Did Paul teach that the Law (Torah) was done away with?
Was it only the 10 Commandments that Paul was saying we should keep under the New Covenant?
Did Paul prove that the Sabbath had been changed from the seventh day to the first day?
Was it only the 10 Commandments that Paul was saying we should keep under the New Covenant?
Did Paul prove that the Sabbath had been changed from the seventh day to the first day?
Sadly we've been taught that the Law is bondage for such a long time that we have a difficult road to travel on in order to get back to a correct understanding of Elohim's loving instructions for us.
However, we have the mind of Messiah according to Paul, so may we exercise that mind!
It has intrigued me for several years now that so many people go to Paul's letter to the church in Galatia and make it out to be a verification of their argument that "Jesus came to free us from the Law". One of Paul's main points is that a person can't be saved by keeping Yah's law, but that doesn't negate the fact that without His commandments we'd be unable to understand truly being set apart. Since YHVH tells us to be set apart (kadosh), just as He is kadosh (Leviticus 11:44, 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16), then I'd say it's very important to be able to hear His voice and follow His instructions.
One of the verses that's always used in their arguments is Galatians 3:25 which says, "But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (speaking of the law). Many have taken this to mean the law is dead to us now that we are in Christ. In reality Paul is pointing out that the law no longer has dominion over us if we are in Messiah, but it certainly is not dead. Like a child when they have grown, leaves the authority of a tutor, so we who are in Messiah have left the "supervision" of the law written on stone once we've come to faith in Him and can now delight in His Torah as we walk in the Spirit. We realize that we are no longer condemned by the law and are free to learn from the Father's loving instructions which teach us about the things He desires for our lives (Romans 2:18). Looking at the overall context helps: one can understand what Paul was saying in Galatians if we look at some of his other statements about the Law.
In Romans 7:22 he says, "for I delight in the law of Elohim according to the inward man." If this was Paul's attitude towards Elohim's law, then why would he 'condemn' it in his letter to the Galatians (which was written years before his letter to the Romans). Also he says, "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."(Romans 8:4). And, "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31). Establishing the law? Through faith?! Who'd have thought?!
"For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.
Because the mind of the flesh is enmity towards Elohim, for it does not subject itself to the Torah
of YHVH, neither indeed is it able."
- Romans 8:6-7
Consider what Paul is saying there. First of all he is identifying life and peace to be in the Spirit as opposed to death being found in the mind of the flesh. Then he says that the flesh (carnal nature) of each person is an enemy of the Creator and it CANNOT be subjected to His Torah. The comparison is that the Kadosh Spirit of life is in line with His Torah, unlike the hateful, insubordinate flesh which leads to death.
However, we have the mind of Messiah according to Paul, so may we exercise that mind!
It has intrigued me for several years now that so many people go to Paul's letter to the church in Galatia and make it out to be a verification of their argument that "Jesus came to free us from the Law". One of Paul's main points is that a person can't be saved by keeping Yah's law, but that doesn't negate the fact that without His commandments we'd be unable to understand truly being set apart. Since YHVH tells us to be set apart (kadosh), just as He is kadosh (Leviticus 11:44, 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16), then I'd say it's very important to be able to hear His voice and follow His instructions.
One of the verses that's always used in their arguments is Galatians 3:25 which says, "But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (speaking of the law). Many have taken this to mean the law is dead to us now that we are in Christ. In reality Paul is pointing out that the law no longer has dominion over us if we are in Messiah, but it certainly is not dead. Like a child when they have grown, leaves the authority of a tutor, so we who are in Messiah have left the "supervision" of the law written on stone once we've come to faith in Him and can now delight in His Torah as we walk in the Spirit. We realize that we are no longer condemned by the law and are free to learn from the Father's loving instructions which teach us about the things He desires for our lives (Romans 2:18). Looking at the overall context helps: one can understand what Paul was saying in Galatians if we look at some of his other statements about the Law.
In Romans 7:22 he says, "for I delight in the law of Elohim according to the inward man." If this was Paul's attitude towards Elohim's law, then why would he 'condemn' it in his letter to the Galatians (which was written years before his letter to the Romans). Also he says, "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."(Romans 8:4). And, "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31). Establishing the law? Through faith?! Who'd have thought?!
