Douglas Jacoby Podcast

Messianic Judaism: Galatians, Romans, the Jew-Gentile Controversy, & the Israel of God

Episode Summary

Douglas continues a series entitled Messianic Judaism and shows how Romans and Galatians refute the premises of Messianic Judaism. And yet disagreement about how much Christians need to follow Torah is not just a 20th-century issue; there was a similar controversy in the 1st century. Last, we will see that "the Israel of God" (Gal 6:16) refers not to Israel, or Messianic Judaism (despite claims to the contrary), but to the Christian church.

Episode Notes

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' website.

Main ideas

The Jew-Gentile Controversy

• Just how “Jewish” do Christians need to be?
• The answer: Not at all, although it is okay for actual Jews to hold on to cultural markers—provided they do not force these on others.
• This was the broadest dispute in the first century church, from 30-70 AD. Later centuries had their own hot topics.

Romans

• Paul writes this letter not only to secure mission funding (chapter 15), but also to "inoculate" the Roman believers against the Galatian controversy.
• Chapters 1-3: No ethnic group enjoys a privileged status in the eyes of God.
• Chapters 4-8:  God displays covenant faithfulness to all Abraham’s descendants on the basis of faith, not Torah. (4:11-13).
• Chapter 5: The new distinction is between “in Adam” and “in Christ,” not Gentiles v. Jews.
• Chapters 12-15: 13:10 – We fulfill the law by loving our neighbor (13:10). These chapters show how we are to fulfill the Law. Note that there is no mention of a need for circumcision, Sabbath, etc…

Galatians

• Law = Law of Moses
• Paul is a prime example of someone who knows Torah, and is zealous for Torah—and yet does not rely on Torah for justification in God's sight.
• What was dismantled (system of Torah) must not be rebuilt (2:21).
• Passages read: 1:6, 13-14; 2:11-14, 16, 21; 3:2-3, 23-28; 4:1, 3-11; 16-17, 21-26, 31; 5:1-4, 6-8, 11; 6:15-16.

"The Israel of God"

• We have already seen that Jewish-sounding passages, like Micah 4:1-2 and Amos 9:11, were interpreted as fulfilled in Christ and his church. Now let’s look at passages supporting the interpretation that "the Israel of God" simply means the church.
• Review: Matt 3:9; Rom 2:28-29; 9:6-7; Gal 3:28-29.
• Further: Gal 4:24-31; Rev 3:9; 1 Pet 1:1; 2:4-10.
• Patristic documents: Epistle of Barnabas (Alexandria, Syria, or Asia Minor), 2 Clement (unsure), Justin Martyr (Rome), Irenaeus (Lyon), Origen (Alexandria), Cyprian (Carthage), Lactantius (Rome)
• Gal 6:15-16 refers to the new covenant people of God—not to Israel, Jewish Christians, or followers of Messianic Judaism. All true Christians are the Israel of God.