in 5:2-4 as receiving “circumcision”, which we have already understood to mean becoming a proselyte.


Sarah/HagarSarah/Hagar10. God has never accepted

“ethnic status” as a means to be considered in right standing.

11. Therefore, the one who relies on their legal ethnic status for right standing is “working for nothing”, which is the essence of slavery.


Galatians 5:4Galatians 5:412. Gal. 5:4 uses the phrase “who

are trying to be justified in the law” [WP].

13. “You left the sphere of grace in Christ and took your stand in the sphere of law" as your hope of salvation. [WP]


Galatians 4:21Galatians 4:2114. What is being referred to in

verse 4:21?“Tell me, ye that desire to be

under the law, do ye not hear the law”? KJV or

“Say to me, you who wish to be under Torah, do you not hear the Torah?” ISR


Galatians 4:21Galatians 4:2115. Whatever under the “law or

Torah” is referring to, we understand that it is referring to a teaching that expresses that a Gentile can attain right standing before God by gaining legal Jewish status through becoming a proselyte, that is, through a legal conversion.


Galatians 4:21Galatians 4:2116. Is that to be found in the

written Torah?17. Is that to be found in the oral

Torah?18. Written Torah never teaches

this but oral Torah does. t.Demai 2.5; m.Pesachim 8.8; m.Eduyyot 5.2; b.Yevamot 46b-47b; b.Shabbat 31a.


Galatians 4:21Galatians 4:2119. Confirmation: Paul states that

“obligated to keep the whole law|Torah” is parallel to “Messiah will be of no benefit to you” and “you have been severed from Messiah.”

20. But in Romans, he teaches that the law|Torah is righteous, holy, and good – and that it is spiritual.


Galatians 4:21Galatians 4:2121. Romans 3:31 affirms that by faith

the law|Torah is established and in 8:4 he teaches that those who walk by the Spirit actually fulfill the requirements of the law|Torah.

22. There must be something different between that law|Torah and the law|Torah he refers to in Gal 5:3.


Galatians 4:21Galatians 4:2124. And this leads us back to what

the first occurrence of nomos means in 4:21.

25. Conclusion: When the text is referring to a “law|Torah” that teaches something not found in the written law|Torah, it must be referring to something other than just the written law|Torah.


Galatians 4 (Exp)Galatians 4 (Exp)Gal 4:19 My dear children, for whom

I am again in the pains of childbirth until Messiah is formed in you,

Gal 4:20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change the tone of my voice; for I have doubts about you avporou/mai [I am puzzled how to deal with you; how to find entrance to your hearts [Vincent].


Galatians 4 (Exp)Galatians 4 (Exp)4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be

under the law, do ye not hear the law? KJV

Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? NIV

Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? NAS

Say to me, you who wish to be under Torah, do you not hear the Torah? ISR


Galatians 4 (Exp)Galatians 4 (Exp)“Under the law (Torah)” review – Whatever this is law|Torah is

referring to, it teaches that attaining ethnic Jewish status allows one to be a full-fledged member of God’s household, and thereby in right standing before God.


Galatians 4Galatians 4Gal 4:21 Say to me, you who wish

to be under Torah, do you not hear the Torah? ISR

Gal 4:21 Say to me, you who wish to be under [the oral] Torah, do you not hear the [written] Torah? ISR Expanded


Galatians 4 (Exp)Galatians 4 (Exp)Gal 4:21 Tell me, you that desire to

be bound by the Torah as interpreted by the Elders (this includes the written and the oral), do you not hear what the written Torah says?

Gal 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bond servant and the other by the free woman.


Galatians 4 (Exp)Galatians 4 (Exp)Gal 4:23 He who was of the bond

servant was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was born as a result of the promise.

Gal 4:24 [Paul says] Let me explain this as an allegory: These women illustrate two covenants, one from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.


Galatians 4 (Exp)Galatians 4 (Exp)Gal 4:25 Now Hagar stands for

Mount Sinai in Arabia, and is like the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

Gal 4:26 But the [heavenly] Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.


Galatians 4 (Exp)Galatians 4 (Exp)Paul illustrates the allegory by quoting

Isa. 54:1, a song of triumph looking for deliverance from a foreign yoke and also refers to Sarah's prolonged barrenness.

Gal 4:27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren woman, break forth and cry out, you who have no labor pains: because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”


Galatians 4 (Exp)Galatians 4 (Exp)Gal 4:28 Now we are like Isaac,

and are children of the promise.Gal 4:29 At that time, the son

born in the ordinary way mocked and persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. So now, it is the same.


Galatians 4 (Exp)Galatians 4 (Exp)Paul gives allegorical warning to

the Jews who are requiring the new believers to become proselytes.

Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bond woman and her son: for the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” Gen. 21:10


Galatians 4 (Exp)Galatians 4 (Exp)Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are

not children of the bond woman, but of the free woman.


Galatians 5 (Exp)Galatians 5 (Exp)Gal 5:1 Therefore, stand fast in the

liberty wherewith Messiah hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (which is…)

Attempting to perform in the flesh the keeping of the commandments in Torah so as to maintain their legal Jewish status and have right standing.


Galatians 5 (Exp)Galatians 5 (Exp)Gal 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto

you, that if you become a proselyte, the finished work of Yeshua shall profit you nothing.


Galatians 5 (Exp)Galatians 5 (Exp)Gal 5:3 For I testify again to every

person (male or female) that becomes a proselyte, you take an oath obligating yourself to obey the written Torah as defined and expanded by the traditions of the elders.


Galatians 5 (Exp)Galatians 5 (Exp)Gal 5:4 That being the case, the

finished work of Yeshua cannot benefit you, since you now desire to acquire right-standing before God by attempting to obey in the flesh all the requirements of the Elders. In making this choice, you have fallen off the straight and narrow path. (Hab. 2:4)


Galatians 5 (Exp)Galatians 5 (Exp)Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit

wait for the hope of being acquitted before God by having faith in the finished work of Yeshua on a continuous basis.


ConclusionConclusionWhen we understand certain

key words by examining the definitions given them within

the context they are used, the text becomes much more

clear.

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March 19th 2011