"For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.
Because the mind of the flesh is enmity towards Elohim, for it does not subject itself to the Torah
of YHVH, neither indeed is it able."
- Romans 8:6-7
Consider what Paul is saying there. First of all he is identifying life and peace to be in the Spirit as opposed to death being found in the mind of the flesh. Then he says that the flesh (carnal nature) of each person is an enemy of the Creator and it CANNOT be subjected to His Torah. The comparison is that the Kadosh Spirit of life is in line with His Torah, unlike the hateful, insubordinate flesh which leads to death.
Did Paul Change the Sabbath Day?
Of course no man can change the ways of Elohim...not even Paul! There are several passages that many believe point to Paul stating that a change had been made as to which day the Sabbath was.
Acts 20:7-12 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-4.
Let's examine these.
Acts 20:7-12
First off let's make sure we understand the context of this. If we read back in verse 6 of Acts 20 we see,
"And we sailed away from Phillipi after the Days of Unleavened Bread,
and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days."
So we see Luke recording here that he, Paul, and others had been keeping the feast of Unleavened Bread, otherwise he probably wouldn't have mentioned. Timothy and the others had gone ahead to Troas while Luke and Paul left just after the feast. This is significant because they were now in the 50 days (seven Sabbaths plus one day) counting to Shavuot.
After 5 days they arrived at Troas and stayed there for seven days. Now verse 7.
"And on the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight."
- Acts 20:7
*The word 'day' is inserted as it was not in the original text.
The word for 'first' is:
Acts 20:7-12 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-4.
Let's examine these.
Acts 20:7-12
First off let's make sure we understand the context of this. If we read back in verse 6 of Acts 20 we see,
"And we sailed away from Phillipi after the Days of Unleavened Bread,
and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days."
So we see Luke recording here that he, Paul, and others had been keeping the feast of Unleavened Bread, otherwise he probably wouldn't have mentioned. Timothy and the others had gone ahead to Troas while Luke and Paul left just after the feast. This is significant because they were now in the 50 days (seven Sabbaths plus one day) counting to Shavuot.
After 5 days they arrived at Troas and stayed there for seven days. Now verse 7.
"And on the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight."
- Acts 20:7
*The word 'day' is inserted as it was not in the original text.
The word for 'first' is:
G3391
μία
mia
mee'-ah
Irregular feminine of G1520; one or first: - a (certain), + agree, first, one, X other.
This word 'mia' is from the root word 'heis' which means 'a primary numeral; one'.
So as we read that phrase "on the first day of the week" in our bibles it can also read "on one of the weeks" and not necessarily "on the first day". We must examine the context of what is written to understand how the words fit.
Next we see the word for 'week' is:
So as we read that phrase "on the first day of the week" in our bibles it can also read "on one of the weeks" and not necessarily "on the first day". We must examine the context of what is written to understand how the words fit.
Next we see the word for 'week' is:
G4521
σάββατον
sabbaton
sab'-bat-on
Of Hebrew origin [H7676]; the Sabbath (that is, Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension a se'nnight, that is, the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications: - sabbath (day), week.
The Sabbath. The Greek word 'sabbaton' can mean 'week' as it can be the 'interval between two Sabbaths', but again looking at the context and the phrasing here it seems unlikely to be the case.
After the days of Unleavened Bread YHVH commands His people to count 7 Sabbaths (7 weeks) to the spring harvest. This is the Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot. Given that Paul and the others were sailing away after Unleavened Bread, and being in the Feast of Weeks, it is plausible that Luke was saying that they were gathered together on one of the weeks of Shavuot. This could still be on the first day of the week, but that does not discount the keeping of the seventh day Sabbath or mean that the first day of the week had replaced it.
It says that Paul spoke until midnight. Though I'm sure Paul could speak for quite a while I doubt he started talking in the morning and spoke all day till midnight.
It is also clear that Paul continued to observe the feasts of YHVH and never taught against them. He pointed to the true meaning of the feasts which is our Messiah (1 Corinthians 5:7-8; 15:20-23).
Even in this very passage Paul had just left after the Days of Unleavened Bread and was hoping to get to Jerusalem for the feast of Shavuot (verse 16).
