Galatians 5: 2 Commentary

Roland G. you said :The Galatians made the worst possible mistake by moving away from grace and back to the Law where there is nothing but curse. The purpose of the Mosaic Law is to curse the human race.

Nothing but curse from the Law? Here is the blessing from the Law:

King James Version (KJV)
Deuteronomy 28

1And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

3Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

8The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

9The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.

10And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.

11And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

12The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

13And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

By TIUCHE (wrote 3262 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 9/14/2011 11:08 am

Roland G. I was asking you if you know what you are saying? But your answer is so far away. Tell me what you know about the Law of God from the Bible, if you really understand what you said:

The Galatians made the worst possible mistake by moving away from grace and back to the Law where there is nothing but curse

By TIUCHE (wrote 3262 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 9/13/2011 13:06 pm

Monsieur Tiuche (Post #5): I am glad to awake you early in the morning. I will post more commentaries. Enjoy a cup of coffee.

By Roland G (wrote 1651 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 9/13/2011 12:41 pm

Roland G. You said:The Galatians made the worst possible mistake by moving away from grace and back to the Law where there is nothing but curse.

Nothing but curse from the Law? do you even know what you are trying to say?

By TIUCHE (wrote 3262 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 9/13/2011 10:26 am

The key to understanding Galatians is anyone who lives under the Mosaic Law can only be cursed by the Law. The Galatians made the worst possible mistake by moving away from grace and back to the Law where there is nothing but curse. The purpose of the Mosaic Law is to curse the human race.

By Roland G (wrote 1651 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 9/13/2011 07:07 am

The key to understanding Galatians and this verse, is in understanding Paul’s approach to the Torah of Moses. Paul, himself a Pharisee of Pharisees steeped in and observant of Jewish tradition sees the Torah of Moses itself as being holy righteous and good if used properly. This has always been and still is today the Jewish position. JEWS DO NOT HATE GENTILES!!! OR EARN THEIR SALVATION!!! ASK ANY JEWISH PERSON!!! Read on the seven laws of Noah for the Jewish position on gentile salvation. Paul does not believe that one is truly saved without following the law of Christ(faith and good deeds towards everyone. see Romans 2:12) this is an orthodox christian position. We hope for salvation, it is not guaranteed. Hebrews 4-6. Do not be fooled by antinomian (lawless) doctrine. Christ’s death just like the sacrifices of Old means nothing without producing a contrite spirit in the believer. The difference is that you can try and try again, you are never beyond repentance another try is always there. Paul’s perspective on the law of Moses is that within it is the very tool by which the evil inclination creates animosity. Meaning the wall of separation it creates between Jews and Gentiles. The goal or end of the Torah is the spiritual elevation and unification of Mankind, and it is in the respect of separation within the torah that the law falls short of this goal and the letter killeth and worketh wrath!! The Torah of Moses itself does not fall short because of its ritual observances or an inherent imperfection, it is Satan using this distinctiveness aspect of the torah. Paul in fact calls the Torah the embodiment of Knowledge. Moses’ Torah was not meant to incorporate gentiles, but to keep them separate until completion of a formal Jewish conversion by said gentile. With the advent of Christ Paul sees Jewish tradition as fine for Jews to keep so long as it is not forced on gentiles who have come to the same faith by the road of Christ. Jews today do not force Judaism on gentiles. As Paul says “to the Jews he became as a Jew and to those without Law as one without law, not being apart from the law to god, but under Christs law.” The curses of the Torah are understood as punishments for a failure to observe the commandments. God says anyone who changes the Torah is a false prophet. The curse is not inherent in torah, this is crucial. Paul sees the purpose of the Torah (unification and spiritual elevation) as being beyond the torah because of its very design, it is the purpose of Christ then to fill up the Torah for all people regardless of whether they are Jewish or not. But in the early church, it was fine to be Jewish and circumcised and observant. Paul says that Christ is of no value to the circumcised, not because they are evil or wrong, but because they know his teachings already, and are not babes as gentiles were, they are held more responsible. (see below for a good piece of christian literature on how Jews and Christians should treat each other.)

The Clementine Recognitions: Concerning Moses and Christ:

“For so also it was given to the people of the Hebrews from the beginning, that they should love Moses, and believe his word; whence also it is written: £ The people believed God, and Moses His servant.’1 What, therefore, was of peculiar gift from God toward the nation of the Hebrews, we see now to be given also to those who are called from among the Gentiles to the faith. But the method of works is put into the power and will of every one, and this is their own; but to have an affection towards a teacher of truth, this is a gift of the heavenly Father. But salvation is in this, that you do His will of whom you have conceived a love and affection through the gift of God; lest that saying of His be addressed to you which He spoke,’Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not what I say?’2 It is therefore the peculiar gift bestowed by God upon the Hebrews, that they believe Moses; and the peculiar gift bestowed upon the Gentiles is that they love Jesus. For this also the Master intimated, when He said, ‘I will confess to Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast concealed these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes.’3 By which it is certainly declared, that the people of the Hebrews, who were instructed out of the law, did not know. Him; but the people of the Gentiles have acknowledged Jesus, and venerate Him; on which account also they shall be saved, not only acknowledging Him, but also doing His will. But he who is of the Gentiles, and who has it of God to believe Moses, ought also to have it of his own purpose to love Jesus also. And again, the Hebrew, who has it of God to believe Moses, ought to have it also of his own purpose to believe in Jesus; so that each of them, having in himself something of the divine gift, and something of his own exertion, may be perfect by both.”

It is important to note that the same stumbling stone present in the law, enmity through separation and distinctiveness, is present with Christ as well. We must learn from the book and not fall into the same issue.

love and peace to Christians and non Christians. If non Christians cannot have salvation, then the wall of enmity has been rebuilt and we are transgressors. If non Christians must be christian than the church is no different now than it was prior to acts 15. We have a common religious heritage and its high time that people stop boasting about their place on God’s guest list, and start learning about other people’s views. Be ye wise as serpents and gentle as doves.

By James Campbell (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 9/12/2011 21:53 pm

The key thought of this passage, reflective of the whole tenor of the Epistle to the Galatians, is how believers should avoid adulterating the Gospel of grace.

Salvation may be thought of as a gold mine which is given as a free gift to every believer, regardless of the amount or vigor of his faith in Christ. Christ paid the price for this gift fully and anyone trying to either sell it to others or seeking to add to the price already paid is actually perverting the Gospel!

A believer allowing himself to be circumsised is actually saying that Christ’s blood was not enough to procure salvation but must be supplimented with —————– (fill in the blank)!

Christ said of His sacrificial work for the world,”It is finished!”

By Dennis Clough (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 8/6/2011 16:35 pm

Timothy was circumcised under Paul’s direction to avoid the prejudices of the Jews. Circumcision was not necessary to salvation. The false teachers were teaching that it was necessary for salvation. Cf. Acts 16:3

By James Richter (wrote 536 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/6/2011 23:51 pm