Paul and his Undisputed Letters In Paul’s Undisputed Letters, Paul is talking to a group of people that aren’t clearly identified. Through context clues and identifying the characteristics of each group that he could be talking to, it is easy to decipher whom he is referring to. The Gentiles are a group of people who worship many gods, are not descendants of Abraham, are not circumcised, and do not follow the Law of Moses. The Jews are a group of people who are monotheistic, descendants of Abraham, circumcised, follow the Law of Moses, and also do their worshipping in a temple. Paul could be talking to either group through out his letters. Through evidence that Paul provides, the group of Jesus-Followers Paul is speaking to are the Gentiles.
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The group that is characterized as not being circumcised are the Gentiles. Paul doesn’t want the Gentiles to become circumcised so he wants to provide examples of people whom are important figures that the Gentiles can look up to who don’t feel the need to become circumcised. Paul hopes that if the Gentiles look up to this important figure that they too wont feel the need to be circumcised. “But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was Greek” (Galatians 2:3). Paul is saying that Titus even though he was Greek and he knew that the Jews believed that he should be circumcised; he did not feel the need. Paul refers again to how he already knows that the Gentiles are not circumcised when he says, “Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you” (Galatians 5:2). Paul is making it clear that the Gentiles are not circumcised and he is also telling them that just because they are circumcised does not mean that they will be closer with Christ. Instead, he wants the Gentiles to realize that believing in Christ is enough and that being circumcised is just a law and nothing more. Paul goes on to say that people will try to compel the Gentiles to become circumcised but that they should turn it down. “It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel …show more content…
For example, in Galatians 3:8-9, Paul explicitly calls the people Gentiles. “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.’” As well as in Galatians 3:14, Paul also calls the group of people he is talking to Gentiles, “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” One characteristic of the Gentiles is that they worship many Gods. In Galatians 4:8 this characteristic is made apparent, “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods.” Without actually calling these people Gentiles, Paul talks about them believing in many Gods, which would categorize these people as Gentiles. In Galatians 2:15 Paul states that there is a clear distinction between the two categories of Jews and Gentiles. He says that based on this distinction he has decided to help the Gentiles and make them to realize that they don’t have to follow the law in order to be faithful in Christ. “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to the one a fragrance from death to death, to
The group that is characterized as not being circumcised are the Gentiles. Paul doesn’t want the Gentiles to become circumcised so he wants to provide examples of people whom are important figures that the Gentiles can look up to who don’t feel the need to become circumcised. Paul hopes that if the Gentiles look up to this important figure that they too wont feel the need to be circumcised. “But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was Greek” (Galatians 2:3). Paul is saying that Titus even though he was Greek and he knew that the Jews believed that he should be circumcised; he did not feel the need. Paul refers again to how he already knows that the Gentiles are not circumcised when he says, “Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you” (Galatians 5:2). Paul is making it clear that the Gentiles are not circumcised and he is also telling them that just because they are circumcised does not mean that they will be closer with Christ. Instead, he wants the Gentiles to realize that believing in Christ is enough and that being circumcised is just a law and nothing more. Paul goes on to say that people will try to compel the Gentiles to become circumcised but that they should turn it down. “It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel …show more content…
For example, in Galatians 3:8-9, Paul explicitly calls the people Gentiles. “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.’” As well as in Galatians 3:14, Paul also calls the group of people he is talking to Gentiles, “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” One characteristic of the Gentiles is that they worship many Gods. In Galatians 4:8 this characteristic is made apparent, “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods.” Without actually calling these people Gentiles, Paul talks about them believing in many Gods, which would categorize these people as Gentiles. In Galatians 2:15 Paul states that there is a clear distinction between the two categories of Jews and Gentiles. He says that based on this distinction he has decided to help the Gentiles and make them to realize that they don’t have to follow the law in order to be faithful in Christ. “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to the one a fragrance from death to death, to