Unmasking the Gentilization of Faith: Paul's Call to Faith in Messiah and Torah Obedience

Introduction

Before we begin with part 2, let us recapture what we saw in part 1 and elaborate on these findings.

Paul is addressing non-Messianic believers (Gentiles) who diverted from the Way of Truth (Messiah) by listening to—what we would call Judaizers (Messianic Jews). This is in no way an attempt to foster anti-semitism. In an equally true attempt we can call those Christian believers today who preach a perverted 'Gospel of Grace vs Works' as Gentilizers.

The whole of Galatians chapter 1 sets the tone of 'absolute Truth' in Messiah and the Father. Paul's mission and his theology (doctrine) is not his own, nor is it of men, e.g. the leading apostles and missionaries (Kefa & Ya'akov | Peter and James)—rather it was given to Paul by revelation through Messiah.

Main Issue: Circumcision in the Flesh

The main issue at the churches in Galatia is not the Torah—it is the circumcision in the flesh. Legalistic Messianic Jews (brethren) are compelling Gentiles to circumcision, i.e. full conversion to Judaism^[1].

This induces a further issue: Legalism over faith. As Yeshua spoke to the Pharisees so many times that they put their own traditions over God's Torah, so these Messianic Jews put their legalism over the faith of the Gentiles.

Paul is fighting against this legalism because he does not seek after favour from men but from God. Messianic Jews might have even felt that Sha'ul makes it too easy for the Gentiles to participate in the covenant. We remember that there are 3 different types of Jews at synagogue:

1. Jews (by birth)
2. Proselytes (by conversion)
3. God-fearers (by faith without conversion)

In the eyes of these Messianic Jews, Gentiles who do not convert to Judaism would be merely God-fearers—not enough to participate in the promise. Even proselytes were not fully integrated in Jewish society and were restricted in certain ways.

Paul and the Jerusalem council are advocating for this newness in faith.

The Old vs the New?

Paul and the apostles being Jews (as well as Yeshua Messiah) did not come to make Judaism obsolete, nor the Torah. Judaism is not the old, neither are Gentiles the new.

The immense gentalizing which we can see from Christians today, proclaiming that they are the true way and Jews (note even Messianic Jews) are on the wrong path holds any grounds in Scripture. Did Paul not tell us that the Gentiles are grafted into the vine alonside the original brances (Messianic Jews)?

We must abolish not the Torah, but the gentalizing of Judaism and Messianic Jews.

What is the old, and what is the new then?

• Old: Circumcision of the flesh
• New: Circumcision of the heart

Just like Yeshua taught in His Sermon on the Mount the true, deeper spiritual application of the Torah, so is it with the seal of the covenant => moving from the fleshly to the spiritual (heart).

Judaism is not abrogated—nor is the Torah—it was given a deeper spiritual application.

Is Circumcision still required?

This may come as a surprise to many Christians: Circumcision is still a prerequisite to partake in the promise of God and receive the Holy Spirit:

God spoke about His new covenant in great detail through the Prophets^[2]. Many Christians today are simply ignoring these crucial passages, even ignoring the so called Old Testament (Tanakh) in its totality, dismissing it as obsolete. A tragic defect in belief.

Gentilizers will condemn Messianic Jews and Gentiles alike if they make any mention of Torah/Law, Works, Circumcision. It is with zeal that we must aim to correct such flawed doctrine. We must come back to serving YHWH in total obedience to His word and His Laws and His commandments.

The Son of Man will return with the angels of God and judge, and give to everyone according to their deeds. Yeshua himself taught that in order to have eternal life one must keep God's commandments (mitzvot)^[3]. Do we deny Messiah's teachings in order to fit in our man-made doctrine; or do we not rather bend over backwards to obey whatever God says?

Notice also that Deuteronomy 30 is in stark contrast to another passage:

While in the latter, God's people bear the responsibility to circumcise their hearts (which did not work because of their disobedience), in the New Covenant it is YHWH himself who circumcises the hearts of His people.

Christianity and Messianic Judaism

Christianity arose from Messianic Judaism, and continued to separate from the Jewish grounds of Messiah Yeshua. Faith in Messiah is the common ground in this covenant. There is no need for full conversion to Judaism. Neither is there need for Gentilizing, i.e. turning away from the Jewishness of Messiah.

Sha'ul (Paul) was taught by Rabbi Gamli'el—a descendant of Hillel—in both the written and the oral Torah i.e. the traditions of the elders ^[4]. He was even more observant to the Torah, it seems, than the Messianic Jews who were brought in and insisted on Gentile circumcision. Paul is making a strong statement when he preaches, not against the Torah but for a deeper spiritual application of the Torah. Similar to Yeshua at the Sermon on the Mount.

During Paul's three years in Arabia, it seems, he must have studied the Tanakh to find the revelation on how Gentiles would be grafted into the House of Israel—something that was unheard of until that point. It is very likely that he noticed Isaiah 56:6. This passage states that foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, serve Him, love His name, keep the Sabbath, and hold fast to the covenant will be brought to God's holy mountain, their sacrifices will be accepted, and God's house will be a house of prayer for all peoples.

