diff --git a/content/bible_journal/galatians_6:11-18.md b/content/bible_journal/galatians_6:11-18.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..212fd09 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/galatians_6:11-18.md @@ -0,0 +1,41 @@ ++++ +title = "Galatians 6:11–18" +date = "2023-08-24" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Galatians6.11-18) + +In a at least one of Paul's letters, the secretary who took Paul's dictation +inserted himself into the letter to send his own greetings to the church. More +often, though, we see evidence that Paul pens his own conclusions to the +letters. To the Galatians, he tells us that we could see the large letters that +he wrote, if we had his original manuscript. (Now I wonder if any scribe tried +to capture this style when they copied the manuscript.) I can think of a couple +of good reasons why he would do this. In chapter 4, he mentioned that the +Galatians would have given him their eyes if they could, which implies that +there was something wrong with his own eyes. Perhaps his eyesight was poor or +became so, and the Galatians could see these large letters and know for sure he +wrote them. + +Another possibility is that Paul really wants to draw attention to what he's +about to say. In the very next sentence he exposes the true motivations of the +ones trying to force the Galatians to become Jews. During the middle of the +first century, there was a movement of extreme Jewish nationalism. It's +adherents chafed mightily under Roman rule and were concerned about the +Hellenization encroaching on their way of life. They rebelled and agitated +enough that Rome eventually sent an army that sacked Jerusalem and completely +destroyed the temple in a.d. 70. Before then, these nationalists would be opposed +to the church welcoming Gentiles into its number, so Paul says the Judaizer +party is trying to make the Gentile believers into Jews in order to appease the +nationalists. + +Paul reiterates that circumcision in itself does not affect one's status. Even +those who trust in it can not keep the whole law. Instead, what counts is what +Christ has done on the cross and what He works through us because of that. +Nothing else matters in this world or the next, so let us make much of Him. + +* * * + +Your grace is more amazing than we can comprehend, and we are able to worship +You because of it.