Though the phrase in most bibles reads "on the first day of the week" it can, and most likely should read, "on one of the Sabbaths" according to the wording and context.
However, even if it was the first day of the week if does not mean that they were keeping the first day and the new, christian sabbath! Paul taught for the keeping of the Torah. He kept the Torah. He kept the Feasts of YHVH. It seems implausible that he would not keep the seventh day Sabbath that was given from the beginning of creation.
1 Corinthians 16:1-4
"And concerning the collection for the saints, you are to do as I gave orders
to the assemblies of Galatia: Concerning one of the Sabbaths let each of you
put aside, storing any profit so that there are no collections when I come."
- 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
Again, most translations use the phrase 'on the first day of the week' inserting the word 'day', but it is the same wording as previously looked at in Acts 20:7. Remember that Paul is instructing the believers to gather together an offering for the brethren in Jerusalem who were going through persecution by the religious leadership. It appeared that Paul wanted the collection to already be taken on one of their Sabbath gatherings before his arrival so it would be ready to be delivered to the saints in Jerusalem. So Paul was telling them to take what profit they had and store it up for a collection to their fellow brothers and sister.
After the days of Unleavened Bread YHVH commands His people to count 7 Sabbaths (7 weeks) to the spring harvest. This is the Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot. Given that Paul and the others were sailing away after Unleavened Bread, and being in the Feast of Weeks, it is plausible that Luke was saying that they were gathered together on one of the weeks of Shavuot. This could still be on the first day of the week, but that does not discount the keeping of the seventh day Sabbath or mean that the first day of the week had replaced it.
It says that Paul spoke until midnight. Though I'm sure Paul could speak for quite a while I doubt he started talking in the morning and spoke all day till midnight.
It is also clear that Paul continued to observe the feasts of YHVH and never taught against them. He pointed to the true meaning of the feasts which is our Messiah (1 Corinthians 5:7-8; 15:20-23).
Even in this very passage Paul had just left after the Days of Unleavened Bread and was hoping to get to Jerusalem for the feast of Shavuot (verse 16).
Though the phrase in most bibles reads "on the first day of the week" it can, and most likely should read, "on one of the Sabbaths" according to the wording and context.
However, even if it was the first day of the week if does not mean that they were keeping the first day and the new, christian sabbath! Paul taught for the keeping of the Torah. He kept the Torah. He kept the Feasts of YHVH. It seems implausible that he would not keep the seventh day Sabbath that was given from the beginning of creation.
1 Corinthians 16:1-4
"And concerning the collection for the saints, you are to do as I gave orders
to the assemblies of Galatia: Concerning one of the Sabbaths let each of you
put aside, storing any profit so that there are no collections when I come."
- 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
Again, most translations use the phrase 'on the first day of the week' inserting the word 'day', but it is the same wording as previously looked at in Acts 20:7. Remember that Paul is instructing the believers to gather together an offering for the brethren in Jerusalem who were going through persecution by the religious leadership. It appeared that Paul wanted the collection to already be taken on one of their Sabbath gatherings before his arrival so it would be ready to be delivered to the saints in Jerusalem. So Paul was telling them to take what profit they had and store it up for a collection to their fellow brothers and sister.
Though Paul's letter to the Galatians is the biggest source of controversy among christians today it is quite easy to understand when we step back and look at the context. The letter to the Galatians will be examined in another writing.
But for now we can see just a few examples of Paul's attitude toward the Torah of YHVH, and how good it is.
Once again, Paul said,
"for I delight in the law of Elohim according to the inward man."
- Romans 7:22
The "inward man", the place where YHVH has promised to write His Torah in every believer.
But for now we can see just a few examples of Paul's attitude toward the Torah of YHVH, and how good it is.
Once again, Paul said,
"for I delight in the law of Elohim according to the inward man."
- Romans 7:22
The "inward man", the place where YHVH has promised to write His Torah in every believer.
Obviously YHVH did not throw away His laws for us once His Son died for our sins. The opposite is true, since He writes His laws on the hearts and minds of every follower of Messiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34/Hebrews 8:7-13). That's the part of the New Covenant that most Christians today don't even acknowledge. However, He is always giving us the opportunity to meet with Him in the truth of His Word. It is our choice whether or not we accept His invitation.