Galatians and Circumcision: Matters of Scriptural Interpretation

Eventually, what matters is how to interpret scripture. Jewish Christians argue that circumcision is a must. Their scriptural basis is Gen 21 in which God orders all descendants of Abraham to be circumcised. But Paul’s scriptural interpretation begins with Gen 12 in which God calls Abraham out of nowhere and Abraham trusts him. Faith comes before circumcision (law). Faith comes before the law. Faith is the starting point for a new relationship with God. Faith can lead to keeping the law. For gentile Christians, works of the law such as circumcision or purity laws are not essential. For Jews, they can keep these laws along with faith.

The Old and New Perspectives on Paul

Did Paul reject the law or Israel for the sake of faith? But he says that the law is holy and that faith cannot overthrow the law. Christ fulfilled the law, and the law and faith can go hand in hand with a focus on the love of God and the love of neighbor. Jesus is a paragon of faithfulness. Christian means to follow him and his faithfulness.

Rom 3:22 as a Snapshot of Paul's Gospel

[Courtesy of FreeBibleImages.org]

"God's righteousness through Jesus Christ's faithfulness for all who believe" (Rom 3:22).

Rom 3:22 may be considered a snapshot of Paul's gospel: “The righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe.” There are three elements in his proclamation: God’s righteousness; Christ’s faithfulness; and Christian participation in Christ. God’s righteousness means that God is righteous and steadfast. Christ’s faithfulness demonstrates God’s righteousness: Christ’s grace, love, and sacrifice for God and humanity. But nothing will happen unless there is a response from people. God’s righteousness comes through Christ’s faithfulness for all who participate in Christ.

Conclusion:
You are under God’s righteousness. That is, you are in the domain of God’s love and care. God is like the sun. Come out to God through Jesus’s faithfulness and his grace. This means you share in his faithfulness, dying to sin, living to God.

Paul and the Good News

Paul's gospel involves a threefold (tripartite) relationship between God, Christ, and people. God is the good news, which is about the rule of God. Christ exemplified it through faithfulness. People have to proclaim the good news of God that came through Christ.

Jesus and the good news of God

What did Jesus proclaim after John was arrested? Mark 1:14 says that he proclaimed "the good news of God." God is the ruler; God rules with justice and mercy.

What is the essential thing that Paul shares with Jesus?

Jesus and Paul must be understood within Judaism. Both of them share the following: 1) God-centered good news! The good news is about God and comes from God; 2) The importance of change/renewal of a mind. Metanoia (Jesus); Metamorphosis (Paul).

The Johannine Dualism as a Transformative Space

The dualism of John is not a Gnostic type of dualism; it is a transformative space in which the community engages in the world through love. Love overcomes fear. Love transforms the community. Love is a new way of living in times of crisis. As God so loved the world, Jesus also did it. John’s community also does the same thing.

Johannine Language: Ironies and Metaphors

John's Gospel is full of ironies and metaphors. How can we understand them?

See my article:

"The Johannine Realism about the Kingdom of God: "Born from Above, Born of Water and Spirit" (John 3:1-21)"

Abstract:
John emphasizes the realism of the kingdom of God in the present. Given the Johannine community’s expulsion from the synagogue due to its faith that Jesus is the Messiah, the members of this nascent community need assurance about their new place in Christ. They are comforted and encouraged to live as children of God. They are born from above and experience a new life through the Spirit. To maintain their discipleship with Jesus, they must keep his word and stay in the light. The Advocate will come to them after Jesus is gone, and God’s reign continues to be seen, touched, and experienced in the present. As Jesus sends his disciples into the world, the Johannine community receives a new mission to love the world, testifying to the truth of God, following Jesus’ word.

Jesus and Nicodemus

How to understand the birth metaphor in John 3:1-11? 

What point does Nicodemus miss out on? 

What is Jesus's point?

Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels

There is one Jesus, but there are different portrayals of Jesuses in the different Gospels. This video deals with the synoptic Jesus who is also different in the synoptic Gospels.