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corpus-paul - Re: Gal 2:17

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  • From: John Lupia <JLupia2 AT excite.com>
  • To: Corpus-paul <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Gal 2:17
  • Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 08:47:12 -0700 (PDT)


On Sun, 14 Oct 2001 11:06:30 -0400, Corpus-paul wrote:

> > To all,
> >
> > Gal. 2:17 But if (while)seeking to be made right in Christ, we were
> > found also ourselves (to be)sinners, then (is)Christ (the) servent of
> > sin?
> >
> > Question: How are they found to be sinners? Does he mean "We are
thought
> > of as sinners (by those who don't agree that all Christians can eat
> > together) because we eat with Gentiles? Or is it something else.
>

St. Paul is demonstrating that every human person regardless of their
religious affiliation is a sinner under the law. Jewish practice sought
justification through following Judaic teachings of doing good works and
keeping separate from non-Jews or the uncircumcised Gentiles. For a Jew to
do good works they were not numbered among sinners and by means of emphasis
physically separated themselves from Gentiles. St. Paul cut through the
thin veil of this Jewish notion and taught that it is not good works and
separation from non-Jews that brings justification but faith in Christ who
alone can save us. Pharisees were opposed to this view since this was their
very foundation of their version of the Jewish faith. St. Paul was teaching
that we are not saved by observance, but by Jesus Christ who alone can
bring salvation and justification. St. Paul was condemning this Pharisaic
notion that still found adherence in right wing Jewish converts whom Paul
called the "circumcision faction" (Gal. 2,11b). He rebuked St. Peter for
having gone along with them in order to keep this faction within the fold of
Christian believers. St. Paul was demonstrating that the essential
Pharisaic principles operative here were false. Everyone is a sinner
regardless of separation or observance. In this respect all people are on
equal footing and require Christ for salvation. For if it were true that
one could be justified by observance of the law then we do not need Christ
since we can attain salvation by following Pharisaic traditions. St. Paul
makes it clear that this is false. He was obviously upset with St. Peter
for having skirted this issue and showed respect for human biases to keep
peace and unity instead of correcting them to establish a true and just
peace and unity. St. Paul was willing to run the risk of upsetting and even
loosing members of the factional group in order to establish clarity and
proper guidelines of faith and morals. His anger at St. Peter was pitted
against this double standard he supported by adhering to the older Pharisaic
practices. St. Paul thought it only proper to expose this as a type of
hypocrisy, and double standard that should have no place within
Christianity.

Cordially,
john

John N. Lupia
501 North Avenue B-1
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07208-1731 USA
JLupia2 AT excite.com





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