Galatians 5:12 I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.
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That is nice and polite in the English translation. However, the Greek (apokoptó) literally is a phrase in English = I emasculate, castrate, mutilate myself.
Effectively, Paul states that those teaching this false doctrine of circumcision should just go ahead and cut their manhood off completely, and severe themselves from the congregation. So, why is Paul so angry … and what about this “Pharisee” thing?
Well, this started as a brief look at Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. Paul’s letter to the Galatians has a different tone than his letters to other churches. Someone mentioned lately that they never really understood some of the scripture references to Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes. So, let us first seek to know more about this “Pharisee” Paul, whom Jesus chose to carry the Gospel to the gentiles. Just maybe we can catch a glimmer of how the Holy Spirit continues to speak through this man, even today.
Thirteen of the twenty-four books of the New Testament are thought be authored by Paul, and approximately half of the text in the Book of Acts deal with the works of Paul. Some would say that only seven books were for certain authored by Paul, with the other six authored by, possibly, followers of Paul. I do not think there is much fruitful about that debate, but will point out that the ultimate focus of this Bible Study will be the “verified to be Paul’s letter” to the Galatians.
Understanding Paul’s history, and how that influenced his Letter to the Galatians:
Paul was a Greek-speaking Jew from Tarsus, a major city in eastern Cilicia (part if what we call modern day Turkey) , a region that had been made part of the Roman province of Syria by the time of Paul’s adulthood. Paul was born around the time of Jesus, maybe a little younger. By Jewish custom of the time, Paul was trained in the trade of his family: he was a tent maker. Extra Biblical, and Biblical sources indicate that Paul studied in Jerusalem under a very famous Rabbi of the time: Gamaliel, a Pharisee, and expert on Jewish Law. Ancient Jewish writings state, “Since Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, there has been no more reverence for the law, and purity and piety died out at the same time”. So, Paul was likely from a well-to-do, but not extravagantly wealthy, family: this is reflected in the schooling available to him and in Paul’s statement in Acts 22:28 that he was born a Roman citizen –
Acts 22:28 The commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.”
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Much of the above history of Paul is included in Luke’s’ account and quotes of Paul in Acts 22 – so let us just review that story of Paul by Paul:
Paul has been seized by the Romans in the Temple at Jerusalem, and speaks to the crowd –
Acts 22:1-30
1 “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”2 When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,
3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
6 It happened that, as I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from the sky a great light around me. 7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’ 9 “Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of him who spoke to me. 10 I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.’ 11 When I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I looked up at him. 14 He said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. 15 For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
17 “It happened that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance, 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.’ 19 I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you. 20 When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’ 21 “He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.'”
22 They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn’t fit to live!” 23 As they cried out, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air, 24 the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that. 25 When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?” 26 When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!” 27 The commanding officer came and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.” 28 The commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.” 29 Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
30 But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
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A little detour before we talk about “…commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.”:
The factions in the leadership of the Jews of the first century: Scribes – These were the technical experts in Jewish law, the interpreters of the law; Scribes could draft legal documents (contracts for marriage, divorce, loans, inheritance, mortgages, the sale of land, and the like). Every village needed at least one Scribe to take care of such legal matters. This group, Scribes, overlapped with a group called the Pharisees. Pharisees consider themselves “keepers of the Law”, the Law of Moses and all of the derivatives thereof (some 600 plus items). So the New Testament books often lump them together (“Scribes and Pharisees). The Pharisees however were a specific religious party within Judaism at the time of Jesus, who subscribed to the Laws of Moses PLUS all the teaching in the Mishna, and Talmud.
- Mishna = Hebrew for “repeated study”, a written version compiled over about 2 centuries of the teachings, including oral traditions – it supplements the written, or scriptural, laws found in the Pentateuch, or Torah, the first 5 books of the OT.
- Talmud = Hebrew for “study” or “learning”, rabbinical writings concerning the interpretations of the Torah (written law), and the Mishnah (oral law).
- Torah = The first 5 books of the Old Testament, the books of Moses, also called the Pentateuch (5 books).
