Biblical Literacy and Galatians 3

[there buster]

I apologize. I've been busy. I didn't have time to do a block diagram on a modern translation, but I found one I did ten years ago on the KJV.

[NOTE: ALL KJV Fanatics--don't bring that stuff here]

Here it is:

Galatians 3:1

O foolish Galatians,

.....^who hath bewitched you,

.....|.............^that ye should not obey the truth,

.....|before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been

.....|...................^evidently set forth,

.....|...................|crucified among you?

.....|

.....|[2] This only would I learn of you,

.....|.........^Received ye the Spirit

.....|.........|....^by the works of the law,

....................|or by the hearing of faith?

.....|

.....|[3] Are ye so foolish?

.....|.........^having begun in the Spirit,

.....|.........|....^are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

.....|[4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain?

.....|..............^if it be yet in vain.

.....|

.....|[5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit,

.....|and worketh miracles among you,

.....|.........^doeth he it by the works of the law,

.....|.........|or by the hearing of faith?

.....|..............[6] Even as Abraham believed God,

.....|...................and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

.....|

.....[7] Know ye therefore

.....|....^that they which are of faith,

.....|.........^the same are the children of Abraham.

.....|

.....|[8] And the scripture,

.....|..............^foreseeing that God would justify the heathen

.....|..............|...........................^through faith,

.....|..............|.preached before the gospel unto Abraham,

.....|...................^saying,

.....|........................^In thee shall all nations be blessed.

.....|

.....|[9] So then they which be of faith

.....|.........^are blessed with faithful Abraham.

.....|[10] For as many as are of the works of the law

.....|.........^are under the curse:

.....|..............^for it is written,

.....|...................^Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things

.....|........................^which are written in the book of the law

.....|.............................^to do them.

.....|[11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God,

....................^it is evident:

.........................^for, The just shall live by faith.

.....|

.....|[12] And the law is not of faith:

.....|but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

.....|

.....|{13] Christ hath redeemed us

....................^from the curse of the law,

....................|being made a curse for us:

...................................^for it is written,

...................................| Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

..........[14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles

....................through Jesus Christ;

..........that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

[15] Brethren, I speak after the manner of men;

.....Though it be but a man's covenant,

..........yet if it be confirmed,

...............no man disannulleth,

...............or addeth thereto.

.....[16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.

..........He saith not, And to seeds, as of many;

..........but as of one, And to thy seed,

..............................which is Christ.

..........[17] And this I say,

...............that the covenant,

..............................that was confirmed before of God in Christ,

.........................the law,

..............................which was four hundred and thirty years after,

....................cannot disannul,

.........................that it should make the promise of none effect.

.....[18] For if the inheritance be of the law,

...............it is no more of promise:

..........but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

.....[19] Wherefore then serveth the law?

..........It was added because of transgressions,

...............till the seed should come

....................to whom the promise was made;

..........and it was ordained by angels

...............in the hand of a mediator.

.........................[20] Now a mediator is

..............................not a mediator of one,

...................................but God is one.

..........[21] Is the law then

....................against the promises of God?

..............................God forbid:

.........................for if there had been a law given

..............................which could have given life,

...................................verily righteousness should have been

........................................by the law.

..........[22] But the scripture hath concluded all

....................under sin,

...............that the promise

.........................by faith

....................of Jesus Christ

.........................might be given to them that believe.

..........[23] But before faith came,

...............we were kept under the law,

....................shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

...............[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster

....................to bring us unto Christ,

.........................that we might be justified by faith.

...............[25] But after that faith is come,

....................we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

.....[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ

...............have put on Christ.

..........[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek,

..........there is neither bond nor free,

..........there is neither male nor female:

.....for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

[29] And if ye be Christ's,

.........then are ye Abraham's seed,

.........and heirs according to the promise.

©1995-2005 by Ed Dickerson, all rights reserved.

Start with an overview of the entire epistle.

Look for similarities and differences with other epistles.

Identify central themes, key words, key concepts.

Make suggestions to changes in the display. Let's get our understanding of the foundation first, then go out and apply it.

[Robert]

Quote:

---

didn't have time to do a block diagram

---

Christians having been doing just fine reading their Bibles for years without this stuff....

Simply read the context....Many times Paul is referring to Old Testament statements, so that must be taken in to account.

To be honest your presentation looks messy....It is hard to read!

Your buddy,

Robert

[there buster]

Quote:

---

Christians having been doing just fine reading their Bibles for years without this stuff....

---

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Some things are impossible to satirize.

[there buster]

On second thought, Robert, since you obviously have so much disdain for this approach, why waste your time, and ours?

Let those who are interested explore this approach, and you can go on with your "I think" method to your heart's content. There's plenty of people here who are happy to play with you. So why don't you go back to flinging thunderbolts at each other, and leave this approach to us ignorant plodders.

[Robert]

Ed, your sarcasm and self-righteous attitude is very typical of many traditional Seventh-day Adventists.

[benherndon]

Robert, I would appreciate it if you and all others, including me!!!!!, would just be nice and quiet until Ed finishes what he has offered to do.

Let's be nice and considerate to others even if we disagree. We are 'believers'---all of us. We have different minds, different backgrounds, different teachings we've subscribed to, and few people look at the same thing, thought, or object and see it exactly the same. Look---even us Christians who have, presumably, only the Bible as our reference text---we still don't even read the same word sometimes in the same way.

