In his epistle to the Galatians, the apostle Paul tells Gentile followers of Jesus that they should not make a full conversion to Judaism. They have already been baptized and received the Holy Spirit. Like Jewish followers of Jesus, they have been saved by grace through faith (Acts 15:7-11).
In Galatians 3:10-14, Paul quotes several scriptures in making his argument. Here are the first three:
- Deuteronomy 27:26 is quoted in verse 10. Paul points out that making a conversion to Judaism means joining the Sinai covenant community, which collectively faces curses when it is disobedient (see Deuteronomy 28). Sadly, over the centuries that community had too often suffered those curses.
- Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted in verse 11. The Gentile Christians in Galatia are already part of the new covenant community and should continue to walk in faithfulness to God as part of that community.
- Leviticus 18:5 is quoted in verse 12: "The one who does them shall live by them." In its original context, this verse tells members of the Sinai covenant community that they can enjoy abundant life in the Promised Land by being faithfully obedient to God. Too often Israelites had missed this opportunity, and over the centuries Leviticus 18:5 had come to be a reminder of that unrealized potential (Ezekiel 20:11, 13, 21; Neh 9:29). New Testament scholar Joel Willitts suggests that Paul quotes Leviticus 18:5 in Galatians 3:12 with that connotation in mind. Making a full conversion to Judaism would not add anything to the current status of the Gentile believers.
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