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tritcher1988
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Please help me to understand these Bible verses:
[BIBLEDRB]Galatians 5:1-6[/BIBLEDRB]
[BIBLEDRB]Galatians 5:1-6[/BIBLEDRB]
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Gorgias
Guest
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mt77061
Guest
I am not educated at seminary and have no proper theological training. (I am also going to refer to the King James Version of this passage as that is the Bible translation I am most familiar with. Before reading your post, I don’t recall ever having come across the passage you indicated.)
St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, Chapter 5, verses 1 - 6 (KJV): “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
Comparing the translations, the King James Version seems more helpful. I was raised Protestant, but converted to Catholicism about age 20. I am age 35 now. I enjoy the King James Version of the Holy Bible for some of the same reason many people like Shakespeare, that was the “Elizabethan Age.” In my opinion, Elizabethan English was the heighth of the English language.(Elizabeth I’s father was King Henry VIII, and Elizabeth’s successor was King James I, who had authorized what we know as “the King James Bible.”)
My take on the passage: If the Christian attempts to follow the Old Testament laws (which in this selection has been highlighted by St. Paul as circumcision), then there is a danger that they are slipping away from faith in God and His Church, and that the Christian is adopting Jewish laws and customs to the exclusion of the precepts and laws of Christ’s Church. If we know better than to, and yet, decide to follow another religion (Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.), then I am taking my eyes off Christ and my obedience away from the Church. I have in a very real sense, fallen from grace by rejecting the infinite mercy and promises of (the One True) God.
This was more of a warning for the people of Galatia at that time, still drenched in paganism. But it is also a warning that we need to pray for God’s grace to remain in the faith of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, Chapter 5, verses 1 - 6 (KJV): “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
Comparing the translations, the King James Version seems more helpful. I was raised Protestant, but converted to Catholicism about age 20. I am age 35 now. I enjoy the King James Version of the Holy Bible for some of the same reason many people like Shakespeare, that was the “Elizabethan Age.” In my opinion, Elizabethan English was the heighth of the English language.(Elizabeth I’s father was King Henry VIII, and Elizabeth’s successor was King James I, who had authorized what we know as “the King James Bible.”)
My take on the passage: If the Christian attempts to follow the Old Testament laws (which in this selection has been highlighted by St. Paul as circumcision), then there is a danger that they are slipping away from faith in God and His Church, and that the Christian is adopting Jewish laws and customs to the exclusion of the precepts and laws of Christ’s Church. If we know better than to, and yet, decide to follow another religion (Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.), then I am taking my eyes off Christ and my obedience away from the Church. I have in a very real sense, fallen from grace by rejecting the infinite mercy and promises of (the One True) God.
This was more of a warning for the people of Galatia at that time, still drenched in paganism. But it is also a warning that we need to pray for God’s grace to remain in the faith of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
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PJM
Guest
This means becomming a servant of Satan: SIN!.
Because this was an OLD-Covenant / Testament; now replaced by baptism: John 3:5
Jer.31: 31 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,”
Heb.8: 8, 13 ” For he finds fault with them when he says: "The days will come, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; **In speaking of a new covenant he treats the first as obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” **
This means that if ones breaks “just one law”; it is NO BETTER than braking ALL of the laws.
It is NOT obedience to the “old laws” [the 613 ADDED to the 10 Commandmenys by the Priest [NOT GOD]… It is Obedience to the New Covenant and ALL of it’s conditions INCLUDING continued full Obedience to the 10 Commandments:
Heb.6: 10 “For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love which you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.”
Rev.2: 23 “and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.”
1 Peter 1: 17 “Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, “
Matt.19: 17 “And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
Unlike or Protestant Brethern we KNOW Salvation is a Process of many things:
Baptism Jn. 3:5
Belief in God [true Faith] THROUGH God’s Grace: Eph.2: 8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God”
Obedience to the Commandments Mt. 19:17
Die in the State of Grace 1st. Jn.1:8-10; 1st. Jn.5:16-17 John 20:23
Charity: James 2:
What I just said in the above #5.