Basically the Pharisees evolved to be a religious party of laymen and Scribes at odds with the party known as Sadducees, who evolved from the priestly sect of Levi, with Sadducees believing primarily in the written word (Torah), and Pharisees believing in the written word (Torah) and associated oral tradition (Mishnah). The Pharisees were essentially the party trying to stop the Jewish nation devolving into secularism. In addition to the religious belief differences, the Sadducees were seen as in cahoots with the Romans to bring about this secularization of Israel. In Jesus’ time Sadducees were the priestly folks in charge (hence “Chief Priests” mentioned in the New Testament is a reference to Sadducee party members, favored by the Romans, that controlled the Temple and the Sanhedrin (governing body for religious and legal issues for Jews). There were both Sadducees and Pharisees in the Sanhedrin. The Sadducee party rejected anything to do with the supernatural (think angels, demons, hell or heaven, which would extend to excluding the resurrection of the dead). Again, we can see these things as we go again to Acts, as the Roman commander brings Paul before the Sanhedrin –
Now back to that Act account about “…commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.”
Acts 23:1-11:
1 Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.” 2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?” 5 Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'”6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” 7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these. 9 A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!” 10 When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
11 The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”
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It is interesting that the very political rivalry between Jewish sects, which played a role in the political dynamics resulting in the killing of Jesus, now helps to save Paul, and ensure he will eventually be brought to Rome.
Other statements about Paul, by Paul:
Philippians 1:5-6
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5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
So, we have just a glimmer of how Paul evolved from Law to Gospel. Note that in our reference in Philippians, Paul indicates that as far as the “law” as envisioned by the Pharisees was concerned, Paul was “found blameless”. Note also that he says this in the same breath that acknowledges he executed dreadful things in the name of the “law” (persecuting the assembly). Essentially, Paul “kept the law” from the perspective of a “good Pharisee”, but his encounter with the true God led him to realize the Law only serve to show him how retched he was, and pointed him to the Gospel (the Good News that He really could be blameless before the Law, but ONLY because Christ fulfilled the Law and God offered His Grace). I believe this led Paul, not to “hate” the Law, but rather to “hate” the mindset that would enslave others to the Law rather then allowing them to stand in the full glory of God’s Grace.
Just maybe Paul came to so abhor anyone being “trapped in the Law”, as he had been, that anyone sidetracking those he had fostered in the faith, with “law”, was going to see a Paul, inspired rightfully by the Holy Spirit, with Holy anger. Keep that in mind as we look at the Letter to the Galatians.
We will try to “get personal” with Paul –- His intent, his righteous anger, in writing this letter … and see what it tells us about today.
Paul’s Letter to the Galatians:
The letter is addressed to the early Christian communities in “Galatia”. There are theological debates about “who” or “what” Galatians, and while that has little bearing on our discussion today, we will briefly review this –
Scholars indicate that Galatians refers either to the people in the Roman province of Galatia, or a larger region defined by an ethnic group called the Celtics (not the British Isle Celtics we think of today, but rather tribes from Gaul (think western modern day France) that had invaded a portion of what we think of as Turkey about 300 years before the time Paul is writing. In any case, the target audience were former pagans that Paul had introduced to Christianity in the area surrounding the Black Sea (Turkey and maybe parts of Greece).
A main theme in Galatians is the need, or lack of need, to circumcise gentiles who convert to Christianity. Clearly, the meeting with the leaders in Jerusalem (Acts 15), which resolved this issue, had not taken place or Paul would certainly have referenced the resolution in the Letter to the Galatians. This resolution at Jerusalem happened around 48-49 AD, according to scholars. Paul’s evangelism of the area of Galatia happened in the period of 47-48 AD. That implies this letter became necessary sometime in 48 AD: at the very beginning of the spread of Christianity, and at a location where the early church was primarily gentiles.
The main thing for us to consider is that Paul is writing to churches that Paul helped form in the midst of a pagan, non-Jewish, region of the Near East: churches and people he certainly loves. Considering this aspect let us first look at how Paul typically addresses such people of the churches:
1 Thessalonians: 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
Ephesians 1 : 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1: 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1: 1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ; To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants: 2 Grace to you, and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God whenever I remember you, 4 always in every request of mine on behalf of you all making my requests with joy, 5f or your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now; 6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
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Now let us compare and contrast the introduction and salutation in — Galatians
Galatians 1:
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead), 2 and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father— 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”;
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SO, where in the Galatians’ salutation is the part about being addressed to “… We remember … your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord …” ?????
AND, what is with the emphasis on “… an apostle – sent not from men nor by a man …” by Paul????
WELL, Paul gets right to the point in verses
Galatians 1:6-10:
6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”; 7 and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. 8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. 9 As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.
