Paul's Letter to the Galatians

When Paul attended the Jerusalem Conference in 48 or 49, a decision


was made that gentiles would be allowed to become Christians without


becoming Jews first (ie. have a circumcision, and follow the Jewish


Laws).   Paul, being the one that defended the gentile's right to be


Christians, became the apostle to the gentiles.   Why would Paul, a Jew,


want to be an apostle to gentiles?   According to him, Jesus appeared to


him in AD 32 or 36, and told him to preach the good news to the


gentiles (Gal 1:16).


  Paul uses scripture to explain why gentiles should not be required


to be circumcised, or obey Jewish Law; however, there are no direct


quotes in scripture that say this.   One would wonder why Paul, someone


who grew-up in a "good" Jewish family, would not follow in the


footsteps of Jewish Christian Missionaries, and require Christian


converts to become Jews first.   He certainly had to fight to have his


belief accepted!   In my opinion, Paul tried to follow the example of


the original apostles (who knew Jesus) by "converting the multitudes."


I think Paul understood human nature better than the other apostles


preaching circumcision to the gentiles.   Perhaps he thought that


gentiles would accept Christianity more easily if it was natural to


their lifestyle --I'm sure that the thought of circumcision, and strict


dietary laws scared gentiles from Christianity!   It seems that the


"Judaziers" preached a God that was hard to please.





  Paul's major problem confronted in his letter to the Galatians is


the preachings of the Judaziers.   Apparently, men who preach


circumcision and the Law had been trying to "pervert" the Galatians,


and change their beliefs away from Paul's preachings (Gal 1:7).   Paul


is so angered that the Galatians are so...