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peace2u2
Guest
Pray that your heart and your mind be open to all that God would like to reveal to you through His Sacred Scripture.
Interestingly, this week’s daily Mass readings are from Galatians. I prefer the Jerusalem Bible translation:
Galatians 5:1-6
When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. It is I, Paul, who tell you this: if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all. With all solemnity I repeat my warning: Everyone who accepts circumcision is obliged to keep the whole Law. But if you do look to the Law to make you justified, then you have separated yourselves from Christ, and have fallen from grace. Christians are told by the Spirit to look to faith for those rewards that righteousness hopes for, since in Christ Jesus whether you are circumcised or not makes no difference – what matters is faith that makes its power felt through love.
Salvation is a free gift from God to all men. But, that salvation is contingent upon what we do with that gift? The “Law” is good because God gave us the “Law”, but if that is all we do is follow the Law then what good is it? For it is when our hearts are moved to be the hands and feet of Jesus and we submit to the will of God in our lives, then we are truly free in Christ and no longer a slave to sin or the Law; we then naturally follow the Law because doing so leads to a culture of life and not a culture of death. Salvation is a gift from God through His grace that He offers so freely.
Here is a lovely commentary on this passage which describes in detail the point St. Paul is trying to get across to the Church in Galatia:
livingspace.sacredspace.ie/O2283R/
Interestingly, this week’s daily Mass readings are from Galatians. I prefer the Jerusalem Bible translation:
Galatians 5:1-6
When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. It is I, Paul, who tell you this: if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all. With all solemnity I repeat my warning: Everyone who accepts circumcision is obliged to keep the whole Law. But if you do look to the Law to make you justified, then you have separated yourselves from Christ, and have fallen from grace. Christians are told by the Spirit to look to faith for those rewards that righteousness hopes for, since in Christ Jesus whether you are circumcised or not makes no difference – what matters is faith that makes its power felt through love.
Salvation is a free gift from God to all men. But, that salvation is contingent upon what we do with that gift? The “Law” is good because God gave us the “Law”, but if that is all we do is follow the Law then what good is it? For it is when our hearts are moved to be the hands and feet of Jesus and we submit to the will of God in our lives, then we are truly free in Christ and no longer a slave to sin or the Law; we then naturally follow the Law because doing so leads to a culture of life and not a culture of death. Salvation is a gift from God through His grace that He offers so freely.
Here is a lovely commentary on this passage which describes in detail the point St. Paul is trying to get across to the Church in Galatia:
livingspace.sacredspace.ie/O2283R/
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COPLAND_3
Guest
Here is the commentary from the Aquinas Study Bible
5:2 However, according to Augustine, the apostles did in very truth observe the works of the Law and had the intention of observing them; because, according to the teaching of the apostles, it was lawful at that time, before grace had become widespread, for converts from Judaism to observe them. Therefore, because Timothy was born of a Jewish mother, the Apostle circumcised him with the intention of observing the Law. But because the Galatians were putting their hope in the legal observances after the spreading of grace, as though without them grace was not sufficient to save them, and they observed them in that frame of mind, for that reason the Apostle declared to them that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (St. Thomas Aquinas)
5:3 He who is circumcised thereby proclaims his allegiance to the Jewish Church, its laws and its obligations, just as one who is baptized does with regard to the Christian Church. (Cornelius a Lapide) Thus a man might cut away his foreskin for health’s sake, not with the intention of observing legal circumcision. (St. Thomas Aquinas Sum Theo 1.103.4.r1)
5:4 fall from grace: Vatablus interprets the term to mean that Christ had become of no effect, His labour had been thrown away, His Passion made fruitless by the withdrawal of His grace. The very name of Christian was no longer due to them, and should be dropped; or if they wished to retain it, they must say farewell to the law. (Cornelius a Lapide)
