By Rollin Grams, Bible and Mission. (Photo: Wikimedia Creative Commons)
Introduction: Galatians 2.15-21 and 3.1-4.31
Galatians 2.15-21 is something of a tightly packed paragraph that captures the essence of Paul’s theology. In it, we hear the Paul who spoke regularly on this subject, in synagogues, before Gentiles, and to his churches. We hear themes such as justification by faith not works, justification through faith in Jesus Christ not the Law, the justification of sinners, dying to the Law and living to God, the crucifixion of Jesus as loving and life-giving and God’s grace, and participating in Jesus’ crucifixion and life. These inter-related theological themes come at us in this paragraph like a tidal wave. In chapters 3 and 4 of Galatians, Paul unpacks these themes. In this lesson, I want to approach what Paul says by asking, ‘What part of this theology should Jews who knew nothing of Jesus have already expected by reading the Old Testament?’ Imagine Jews in a synagogue in Galatia being told that a Jew, a Pharisee, and a student of rabbi Gamaliel from Jerusalem had arrived and would speak to them that day. How much of the Gospel would they already have heard in the Scriptures, even if they were about to hear of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
The reason for asking this question lies in Galatians 2.15, where Paul says, ‘We, by nature Jews and not sinners from the Gentiles, know’ (my trans.). Paul’s teaching from here through chapter 4 rests on what the Jews should have known from the Scriptures and on the fulfillment of the Scriptures in Jesus Christ. Jews and Christians should agree theologically about so much; what Paul wanted them to see is that their theology was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In chapters 3 and 4, we see how he argued this.
1. What Goes for Jews also Goes for Gentiles
Paul is concerned to say that, as far as the Gospel goes, the same applies to Jews and Gentiles. There is not one plan of salvation for the Jews and one or more for the Gentiles. There are not different paths to God. What goes for the Jews also goes for the Gentiles.