We shall finalise our introduction with the words of Yeshua Messiah:

Or in the Complete Jewish Bible translation:

See also references in the Aggadah^[5].

1.11

Paul makes it clear that he is not teaching the doctrines of men 👉 possibly a hint to man-made legalism which Yeshua opposed also ^[6]

We see that the gospels from men is faulty and flawed. Yet the Messiah's gospel is perfect because it is not made from men or through men but comes directly from the Father. Yeshua says that His doctrine is not His own but the Father's^[7].

Paul leaves no room for doubt about the gospel he (and they) preached in Galatia. They preached according to Messiah. Therefore, understand what they preached we must always go back to Yeshua in Scripture ^[8]. Yeshua came and taught Torah.

Therefore, we would like to make the following suggestion:

1.12

Paul was not taught the gospel by men—which could have been corruptible. Rather, he was given the gospel by revelation of Yeshua Messiah.

We can speculate if Paul is referring to his encounter on the road to Damascus ^[9], or also possibly to his three years in Arabia ^[10].
In any case, Paul formulated his groundbreaking theology grounded in Torah (or Tanakh in its totality, possibly even through the oral traditions of the fathers). Groundbreaking in that Gentiles did not have to convert to Judaism to be heirs to the promise of God to Abram.

As Yeshua was opposed to putting oral traditions over God's Torah, so was Paul. Neither were opposed the Torah; they were against legalism. Against the traditions of men while neglecting God's Torah. Yeshua gave many examples of the Father's doctrine to bring His people back to observing Torah free from any Rabbinic yoke^[11].

1.13

Paul goes on to explain how zealous he was for the Torah. Paul was a Jew, even more so, a trained and well educated Pharisee. He studied under Gamaliel ^[12], a grandson of Hillel^[13]. Paul not only persecuted the Way ^[14]early Jewish followers of Yeshua, he was also present at the stoning of Stephen. We see the same zeal in Paul as we see in the Pharisees who opposed and persecuted Yeshua Messiah.

This should not be taken as an opportunity to condemn Judaism. Rather, it should emphasise how deeply convicted 1st century Jews were in their devotion to God. It would be too easy to condemn them as anti-Messiah.

After all, Paul was given grace by YHWH. He was selected, possibly even predestined, to work for Messiah. No sin is too big for God to forgive by His will.

Paul and his fellow Pharisees saw themselves in the right when persecuting Messianic Jews and Messiah. How many Christians today have their eyes equally veiled and blinded by a viewpoint that ignores the Tanakh and the Jewishness of Messiah in its totality?

Is such an attitude not equal to that of the Pharisees and Paul before his encounter on the road to Damascus?

1.14

What seems to happen here is that Paul is openly confessing that which Yeshua Messiah held against the Pharisees, Scribes, and Saducees: Holding to the traditions of of their fathers. Even more so, putting the traditions of the elder above God's own Law (Torah) and commandments (mitzvot).

In Mark 7 ^[15], we see how Yeshua explains the flaw in the fence which the Pharisees have tried to build around the Torah. They ended up putting their own traditions (Oral Torah) over God's Torah.

We can read between the lines the immense emphasis the Jews put on their oral traditions. Something that also Peter experiences when he was intimidated by the Jews so that Peter would sit apart from the Gentile believers.

Traditions run deep, especially when you're born into it. Habits are hard to break and hard to change. We should not look at the early Messianic Jews in arrogance ^[16]. Rather we should learn to understand the B'rit Chadashah in its original Jewish context so that we may walk in God's wisdom.

1.15

Two episodes of Yeshua's ministry come to mind:

This verse can possibly be read as Paul acknowledging a predestined path for him. It also might suggest that Paul loves much because he was forgiven much. In his epistle to Timothy we get another account of Paul's behaviour before his encounter with Messiah^[17]. In that verse, what stands out is Paul's explanation that he was possibly forgiven because he sinned in unbelief, i.e. without faith in Yeshua Messiah. This would echo several passages in the Tanakh which speak of unintentional sin^[18].

1.16-17

Again, Paul emphasises that his teachings came from divine intervention, directly from the Father and Yeshua Messiah. Leaving no doubt that he did not make up this doctrine. Possibly because he was dealing with fellow Jews as well and therefore wanted to make sure that what he preached came from God, not from man.

This might then in turn also suggest that God cannot contradict God. I.e. everything Paul taught would therefore not be in opposition to Torah.

1.18

The fact that he points out that he did not consult with anyone or go up to Jerusalem seems to imply the credibility of what he is saying: The gospel to the Gentiles was given by YHWH, not men. He did not go to the other apostles. We can speculate as to why. Possibly to formulate his theology, meditate over scripture, commune with the Father, maybe even with Messiah.

We can speculate further as to why he then went to see Peter for 15 days. Was it to continue his learning about Messiah? Or to receive the right hand of fellowship? To explain himself to the apostles? To tell them what happened to him and what his ministry was which he received by revelation through Messiah?

If the apostles knew Paul before his conversion, they might have had some serious doubts at first.

---

Footnotes