Following Christ-Rediscovering the Jewish Faith of Jesusಮಾದರಿ

Day 27: Paul and the Law

While some believe the apostle Paul taught that the Mosaic Law was obsolete, a careful reading of his letters proves otherwise. Much of Paul’s story is in Acts, which is very Torah- positive and written by a Gentile! Over and over, Paul responds to his Jewish detractors by saying that he believes the same things they do, and has done nothing contrary to the Law:

“I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man” (Acts 24:14-16).

Paul wrote using phrases like “under law” and “works of the law” that have been misunderstood as references to the Law of Moses. However, neither of these ever includes the definite article. Translators added that. Romans was written to Gentile believers, not Jews, and when Paul says that “you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14), the phrase “under law” refers to being under the penalty of the law. In other words, if you sin, you die. When a person trusts Christ, he is no longer under law in this sense, as his sins have been paid for by Jesus.

When Paul speaks specifically of Mosaic Law, he doesn’t ever infer that it is obsolete. In Romans, Paul affirms the Law: “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous” (Romans 2:13). Paul’s other writings also show that he did not think keeping the Law contributed to our salvation, but he does endorse obeying the Law.

In the same passage, he supported law-keeping for Gentiles, writing, “If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker” (Romans 2:26-27).

Probably the best summary of Paul’s perspective of the Law is this: “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law” (Romans 3:31). The Greek phrase Paul uses is may genoito, which means: “No way!” Paul used this phrase several times in Romans when refuting concepts that had become associated with Christian tradition.

Reflection

I challenge you to read the book of Romans and compare the number of times Paul affirms the law to the times that he says something that could be taken negatively. You’ll be amazed. Let’s affirm what Paul affirmed and try to learn how God wants us to live.

Audience matters! This is very true. Paul was writing to two very different audiences. When you read his letters, take the time to take this into account.