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SO, Paul is clearly upset with the Galatians because they have deserted the Gospel of Grace Paul introduced and replaced it with another teaching – a teaching Paul finds aberrant enough for God to curse those who perverted the Gospel. The author, Paul, assumes the reader knows all the background information about him and what he taught. Paul had cast aside his former life, one of power and prestige, to undertake missionary journeys for the Gospel of Christ. These churches, according to the narrative in Galatians, were some of the first churches formed as a result of Paul’s missionary journeys. We will also see, in the narrative in Galatians that Paul has had to deal, more than once, with the issue of the Jewish based churches, including leaders in the Jerusalem church (Peter, James) insisting that converts to Christianity follow the Jewish rules for becoming a convert to Judaism in order to become a Christian, namely the ritual of circumcision for males.
Place yourself in Paul’s sandals — He had a life changing personal encounter with Jesus after His Ascension. Paul was commissioned by the living God to be His emissary to the gentiles. Concerning those actually living at the time, it is hard to conceive anyone who had a better first hand understanding of the futility involved in living under the law, and the freeing nature of the Gospel of Grace. Now, here are the Gentile churches, founded by Paul’s initial missionary activity, becoming absorbed into a gospel that includes slavery to the very LAW that drove Paul to persecute the church. Making matters worse is the fact that the false teachers are claiming Paul is really not an Apostle, is a poor speaker, and only teaches things (like no need for circumcision) to appease the desires of his audience.
Wow, if one of us faced a future of persecution after giving up what was essentially a dream life in our mother religion, had put all the effort into founding and teaching such a congregation only to have someone with our background undermine our efforts in a manner that results in slavery to the very law that drove to assist in the murder and persecution of others … Would we “saddle up” and ride with a vengeance to stop those people? I wager we would, and that is what Paul is doing “with words”. He does similar things associated with other churches, but this early attack on one essentially his first “gentile church” is particularly personal, and maybe that lack of cordial salutation in the letter is the first sign: this is personal for you and for me, and I will not let this go … (just a thought)
So, Paul is not happy … people claiming to be speaking under the authority of the church in Jerusalem — under the authority of Peter and James — have taught these churches that it is Paul who brings false teachings when he claims the gentiles do not need to be circumcised to become Christians.
So, let us read on in Galatians —-
Do you think Paul is upset???
Galatians 5:12 I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.
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That is nice and polite in the English translation. However, the Greek (apokoptó) literally is a phrase in English = I emasculate, castrate, mutilate myself.
So, Paul basically states “I wish those who disturbed you would take upon themselves to self castrate, emasculate and mutilate themselves.”
Effectively, Paul states that those teaching this false doctrine of circumcision should just go ahead and cut their manhood off completely, and severe themselves from the congregation.
Two thoughts on why the false teachers are interested in circumcision: One, it keeps them in better standing with the Jewish leaders. Two, it helps protect them and other Christians from persecution by the Romans: The Romans seldom allowed any conquered people to have any measure of autonomy or worship their previous gods – the Jews were an exception, and circumcision defined “a Jew”. So, these false teachers may actually have had a well intended motivation.
Actually, Paul had been known to enforce circumcision when he thought needful (in the below case for Timothy, who was, by Hebrew law, technically Jewish – and maybe because of a circumcised Jew being able to better move about the Roman empire to visit Jewish synagogues without raising the ire of local Jewish leaders.
Acts 16:1-5
1 He came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him. 3 Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. 5 So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.World English Bible
So, at the end —
Paul was outraged: Paul had given up the self-righteousness of the Pharisee, along with many other things, and had taught these people faithfully that they had no need to follow the LAW but the GOSPEL.
So, let us end with a discussion of the modern day Pharisees —
When, where, etc. have you witnessed the well intended Pharisees of today trying to place the burden of law upon believers, or those struggling to become believers?
Yes, they are still out there … :and Galatians tells us how to deal with this problem.
Are they well intended?
For the ones not well intended, what are their motivations?
Consider this:
The Holy Spirit of God influenced the authorship of this Letter to the Galatians by Paul. It is an example of how to deal with a Pharisee, even today: So, take it to heart, read the entirety, and do not forget this part”
Galatians 6:1-10
1 Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each man test his own work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in his neighbor. 5 For each man will bear his own burden.6 But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches. 7 Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
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