**5:6 faith that works by love: **Here he gives them a hard blow, by showing that this error had crept in because the love of Christ had not been rooted within them. For to believe is not all that is required, but also to abide in love. It is as if he had said, Had you loved Christ as you ought, you would not have deserted to bondage, nor abandoned Him who redeemed you, nor treated with contumely Him who gave you freedom. (St. John Chrysostom)
5:2 However, according to Augustine, the apostles did in very truth observe the works of the Law and had the intention of observing them; because, according to the teaching of the apostles, it was lawful at that time, before grace had become widespread, for converts from Judaism to observe them. Therefore, because Timothy was born of a Jewish mother, the Apostle circumcised him with the intention of observing the Law. But because the Galatians were putting their hope in the legal observances after the spreading of grace, as though without them grace was not sufficient to save them, and they observed them in that frame of mind, for that reason the Apostle declared to them that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (St. Thomas Aquinas)
5:3 He who is circumcised thereby proclaims his allegiance to the Jewish Church, its laws and its obligations, just as one who is baptized does with regard to the Christian Church. (Cornelius a Lapide) Thus a man might cut away his foreskin for health’s sake, not with the intention of observing legal circumcision. (St. Thomas Aquinas Sum Theo 1.103.4.r1)
5:4 fall from grace: Vatablus interprets the term to mean that Christ had become of no effect, His labour had been thrown away, His Passion made fruitless by the withdrawal of His grace. The very name of Christian was no longer due to them, and should be dropped; or if they wished to retain it, they must say farewell to the law. (Cornelius a Lapide)
**5:6 faith that works by love: **Here he gives them a hard blow, by showing that this error had crept in because the love of Christ had not been rooted within them. For to believe is not all that is required, but also to abide in love. It is as if he had said, Had you loved Christ as you ought, you would not have deserted to bondage, nor abandoned Him who redeemed you, nor treated with contumely Him who gave you freedom. (St. John Chrysostom)
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Ben_F
Guest
This verse also applies to the falling off of Christ and embrasing the other Protestant sects.God bless:thumbsup:
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tritcher1988
Guest
Yoke of Bondage = Mosaic Law?
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jcrichton
Guest
…circumcision was the physical sign that a man entered into Covenant with Yahweh God; this remained in effect (Genesis 17:1-14) till the New Covenant: Christ.
The new sign changed because Christ came to Baptize in the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 4:30); so the sign of circumcision was tied to the Old Covenant which included the Law (Mosaic Law) and the prophecies… since Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets and since He came Baptizing in the Holy Spirit those who return to the practice of circumcision return to the full pact/covenant which include the Mosaic Law and the prophecies about the coming of the Messiah… those who live by the law of circumcision are rejecting Christ and the New Covenant with its new sign: the Holy Spirit.
Maran atha!
Angel
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Fragile
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“The fear that keeps us here!”This verse also applies to the falling off of Christ and embrasing the other Protestant sects.God bless:thumbsup:
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Jim_Baur
Guest
5: 6
As Jesus told us, love is first.
Love is first in the sense that it is in charge of everything else.
Love is first in the sense that a motor is that which makes a car an automobile.
In I Cor 13, Paul says that love is the greatest.
All of the other graces or gifts are nothing without love.
As Jesus told us, love is first.
Love is first in the sense that it is in charge of everything else.
Love is first in the sense that a motor is that which makes a car an automobile.
In I Cor 13, Paul says that love is the greatest.
All of the other graces or gifts are nothing without love.
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tritcher1988
Guest
Specifically what parts of Mosaic Law do Catholics no longer follow?
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babs57
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Read Leviticus and Deuteronomy, and you’ll find out!
Paul is speaking specifically about circumcision. Some Judaizers had come along and convinced the Galatians that they had to be Jewish before they could be Christian. But the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) had already ruled against that.
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tritcher1988
Guest
It’s not really convenient for me to read through Leviticus and Deuteronomy and then compare that with what Jesus said about mosaic law. It seems to me that it is an important thing to know the difference between Old and new covenant. The reason I’m asking the question here in the first place is to get straight answers. So once again please: specifically what parts of mosaic law do Catholics not follow?
