Which law is Paul talking about in the letter to the Galatians?
Galatians 1:6. I marvel that you are turning away so soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.
Galatians 1:9. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any gospel to you than what you have received let him be accursed.
The problem in the Galatian church which Paul is confronting is the preaching of another gospel other than Christ.
The gospel in the Greek is ευανγγελίον – evangelion which means good news. The good news is the message of salvation through Jesus Christ and Christ alone.
John 3:16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
See my website www.ayindk.com/How we can be saved from the condemnation of sin?
Conclusion
A different gospel or any other gospel refers to another means of salvation apart from the salvation through Jesus Christ.
The problem in the letter to the Galatians.
Galatians 2:11-13. Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I (Paul) withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
What happened at Antioch?
Acts 15:1.2. And certain men came down from Juda and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
The Jerusalem council met at Antioch to decide whether the Gentiles should be circumcised or not.
Acts 15:6-9. Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us, (Acts 10:1-48. Peter meets Cornelius) and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.
Acts 15:19.20. Therefore, I (James Acts 15:13) judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
Conclusion
This was the end of the council in Jerusalem. The result was that the Gentile Christians should not be circumcised according to the custom of Moses, so as to be saved (Genesis 17:1-14), but only by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. They were further to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
The circumcision party from Judea were preaching another gospel or a different gospel to that of the apostles. They were advocating: salvation through circumcision.
OK! Let us return to the Letter to the Galatians 2:11-13. The problem Paul faced with Peter, Barnabas and some other Jews is in Galatians 2:12.13. Before certain men came from James, he (Peter) would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came (the circumcision party of the false gospel), he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision (Party). And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
It had been decided at the council in Jerusalem Acts 15: that the Gentiles were not to be enforced with circumcision to be saved, but to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. However, in Galatians 2:12.13. Peter is not acting according to the decision made at the council for fear of the circumcision party. Even Barnabas followed Peter in this hypocrisy.
Paul confronted Peter and said it is wrong what you have done. Paul further said in Galatians 2:14. “If you being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?”
Paul further stated in Galatians 2:16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law (like being circumcised to be saved) but by faith in Jesus Christ, even if we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
There are many Christians who say that the works of the law refers to the Ten Commandments of God in the letter to the Galatians. But the context of the letter to the Galatians decides which law it is. For example, there are over ten different laws from the Bible that could refer to the works of the law.
Works of the law
- Health laws. Leviticus 11:
- Laws of offerings in the tabernacle. Leviticus chapters 1-6
- Laws concerning leprosy. Leviticus 13: 14: 15:
- Laws concerning the Day of Atonement. Leviticus 16:
- Laws of sexual morality. Leviticus 18:
- Moral and ceremonial laws. Leviticus 19:
- Penalty for breaking the law. Leviticus 20:
- The ten commandments. Exodus 20:
- Laws of justice and purity. Deuteronomy 16:19. 23:17.
- The scriptures of the Old Testament are referred to as the law. John 12:34. 15:24.
- Law of Moses- The Torah – Matthew 7:12. 5:17.
- The Jewish religious system is referred to as the law. John 1:17. Acts 18:13.
- The laws of purification in the law of Moses. Luke 2:22-24. Acts 15:5.
- Laws regarding the priesthood. Hebrews 7:12.
- Law of commandments contained in ordinances. Ephesians 2:15.
- Laws of festivals, new moon and sabbaths. Colossians 2:16. Leviticus 23:
- The law of circumcision. Genesis 17:1-14- Exodus 12:48.
These are just a few of the laws written in the Bible.
So which of these works of the law are we talking about?
The context decides which law we are talking about.
What is the context in reference to the law, Paul is talking about in Galatians?
The word “circumcision” is named 15 times in the letter to the Galatians.
Galatians 2:3. Titus (a Greek) was compelled to be circumcised.
Galatians 2:7. Gospel to the circumcised.
Galatians 2:8. Apostleship to the circumcised.
Galatians 2:9. Paul and Barnabas should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Galatians 2:12. Fearing those who were of the circumcision.
Galatians 5:2. Indeed I, Paul, say to you, that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
Galatians 5:3. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.
Galatians 5:4. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Galatians 5:6. For in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Galatians 5:11. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution?
Galatians 6:12. As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. (Which persecution? From the Jews).
Galatians 6:13. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
Galatians 6:15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but a new creation.
To sum up, the problem that arose between Paul and Peter was the subject of circumcision. Peter, Barnabas and other Jews were afraid of the circumcision party who believed that you had to be circumcised to be saved in addition to believing in Christ. Paul confronted Peter and said it was wrong what he was doing. Galatians 2:11-21.
Conclusion
So the context of works of the law in Galatians is related very much to the subject of circumcision, and the laws of circumcision. Genesis 17:1-14- Exodus 12:48.
The context does not relate to the other laws mentioned and definitely not the Ten Commandments of God.