Stroll through Scripture for May 25, 2025

Based on Galatians 1:13-17; 2:11-21

This passage from Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia is related to last Sunday’s reading in Acts 15 where we hear about a dispute over who is considered a member of the church.  The issue revolves around whether men and boys need to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses or not.  Paul writes this letter to argue that the practice is unnecessary.  He starts off defending his apostleship – his being sent by Jesus to proclaim the Good News to the Gentiles.  

I remember a professor in seminary talking about the dispute.  He described it in simple terms – The James Gang vs. Paul.  It was the professor’s way of getting to the heart of the matter.  James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem, with his focus on Jewish Christians.  When the church began, Jewish Christians made up the vast majority of those that were following Jesus.  As the movement spread across the Mediterranean, things began to change.  

One of the biggest challenges with having a movement of Jewish and non-Jewish converts was how they would relate to each other.  Did the Jewish dietary laws apply?  Did circumcision?  Could Jewish and non-Jewish converts be in contact with each other?  These were all important questions that hadn’t been considered before and needed an answer.  If the Jewish laws were necessary, then was the early church going to have various “levels” of Christianity?  Could people eat together?  Could they embrace?  

In chapter two, Paul address some of this with Peter.  Peter had been all on board with Paul in the idea that Jewish and Gentile Christians were the same, could eat together, and that circumcision was unnecessary.  But then some men from the “James” gang came up to Antioch to bring Peter back in line with James’ thoughts on the matter.   Paul confronted Peter in public over this.  

Paul accused Peter of hypocrisy – how can you claim one thing yet live a different way?  

Paul ends up arguing for salvation through faith in Jesus.  This becomes the foundation of Lutheran theology, the very argument that Luther would make 1500 years later.  

Questions for further reflection:

• Paul accuses Peter of hypocrisy – claiming one thing while living a different way.  How are we each guilty of the same thing?  What does Jesus call on us to do?  Why is this so difficult?  
• What does salvation through faith in Jesus mean for us today?  Go beyond an intellectual understanding – what does this mean in practical terms?