Galatians
Acts 13 - 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
They go to the women (politically powerful) and the leaders in the city.
The Jews secure their position politically in the city – the head of the synagogue isn’t necessarily Jewish but is often a powerful patron.
The Jews are “weirdos” they have to have a special place in the market for their meats and goods (you could get rid of the Jews by closing the Kosher market – this was a Roman weapon used against Diaspora Jews throughout the empire).
The Jews solved emperorer worship by sacrificing FOR the emperor rather than TO the emperor.
What happens when you become a Christian – the status is secured for Achaia in Acts 18 (Gallio). Christian Jews are ok. They’re still weirdos – but they’re still under the protection of Judaism. Circumcised males didn’t have to pay the temple tax to pagan gods. When you bring “weird” gentiles in what is the status of the Christian community? Jewish Christians were ok – Gentile Christians had to produce a number of reasons to protect themselves as to why it is they should undergo circumcision and keep the Jewish Sabbath – the early Christians looked like Jews to protect themselves (one of the failures in Galatians, like the rest of Paul’s letters is ignoring the end of the letter – the end is significant (Philippians, 2 Corinthians etc) – when you read the letters read the end because Paul deals with the arguments in the opening passages but explains the motives and problems at the end of the letters.
12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[b] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
17Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
At the end of Galatians Paul explains what the problem is – προσοπον = identity. In Galatians the gentiles are seeking a good identity so that they may avoid persecution.
It becomes very clear in Galatians that there are people taking evasive action – they are wimps seeking to avoid taking flak for the cross of Christ. Paul is not ashamed of the fact that both Jew and Gentile are the same – awaiting the new creation.
“Having a face” is a reference to your legal identity (handout pg 74 – προσωπον)
These Judaisers are doing everything they can to protect themselves in the same way that the Jews in Psidian Antioch did – looking for a good “face” that will avoid persecution.
Compelling people to be circumcised was a capital offence in the Roman Empire. Paul says “you are compelling these people”… circumcision was an obvious sign in a time of public baths.
They’re meeting in homes (which is ok because Synagogues often started in homes) but they’re Jewish and can prove it. Gentile Christians were held at arms length until they were circumcised and started observing Jewish ceremonial law.
Emperor worship is an issue in Japan too – where you still have to venerate the Emperor (including a test where people had to stamp on pictures of Jesus in order to prove they weren’t Christians).
There was a need to stand in the first century and say while we are lay abiding tax paying citizens we can’t recognise this emperor as a God or a Son of a God.
It was a culture of conformity – and to go against the culture was rebellious. If you were clearly counter culture you stood out and people asked questions. Neighbours had to dob in neighbours or they were seen as an accessory to the fact.
Imagine that you’re now a Christian and you wanted to keep it under wraps.
The Pharisees took the purification hermeneutic that applied to temple cleanliness and applied it to every day life.
Roman converts to Judaism (eg Lydia) were considered by Rome to be within Judaism (and thus, weirdos).
The book of Revelation – the Beast – the big beast, and the second beast (Rev 13:11) – if you don’t have 666 on you you’re out. You’ve got to leave the province – an action that relates to Asia, not the whole world. The people in v 16 are “small and great”, “rich and poor” etc – so that nobody can buy or sell unless they have that mark. This calls for wisdom… it’s not the EU or Mastercard.
How could Christians survive in this sort of pressure – compromise (free meals in Idol Temples), avoidance (Galatians), clash of two kingdoms – kings with the same titles… who are you going to worship.
The Centurion says “he is the son of a God”… Jesus is THE ONLY son of a God. And a saviour – the question in the first century was which ideology do I subscribe to? In a conforming culture who wants to go out on a limb for Jesus? Especially when there are people being killed for standing for Jesus.
The Jews can say “we have no king but Caesar”, the Christians can’t. They have to acknowledge one king – they can acknowledge Caesar as a tool of the king and a rightful leader, but not the ultimate king.
When the pressure is on, Christians have to stand up graciously and be counted. Historically the clergy were the first to save themselves by running to the Emperor’s temple…