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tritcher1988
Guest
It’s not really convenient for me to read through Leviticus and Deuteronomy and then compare that with what Jesus said about mosaic law. It seems to me that it is an important thing to know the difference between Old and new covenant. The reason I’m asking the question here in the first place is to get answers from someone more experienced than I am. So once again please: specifically what parts of mosaic law do Catholics not follow?
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babs57
Guest
There are 613 commandments in the Mosaic Law. How can we list those? How about we list the ones we DO have to keep?
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
Sorry . I didn’t mean to sound snarky! :imsorry: I just came from a Fundamentalist website, and it was quite offensive.
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tritcher1988
Guest
It’s cool:
So Catholics only follow “10 commandments” of the old law? I wonder if there are any more parts of the old law that are observed by Catholics? So when Paul referred to the old law as the yoke of slavery, he was speaking against the the goat sacrifices and the other temple rituals etc. Before when I heard “mosaic law” I simply thought “10 commandments”. So when I read 5:1 I thought that paul was denouncing the 10.
So Catholics only follow “10 commandments” of the old law? I wonder if there are any more parts of the old law that are observed by Catholics? So when Paul referred to the old law as the yoke of slavery, he was speaking against the the goat sacrifices and the other temple rituals etc. Before when I heard “mosaic law” I simply thought “10 commandments”. So when I read 5:1 I thought that paul was denouncing the 10.
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jcrichton
Guest
…I’m not a scholar/theologean/historian so I only go on what I have learned through general intercourse… there are over 600 Mosaic Laws… some directly related to worship others to social/family life… the most salient of these deal with worship:
20 ‘Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, though you say that Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.’ 21 Jesus said: Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know; for salvation comes from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming – indeed is already here – when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: that is the kind of worshipper the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth. 25 The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah – that is, Christ – is coming; and when he comes he will explain everything.’ 26 Jesus said, ‘That is who I am, I who speak to you.’ (St. John 4:20-26)
…though we adhere to the Ten Commandments, Catholics celebrate only Jesus’ Salvific Sacrifice instead of the various Sacrifices Commanded by the Old Covenant; also we worship God in remarkedly different way: we worship God in Christ and through Christ… and as Christ stated, in the Holy Spirit… which means that the Old Covenant worship is no longer in effect…
If you so desire, I can search the web for the the Mosaic Law and PM you with it.
Maran atha!
Angel
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jcrichton
Guest
St. Paul speaks of the Mosaic Law as the Law of slavery because it demanded that every single Command be met (something that is nearly impossible for man to achieve); in Christ all of these Demands are met and we have Him as Mediator between us and God so that we, in His Blood, can be Cleansed of our sins (Sacrament of Confession) as well as be granted rescue (able to be seen by God as His Children) since in Christ we are a new Creature.It’s cool:
So Catholics only follow “10 commandments” of the old law? I wonder if there are any more parts of the old law that are observed by Catholics? So when Paul referred to the old law as the yoke of slavery, he was speaking against the the goat sacrifices and the other temple rituals etc. Before when I heard “mosaic law” I simply thought “10 commandments”. So when I read 5:1 I thought that paul was denouncing the 10.
St. Paul is emphesizing that Christ, in Whom we have been freed from sin, is our New Covenant while the Mosaic Law, with all its demands and regulations, served only to point to the fact that fracturing those Commandments we would surely die (remain in slavery to sin).
Maran atha!
Angel
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babs57
Guest
I see. Also, just a wee correction… We are not bound to the Ten Commandments (or any other law) like the Jews were. Remember, we no longer have to keep the Sabbath. But, were are bound to the Law of Love. LOVE GOD. All else follows naturally. John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments"It’s cool:
So Catholics only follow “10 commandments” of the old law? I wonder if there are any more parts of the old law that are observed by Catholics? So when Paul referred to the old law as the yoke of slavery, he was speaking against the the goat sacrifices and the other temple rituals etc. Before when I heard “mosaic law” I simply thought “10 commandments”. So when I read 5:1 I thought that paul was denouncing the 10.
It’s very liberating.
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