Galatians 2:14 – Judaizing?

…If you, being inherently a Jew, are living as the nations, and not as the Jews, how are you compelling the nations to be Judaizing?

Initially, Peter had eaten at one table with believers from the nations in Antioch. But when a delegation from Jerusalem arrived there, he immediately stopped. For fear of criticism from the Jewish side. Paul is outraged by this double-minded attitude and says it openly and in the middle of Peter’s face. At first Peter had set himself up like the nations by eating with them. But by subsequently separating himself from them again, he in fact forced the nations to be Jews (lit. Judaizing). How else could they eat at óne table again?

Almost in all of Paul’s letters we encounter ‘Judaizers’. People who wanted to ‘Judaize’ believers among the nations, that is, let them adopt a Jewish lifestyle. They promoted the Sabbath and other heyday, kosher food and circumcision. Because, so they taught, in order to live righteously, one cannot ignore the law of Moses. But Paul destroys this idea. Once, Abram, 430 years before the law came, was declared righteous by God. Why? Abram believed God’s unconditional promise!

Delen: