> Studies In Paul
Most of the links here come straight out of my dissertation about Paul and the Law in the New Testament. The basic idea is that during the extended period of the book of Acts and particularly in the specific occasion of the book of Galatians Paul argues for a certain freedom from the Law for Gentiles only. While both Jews and Gentiles were saved by faith (to use the words of the reformers) Paul's particular message in Galatians is based upon what has been uniquely revealed to him and that which has most immediately changed with the coming of Jesus, i.e., the equality and full acceptance of Gentiles into the people of God. Before Jesus came even believing gentiles were, at best, second class citizens who could not participate in Temple worship or Passover, among other things. What Paul sees as new in this time period is not the means of salvation (as though grace and faith were new concepts) but the fulfillment of Genesis 12:3 that "in Messiah (alone) all nations (gentiles) of the earth are (for the first time fully) blessed" (Gal 3:8). In this interpretation Paul's main thrust is not an analysis of "believing" versus "doing" but an appeal for the equality of all believers in Christ and the practical unity that must follow if God's people are to project the life change necessary for effective witness to the gospel.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
- Introduction: Gentiles are added to the (Jewish) Church (32k)
- Stephen and the Hellenists (Acts 7) (160k)
- Cornelius (Acts 10-11) (139k) Students: Read the section below about Peter's vision rather than this one.
- Peter's Vision: Was it about the Men or the Menu?This is a revised edition of Cornelius (Acts 10-11), published in Bibliotheca Sacra, Spring 2000.
- Appendix (for Peter's vision above) Adobe Acrobat, (46k)
- The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) (142k)
- Paul in Jerusalem (Acts 21) (65k)
Chapter 3
- The Book of Galatians: Gentiles are not under the Mosaic Law; and CONCLUSION (289k)
- Paul, Where Did You Get This Gospel? A discussion of Paul's gospel in Galatians 1-2 read at the national ETS meeting in November, 2006.