First signs of apostacy in Galatians?

[KGM]

I have a sister-in-law who is a “bible christian” and last spring she and I engaged in a debate so to speak over her beliefs and the beliefs of the CC. Having read several books defending the CC’s doctrines, I thought I could defend myself pretty well. However, she pretty much took control and practically read to me the entire book of Galatians and tried to show me how, in this book, there is evidence that some of the early church had begun to go off into apostacy. She believes that in Galatians you can see how the CC had already begun to show signs of not following the true christian faith. Can any former “bible christians” out there better explain to me what she is talking about. I recently read Galatians using the Navarre commentary and it seems to me that Paul is refering to the Jewish people who did not want to give up the precepts of the Mosaic law. I think she was trying to prove that the CC has “come up with” all sorts of practices which perhaps parellel the Jewish people who were “confined under the law”. I think she sees us Catholics perhaps as being confined under the laws of Catholicism. Correct me if I’m wrong. I want to better understand what she believes so that if we ever engage in one of these conversations again I will be better prepared.

Thanks in advance.
God Bless
KGM

 

[Fidelis]

KGM:

I recently read Galatians using the Navarre commentary and it seems to me that Paul is refering to the Jewish people who did not want to give up the precepts of the Mosaic law. I think she was trying to prove that the CC has “come up with” all sorts of practices which perhaps parellel the Jewish people who were “confined under the law”.

I am not a former or present Protestant, but I think your perception of her misperception of Galatians is right on. Galatians was written to counteract the disrupting influence of the Judaizers on the Galatian church. Her interpretation that equates this with Catholicism is reading into above and beyond what Paul intended. In other words, she’s stretching, and you need to tell her so. Simply say, “You are reading something into the text that isn’t there. It does not apply to what we are talking about.”

 

[stbruno]

From what I understand, the letter to the Galations is to the new Christians converted by Paul from paganism,who were now being enticed by other missionaries to add the observances of the Jewish law including the rite of circumcision, to the Christ as a means of salvation. For since Paul’s visit some other interpretation of Christianity had been brought to these neophytes probably by converts from Judaism from the austere Essene sect.

These interlopers insisted on the necessity of following certain parts of the Mosaic law along with faith in Christ, therefore undermining Pauls authority. Asserting that Paul had not been trained by Jesus himself, that his gospel did not agree with that of the original and true apostles of Christ and that Paul kept from his converts in Galatia the necessity of accepting Christ.
When Paul learned of this situation, he wrote this letter to defend his apostolic authority and of the correct understanding of the faith.
He set forth the unique importance of Christ and his redemptive sacrifice on the cross, and the freedom that Christians enjoy form the old burdens of the law. It is even contains an autobiographical account of how Paul came to the faith.

 

[Maccabees]

Well what exactly is her point?
Paul and The apostles didn’t follow into apostacy those who failed to obey the teachings of the church did. The gates of hell shal not prevail against the church. This doesn’t protect those who reject the church this goes for Judaizers, protestants, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses all those who have fallen away and apostocize.
Apostacy is desribed as an occurence that will and can occur in the church but it never says the whole church will go down for that will be contradicitng Jesus. Paul says their will always be a faithful remnant.
THat would be those who remain faithful to the apostolic teachings.
I am pretty sure if Paul felt the whole church has apostocize except him and would do so in the future he would just have quit on the spot.
WHy the heck would you be subjected to prison and death for your entirement movement to fall apart within your lifetime. No he gave his life knowing that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church.