Galatians 3:8-12 (12/5) Epistle
for Saturday of the Twenty-Sixth Week After Pentecost
Faith and Works: Galatians 3:8-12, especially vs. 9: "So then those who
are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."
Christians in the West, influenced by Scholasticism, the Reformation,
and the ensuing Counter-Reformation
faith and works in salvation, even turning them into opposites. The
battle cry of the Reformers became sola fidei - by faith alone. Roman
Catholic teachers upheld the Church's traditional high regard for good
works but over-emphasized them, severely minimizing faith.
Then, in the West, texts from the Epistles to the Galatians and the
Roman Catholics became sources for reinforcing the position of faith
alone held by the Reformers, while the Roman Church fought back, quoting
the Lord Jesus and the Epistle of James. The Orthodox Church, separated
from this controversy by geography, culture, and its mindset of faith
and works in a synergy, continues to repudiate the false opposition of
faith and works.
In present reading from Galatians, the Apostle distinguishes "...those
who are of faith..." (vs. 9) from those who "...are of the works of the
law..." (vs. 10). The passage provides a starting point for examining
the Orthodox understanding of the mutuality of faith and works.
First, two givens: Orthodoxy understands that in the economy of God both
works and faith are essential. An Orthodox reading of today's passage
assumes that the opposition that Saint Paul describes involved issues
that were contested and settled during the Apostolic age.
Both Saint Paul and his opponents accepted Christ as Messiah and Lord.
However, those who were solely of the works of the law opposed the
Apostle's reception of Gentile as converts, convinced that it was
necessary to complete converts by requiring them to adopt the panoply of
rituals demanded by the Mosaic tradition: circumcision, keeping of the
dietary laws, and the regular Jewish observance of special seasons and
days of fasting and celebration - works of Law.
Saint Paul vehemently repudiated these demands for cultic conformity to
Mosaic practice. In this rejection, he represented the common position
of all the Apostles (see Acts 15). His orientation to salvation, based
on the work of the Holy Spirit, blunted rigid conformity to most of the
visible rituals of Judaism in favor of living the Way of the Lord Jesus
from the heart.
Hence, in Galatians 3:8-12, the Apostle holds up Abraham as a model for
salvation through the preaching of the Gospel. He asserts that the
Faithful are saved by living the Truth to which God calls them. As he
says: Abraham, centuries before the Mosaic Law and before he had
received circumcision as a sign of God's covenant with him and his
descendants, had the Gospel already revealed to him concerning the
conversion of the Gentiles (vs. 8).
Observe how Saint Paul calls the Patriarch, "...believing Abraham" (vs.
9), concluding that it is unnecessary to maintain practices developed
centuries later. God blessed Abraham for believing Him long before his
descendant, Christ Jesus, won the salvation of all by His death and
Resurrection. When non-Jews - the Gentiles - believe in Christ Jesus,
they become "...those who are of faith..." (vs. 9) and are Divinely
blessed with Abraham. They are saved without the necessity to keep the
host of ritual practices of the Mosaic tradition - just as Abraham was
saved.
What about all the high ethical requirements of the Law? In Saint
Paul's view, these existed before they were codified under Moses. Men
knew such requirements in their hearts (Rom. 2:14,15). Further, the
Lord Jesus expects all who believe in Him not to break "...one of the
least of these commandments.
to do these works by faith. Those who have faith in Christ fulfill the
commandments in joyful thanksgiving.
O Christ our God, Fulfillment of the Law, fill our hearts with joy and
gladness always.
for Saturday of the Twenty-Sixth Week After Pentecost
Faith and Works: Galatians 3:8-12, especially vs. 9: "So then those who
are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."
Christians in the West, influenced by Scholasticism, the Reformation,
and the ensuing Counter-Reformation
faith and works in salvation, even turning them into opposites. The
battle cry of the Reformers became sola fidei - by faith alone. Roman
Catholic teachers upheld the Church's traditional high regard for good
works but over-emphasized them, severely minimizing faith.
Then, in the West, texts from the Epistles to the Galatians and the
Roman Catholics became sources for reinforcing the position of faith
alone held by the Reformers, while the Roman Church fought back, quoting
the Lord Jesus and the Epistle of James. The Orthodox Church, separated
from this controversy by geography, culture, and its mindset of faith
and works in a synergy, continues to repudiate the false opposition of
faith and works.
In present reading from Galatians, the Apostle distinguishes "...those
who are of faith..." (vs. 9) from those who "...are of the works of the
law..." (vs. 10). The passage provides a starting point for examining
the Orthodox understanding of the mutuality of faith and works.
First, two givens: Orthodoxy understands that in the economy of God both
works and faith are essential. An Orthodox reading of today's passage
assumes that the opposition that Saint Paul describes involved issues
that were contested and settled during the Apostolic age.
Both Saint Paul and his opponents accepted Christ as Messiah and Lord.
However, those who were solely of the works of the law opposed the
Apostle's reception of Gentile as converts, convinced that it was
necessary to complete converts by requiring them to adopt the panoply of
rituals demanded by the Mosaic tradition: circumcision, keeping of the
dietary laws, and the regular Jewish observance of special seasons and
days of fasting and celebration - works of Law.
Saint Paul vehemently repudiated these demands for cultic conformity to
Mosaic practice. In this rejection, he represented the common position
of all the Apostles (see Acts 15). His orientation to salvation, based
on the work of the Holy Spirit, blunted rigid conformity to most of the
visible rituals of Judaism in favor of living the Way of the Lord Jesus
from the heart.
Hence, in Galatians 3:8-12, the Apostle holds up Abraham as a model for
salvation through the preaching of the Gospel. He asserts that the
Faithful are saved by living the Truth to which God calls them. As he
says: Abraham, centuries before the Mosaic Law and before he had
received circumcision as a sign of God's covenant with him and his
descendants, had the Gospel already revealed to him concerning the
conversion of the Gentiles (vs. 8).
Observe how Saint Paul calls the Patriarch, "...believing Abraham" (vs.
9), concluding that it is unnecessary to maintain practices developed
centuries later. God blessed Abraham for believing Him long before his
descendant, Christ Jesus, won the salvation of all by His death and
Resurrection. When non-Jews - the Gentiles - believe in Christ Jesus,
they become "...those who are of faith..." (vs. 9) and are Divinely
blessed with Abraham. They are saved without the necessity to keep the
host of ritual practices of the Mosaic tradition - just as Abraham was
saved.
What about all the high ethical requirements of the Law? In Saint
Paul's view, these existed before they were codified under Moses. Men
knew such requirements in their hearts (Rom. 2:14,15). Further, the
Lord Jesus expects all who believe in Him not to break "...one of the
least of these commandments.
to do these works by faith. Those who have faith in Christ fulfill the
commandments in joyful thanksgiving.
O Christ our God, Fulfillment of the Law, fill our hearts with joy and
gladness always.
