But St. Paul must have known that the works according to Mosaic Law (Torah) are to be practiced because they are commanded by G-d and explicitly for the benefit of others as well as self here on earth. They never were and are not now meant to be practiced for the purpose of achieving eternal salvation.Paul is referring to works of the Mosaic Law
Peace
James
The Torah/Pentateuch (Mosaic Written Law) consists of the first five Books of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). These are an elaboration of the Ten Commandments (better translated as Ten Statements or Ten Words). They discuss moral values and rituals within all aspects of earthly life. However, even the Torah does not go into exceptional detail and there are omissions in the form of elliptical passages. That’s where the Talmud (Oral Law) comes in: to fill in the gaps found in the Torah. The Talmud is somewhat equivalent to the Oral Tradition of the Church. Some (Orthodox) Jews also use the Kabbalah to interpret more profoundly the meaning of certain Torah passages.Paul is referring to works of the Mosaic Law.
What are the works of Mosaic Law. I assume they are not the 10 commandments.
Thank you for your help.
Yes - undoubtedly Paul knew that…but Paul also knew something else. That People can get caught up in the “details” of trying to follow the law and lose the point of it all. He expresses Like this…But St. Paul must have known that the works according to Mosaic Law (Torah) are to be practiced because they are commanded by G-d and explicitly for the benefit of others as well as self here on earth. They never were and are not now meant to be practiced for the purpose of achieving eternal salvation.
This is how I understand it and I’ve taken it a little differently than previous posters, I think… We can never get to heaven by just doing good things (works) or our righteousness. We must have faith in Jesus Christ to get to heaven. Jesus is the way the the truth and the life… We can’t say Oh I did all these good things so that will get me to heaven… Our belief in Jesus Christ will bring us to heaven. And that goes along with God not taking the unwilling… We must be a willing participant in Gods grace.IIf not good works, what kind of, not by works, as indicated below is St Paul addressing?
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
In Christianity the Law is only fulfilled authentically to the extent that it is fulfilled according to the two greatest commandments; merely fulfilling it is not enough IOW; how it’s fulfilled is the essential difference between the old and new covenants. And this new Covenant is only “fulfillable” by grace. Rom 13:8 underscores this teaching:But St. Paul must have known that the works according to Mosaic Law (Torah) are to be practiced because they are commanded by G-d and explicitly for the benefit of others as well as self here on earth. They never were and are not now meant to be practiced for the purpose of achieving eternal salvation.
This same interpretation of the Law was made by Rabbi Hillel the Elder a generation before Rabbi Jesus: “the Law consists of two commandments, to love G-d and to love one’s neighbor, and all the rest is commentary. Now go and study.” The Oral Law adds to this: “Studying is not the ultimate, but the doing.” IOW, for Judaism, love in action is the key to following the Law, much as the Catholic Church states. Finally, the Law itself asserts that the practice of the commandments must be done sincerely rather than merely going through the motions. The point of disagreement that we have is the concept of grace. Judaism believes that mankind is capable of choosing the correct path due to its G-d-given innate potential for doing good, whereas Christianity focuses on the fallen nature of mankind and, therefore, its need for G-d’s grace to choose the path towards morality and salvation.In Christianity the Law is only fulfilled authentically to the extent that it is fulfilled according to the two greatest commandments; merely fulfilling it is not enough IOW; how it’s fulfilled is the essential difference between the old and new covenants. And this new Covenant is only “fulfillable” by grace. Rom 13:8 underscores this teaching:
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Yes, I agree with this.This same interpretation of the Law was made by Rabbi Hillel the Elder a generation before Rabbi Jesus: “the Law consists of two commandments, to love G-d and to love one’s neighbor, and all the rest is commentary. Now go and study.” The Oral Law adds to this: “Studying is not the ultimate, but the doing.” IOW, for Judaism, love in action is the key to following the Law, much as the Catholic Church states. Finally, the Law itself asserts that the practice of the commandments must be done sincerely rather than merely going through the motions. The point of disagreement that we have is the concept of grace. Judaism believes that mankind is capable of choosing the correct path due to its G-d-given innate potential for doing good, whereas Christianity focuses on the fallen nature of mankind and, therefore, its need for G-d’s grace to choose the path towards morality and salvation.
Paul is speaking about contractural works for the purposes of earning salvation and pointing out that no one can earn salvation, although he is not ruling out that one must still do a fully christian work in order to be saved.IIf not good works, what kind of, not by works, as indicated below is St Paul addressing?
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
So; notice in the passage I cited that there is an explicit contrast between works (plural) and a singular/unified work called “Faith”. In earlier versions of the Greek, the ones not corrected to be in accordance with the Latin Vulgate, un-like the later TR Stephanus 1550 used by the protestants in the KJV; it’s far easier to pick out in earlier manuscripts St. Paul’s distinction between the work of a Christian (singular/unitive), and the works (polygamous,etc.) of the world for he maintains a pretty consistent habit of condemning things in the plural – and blessing them in the singular. But … alas … in later versions of the Greek manuscripts, the copyists of the bible got lazy and changes creep in because they didn’t notice the distinction.What must we do to do the works of God ?
This is the work of God, that you believe in the one whom he sent.