I. Ordering Paul's Epistles 1 - Hope of the Glory

Important Question
Ceremonial Law – Practiced or
Repudiated?
Do we keep the Jewish diet when
with Jews?
Do we circumcise for religious
reasons?
(ii) Paul seems to directly address Jews in Rom 7:1-
(iii) We are free from the law of sin and death – Rom 8:1-3
(d) Indeed, after the commission of Acts 12:25-13:3
(i) Paul enters a synagogue in Acts 13:4
(a) Remember – Jew First Rom 1:16
(ii) Paul has a problem from a wicked Jew when talking to a
Gentile – Acts 13:6-11
(a) He is first called Paul in this incident
(iii) In Antioch of Pisidia – Acts 13:14
(a) Paul addresses a synagogue Acts 13:16-41
(i) These were circumcised Jews
(ii) He HAD to go to them FIRST
(b) Then, he addresses Gentiles a week later and the
Jews were angry Acts 13:44-45
(iv) The Jews blasphemed Paul’s work – Acts 13:45-48
(a) Their sole purpose was that the Gentiles not
believe the truth
(b) Some of these formerly untaught Gentiles believed
(v) Gentiles appointed to eternal life believed – Acts 13:48
(a) Note: Those appointed believed
(b) This is a sovereign God at work
(vi) Paul had two commissions
(a) The present dispensation – from Christ only; for us
(b) TO THE JEW FIRST
(i) This is not our commission
(ii) This is from the twelve
(e) This commission stopped in Acts 28
(i) Some might claim at AD 70 when the temple was destroyed.
This clearly had consequences for the twelve but Paul did not
live that long
(ii) Paul calls Jewish leaders together – Acts 28:17-29
(a) After preaching to them, they depart
(b) The prison epistles follow in which there is no “Jew
first”
(c) Now there is no difference in any way
(d) Paul’s post Acts ministry is sharpened and
somewhat different.
Answer during Paul’s
Acts Ministry
Upheld the law when with
Jews: 1Cor 9:19-23; 10:23-33
When with the Jews – yes
1Cor 10:31-33
Paul circumcised Timothy in
Acts 16:1-5 (The Jews still did
Acts 15:22-29)
Answer after Paul’s Acts
Ministry
Repudiated the law for all in
the Pauline churches: Phil 3:1-
14-
NO! Col 2:7-16
Phil 3: we even kick out those
who think they should!
Sabbath Days? Rom 14:5-8, YES NO Col 2:7-16
Are Jews and Gentiles equal?
Animal Sacrifices?
The difference with those in
Jerusalem and Antioch: Acts
15:22-29; Gal 2:13-16
Some are still in Israel’s
program and some are not.
Acts 21:17-26 (animal
sacrifices by Paul for the Jews
during Acts)
In the Body of Christ where
there is no difference: Eph
3:1-6
This only applies to those who
are in the Body of Christ.
It does not include the twelve.
Col 2:10-16 (believer is
ceremonially complete in
Christ—there are none for him
to follow), Phil 3
Galatians Page 6 November 22, 2008 10:05