Synopsis: The new Messianic Age
already has dawned in Jesus Christ. Calendrical rituals belong to the old
order.
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By Hugo Rocha on Unsplash |
In
his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul chides Christians for a desire
“to return to bondage to the weak and beggarly rudiments” of the world, especially,
calendrical observations. Since believers now live in the era of
fulfillment, any resort to such rituals from the old order is
wholly inappropriate.
In
the larger context, Paul is addressing both Jewish (“we”) and Gentile (“you”)
believers. The main issue is an effort by some Jews “from Jerusalem” to
require Gentile believers to undergo circumcision and, thereby, “complete”
their faith. However, once that door is opened, inevitably, the calendrical
observations required by the Torah come into play (Galatians 3:1-5, 5:1-4).
(Galatians 4:8-11) – “But at that time—not knowing God, ye
were in servitude unto them who, by nature, are not Gods; Whereas,
now, having acknowledged God—or rather, having been acknowledged by God, how
turn ye back again unto the weak and beggarly elementary principles unto which,
over again, ye are wishing to come into servitude? Days ye do
narrowly observe, and months, and seasons, and years:—I am afraid of you—lest
by any means, in vain, I should have toiled for you!” – (The Emphasized Bible).
The response of Paul is that we have been set right with God “from the
faithfulness of Jesus Christ”
and “not from the deeds of the Law.”
To turn once more to the requirements of the Torah for right standing before God is the
same as declaring that Jesus died in vain (Galatians 2:15-21).
Because
believers are “from faith” and not
“from
the deeds of the Law,”
they are true children of Abraham regardless of their ethnicity; by definition,
they are not “under the Law” and
its curse (Galatians 3:8-12).
Paul
uses an analogy based on adoption practices common to the Greek culture of the
time. Israel under the Torah was comparable to a
minor child his formal adoption. Prior to it, the child was under “custodians
and administrators” appointed by the adoptive father, and as such differed
little from a household slave.
Likewise,
believers were “children” in bondage under the rudiments of the world
until the appointed time when God sent his Son to redeem them. Consequently,
they received adoption as sons and became heirs, no longer minor children. In
this analogy, the Torah fills the role of “custodian.”
Since the adoption, a status change occurred as attested by the gift of God’s
Spirit; the role of the “custodians” came to an end.
The
Greek term for “rudiments” is stoicheion (Strong’s #G4747), which means
“elemental, elementary, rudiment, rudimentary, basic.” It may refer to
any first thing, the parts, the building blocks that make up a larger whole.
For example, in 2 Peter 3:10-12,
the “elements” or stoicheia that make up the
Cosmos. The idea is not things that are inherently evil or bad, but
rather basic, elementary, simple; the ‘ABCs,’ the elementary stages of any
subject or parts of any larger thing.
Paul equates a return to the observation of calendar cycles and rites with a return the more elementary principles of the world; to the old era rather than to the new one inaugurated by Jesus. To return to the old order is not completion but regression, a putting aside of what is mature and complete for what is incomplete and immature.
Paul
continues by providing a specific example of the “rudiments”: the
observation of “days, and months, and seasons and years.” To submit to
religious rules based on the cycles of celestial bodies is to submit to the
“rudiments” of the old order.
The
description is generic and applicable to both Jewish believers and former pagan
Gentiles. The latter at one time were “in bondage to them that by
nature are no gods.” Calendrical observations as religious rites were
as common among the pagan population of the Greco-Roman world as they were
among the Jews, though differing in certain details.
Paul
refers to their desire to “observe closely” days, months
and years. The Greek verb paratéreō means to “watch
closely, narrowly observe; to keep scrupulously” (Strong’s #G3906). The same verb
is applied in the gospel accounts to the Scribes and Pharisees that closely
monitored his actions to see if he violated their dietary and
Sabbath regulations (Mark 3:2, Luke 6:7, 14:1, 20:20).
The
Greek clause, “days, and months, and seasons and years,” is almost an
exact match to the Greek Septuagint rendering
of Genesis 1:14:
“Let there be lights in the firmament of
heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for
seasons, and for days and years.”
The
verbal allusion is deliberate, and his Jewish opponents certainly would
recognize it. Calendrical observations were
characteristic of the old order, not the new one inaugurated by Jesus. Such
practices are not Satanic or evil, but in the light of Christ’s death and
resurrection, they are outmoded; passé (Galatians 1:1-6, 6:14-15).
For
a follower of Jesus to submit to circumcision, calendrical practices, and the
other “deeds of the Mosaic Law” is tantamount to servitude under the
rudimentary principles of the old age, the one that already “is passing away.”
It is bondage not liberty, regression not a revelation (1 Corinthians 7:31).
As
Paul concluded his letter to the Galatians:
“With me, however, far be it! to be boasting, save in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ—whereby, unto me a world hath been crucified and I unto a
world; For neither circumcision is anything, nor
uncircumcision, but a new creation;—And, as many as by this rule shall
walk, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”
– (Galatians 6:14-16).
The new Messianic Age
has dawned in Jesus Christ. Believers are called to live accordingly.
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