27 Sep
Paul, The Hypocrite?
Daniel at Messy Pastor mentioned that in our zeal to observe the Sabbath on the proper day as sanctified by God, we shouldn’t fall into the danger of still being bonded by the old Laws as did the Galatians.
Previously, I have written quite a lot on the importance of observing the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week just as God had sanctified it.
That led me to earnestly read Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
Though it is true that Paul was earnest in telling the Galatians to not observe the days and seasons in Galatians 4:9-10, I don’t think he was telling the Galatians to not observe the Sabbath as it should be — on the seventh and last day of the week.
“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.”
What makes me think so?
There are a few factors that convinced me that Paul wasn’t referring to the “days, and months, and times, and years” and meaning them to refer to the Sabbath in any manner.
Firstly, the Galatians weren’t Jewish, so they wouldn’t have known about the different festivities and observances of the Jews.
According to Wikipedia, Galatia is an “ethnic reference to a Celtic people living in northern Asia Minor, but perhaps the majority opinion is that it is a geographical reference to the Roman province in central Asia Minor, which had been settled by immigrant Celts in the 270s BC and retained Gaulish features of culture and language in Paul’s day.”
Furthermore, prior to becoming Christians, the people of Galatia were pagans, and would have been observing pagan festivals and “days, and months, and times, and years”.
“Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.”
Thus, if Paul were to teach them that it was not necessary to observe the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week, he would have been very clear on that instruction, lest the people in Galatia misinterpret his words and intention.
Secondly, referring to the overview of Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles as recorded in Acts 13, we observe that Paul himself observed the Sabbath!
“Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.”
Now let’s play connect the dots.
If Paul himself observed the Sabbath as it should be, and taught only on the Sabbath (Acts 13:42-44, KJV), it would follow that if he were to admonish the Galatians for observing the Sabbath, that would have made Paul at the very least a big hypocrite, won’t it?
Last, but not least, early Christians learned from the Apostles by hearing and following their examples.
It will therefore not be too far off the mark to conclude that whatever Paul did and how and when he observed the Sabbath would serve as perfect examples for the new Christians, who were once pagans, to follow.
Applying that conclusion to our search for the truth today with regards to the observance of Sabbath, it is therefore clearly definitive that Sabbath is to be observed as God had meant it to be, i.e. on the sanctified seventh day of the week, and not on Sunday which is the first day of the week.
Shalom Aleichem.
Tags: Apostles, Christianity, Galatians, Paul, Sabbath, Shabbat
Posted by Bobby on 27.09.07 at 0:01
Ma sh’lom’cha Isaiah,
I am in 100% agreement that the Sabbath should be observed on Saturday. What i’m looking into right now is, as Christians, are we still to observe the Sabbath. In Hebrews 4:8-10 Paul uses the word “rest”. This is a quote from a site titled “Straight Talk About God”.
This word rest is one of the pivotal words in the Bible for Christians. It helps answer the long-debated question regarding keeping of the Sabbath. This has been one of the most controversial issues of Christianity for many centuries. It has caused schisms in the Church, and spawned whole new denominations. Many folks cling to the legalistic view that we must keep the saturday Sabbath, as it was commanded by God on Mt. Sinai. Paul breaks that old Bond by explaining rest, and then telling us that our rest now is faithing.
Keeping the Sabbath was in the same class with keeping all the other Laws. One of the reasons God had the Israelites living by those Laws and not Grace, like us, is that he was teaching them to trust Him. He forced them, thru the Law, to trust Him. Trust that He would forgive their sins when they sacrificed. Trust that He would provide enough in the sixth year to last over the seventh, when the ground was to be left to rest. To not work one day a week and trust that God would make up for the lack of output. God was always trying to give them ways to trust Him. Still is.
The main way we trust Him is faithing. ANY act, as long as He’s in on it is a trusting act like not working on Saturday. Neither act is more important than the other. “Faith is no respecter of acts.” :-) A faith act is a faith act is a faith act.
Finally said, “Faithing has now replaced keeping God’s Sabbath.”
Nice talking to you again Isaiah.
God bless!!
Posted by Bobby on 27.09.07 at 0:01
Isaiah,
Galatians 3:19 Why then was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
3:24. Wherefore the law was our pedagogue in Christ: that we might be justified by faith.
3:25. But after the faith is come, we are no longer under a pedagogue.
3:26. For you are all the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus.
3:27. For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ.
3:28. There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
This tells me that we are not to observe the “law” as the Jews did. Am I reading this correctly?
God bless!!
Posted by Michael Moore on 27.09.07 at 0:01
I am of the belief that we are no longer bound to the laws of the sabbath. It is our faith in christ alone that keeps us in right standing with God!
Collossians 2:16-17
So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
1 Corinthians 9: 19-21
Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
Galatians 5:18
But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
Great post my friend! It’s a topic that I would like to do further study on.
Posted by Shalene on 27.09.07 at 0:01
Hi Isaiah, I tend to agree with both my husband and Michael on this. Also Hebrews 4:8-10 states
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
Hbr 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath‑rest for the people of God;
Hbr 4:10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.
Jesus is our rest and therefore our Sabbath for those of us not under Jewish law. I also agree and I know that you know this already that like Michael said, Paul lived under Jewish law while with the Jews and not under the law when with the Gentiles- though he himself knew that he was not subject to the law as the Jews were. (see the Scriptures that Michael quoted.) Blessings and Shalom.
Posted by King's Kid on 27.09.07 at 0:01
Bobby in Hebrews 4-1-10, Paul is speaking of the rest that some of us will enter into during His thousand year millenial reign. At which time the saints will enter into their “rest”
Do you notice in verse :10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
…..ENTERED INTO HIS REST , HE ALSO HATH CEASED FRO HIS OWN WORKS…… Does this statement ring any bells?
Peace to all
Posted by King's Kid on 27.09.07 at 0:01
Keep searching and seeking Isaiah, and you will find the Truth.
Peace and blessing
Posted by King's Kid on 27.09.07 at 0:01
Shalene and Michael,
If that were true about Paul then he would be as Isaiah posed in this Post title–A Hipocrite. He is NOT. Read 1 cor 9:27. He strove to enter into his rest.
Peace
Posted by Daniel on 27.09.07 at 0:01
Isaiah,
I really admire you brother, really I do. I sense the spirit of genuineness in you. You’re not just out to argue for the sake of argument. You actually took time to read the Scripture and interact with it before making up your mind. I’m gonna do the same. I don’t have much time right now to interact with this because of church stuff, but I will ponder what you say and think about and pray about this whole issue. Thanks
Posted by Sicarii on 27.09.07 at 0:01
I apologize for my silence as response to your comments. I have been re-reading what Bobby and Shalene quoted and will come back to you soon.
Daniel: I seek no admiration, but to share the Truth, and I thank you for guiding me to read that. You’ve been a great brother, and I thank God for your participation.
God bless!
Shabbat Shalom, everyone.