So, let's 'can' the less-than-complimentary remarks to each other. I do agree with you that many deeply 'traditional' SDAs have a disagreeable response to anybody who doesn't agree with historic Adventist teachings. But those of us who don't agree with historic Adventism are still 'believers' in Christ as our Saviour who was raised from death. We always need to be loving and kind even in our disagreements.

On the other hand there are those who think that because we don't accept everything traditionally taught ought to go elsewhere with our spiritual analysis and thoughts. We have to be kind to them, too---even if, maybe, they aren't kind to us. And some of us, including me, are just born with 'spots' and 'color' to our 'skin' that we can't change. God will change us all when He comes again---and I HOPE with all my heart that is true!! We HOPE! We don't know for sure, not really, but we HOPE!! ---all of us HOPE!

This is a FORUM. This is a 'market place of ideas'---everybody is 'selling' his ideas. If we don't "buy"----we still should respect the 'non-buyers of our ideas' and give them the freedom to not accept our ideas like we don't accept theirs. Everybody needs 'love'. Even God wants us to "LOVE" Him, doesn't He?---and He tells us that we need to 'love'& respect each other----and He even tells us that our 'love' for each other identifies us as Christians!

"Faith, hope and charity"---but the greatest of these is Charity!!

Ben

[benherndon]

Quote:

---

Galatians 3:1

O foolish Galatians,

.....^who hath bewitched you,

.....|.............^that ye should not obey the truth,

.....|before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been

.....|...................^evidently set forth,

.....|...................|crucified among you?

.....|

.....|[2] This only would I learn of you,

.....|.........^Received ye the Spirit

.....|.........|....^by the works of the law,

....................|or by the hearing of faith?

.....|

.....|[3] Are ye so foolish?

.....|.........^having begun in the Spirit,

.....|.........|....^are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

.....|[4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain?

.....|..............^if it be yet in vain.

.....|

.....|[5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit,

.....|and worketh miracles among you,

.....|.........^doeth he it by the works of the law,

.....|.........|or by the hearing of faith?

.....|..............[6] Even as Abraham believed God,

.....|...................and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

.....|

.....[7] Know ye therefore

.....|....^that they which are of faith,

.....|.........^the same are the children of Abraham.

.....|

.....|[8] And the scripture,

.....|..............^foreseeing that God would justify the heathen

.....|..............|...........................^through faith,

.....|..............|.preached before the gospel unto Abraham,

.....|...................^saying,

.....|........................^In thee shall all nations be blessed.

.....|

.....|[9] So then they which be of faith

.....|.........^are blessed with faithful Abraham.

.....|[10] For as many as are of the works of the law

.....|.........^are under the curse:

.....|..............^for it is written,

.....|...................^Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things

.....|........................^which are written in the book of the law

.....|.............................^to do them.

.....|[11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God,

....................^it is evident:

.........................^for, The just shall live by faith.

.....|

.....|[12] And the law is not of faith:

.....|but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

.....|

.....|{13] Christ hath redeemed us

....................^from the curse of the law,

....................|being made a curse for us:

...................................^for it is written,

...................................| Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

..........[14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles

....................through Jesus Christ;

..........that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

---

>>>>What this says to me that 'believing' in Jesus' and accepting Him as my Saviour is more important than 'keeping' the Ten Commandments, including the Sabbath (for SDAs), even though keeping them is the guide I try to obey in my living with others.

Quote:

---

[15] Brethren, I speak after the manner of men;

.....Though it be but a man's covenant,

..........yet if it be confirmed,

...............no man disannulleth,

...............or addeth thereto.

.....[16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.

..........He saith not, And to seeds, as of many;

..........but as of one, And to thy seed,

..............................which is Christ.

..........[17] And this I say,

...............that the covenant,

..............................that was confirmed before of God in Christ,

.........................the law,

..............................which was four hundred and thirty years after,

....................cannot disannul,

.........................that it should make the promise of none effect.

.....[18] For if the inheritance be of the law,

...............it is no more of promise:

..........but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

---

>>>>We all live under the 'promise' to Abraham, which is what Christians have referred to as the Abrahamic Covenant, the Everlasting Covenant. It is a promise that is not altered by the Law of Moses--called by the NT as being the 'Old Covenant/Testament'.

Ben

[benherndon]

Quote:

---

[15] Brethren, I speak after the manner of men;

.....Though it be but a man's covenant,

..........yet if it be confirmed,

...............no man disannulleth,

...............or addeth thereto.

.....[16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.

..........He saith not, And to seeds, as of many;

..........but as of one, And to thy seed,

..............................which is Christ.

..........[17] And this I say,

...............that the covenant,

..............................that was confirmed before of God in Christ,

.........................the law,

..............................which was four hundred and thirty years after,

....................cannot disannul,

.........................that it should make the promise of none effect.

.....[18] For if the inheritance be of the law,

...............it is no more of promise:

..........but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

---

>>>>Historic SDAs have taught that the Ten Commandments are more eternal than the Book of Moses and that they represent the character of God. "The Law", the Book of Moses, containing the Ten Commandments, were added later, 430 yrs later than the promise to Abraham. "The Law" does not take the place of the "promise" to Abraham. "The Law" is NOT the same as the 'promise' to Abraham. "The Law" has no effect on the 'promise' to Abraham. "The Law", including the Ten Commandments, was not given to mankind BEFORE the 'promise' to Abraham. "The Law" should not be 'messed with', it should not be added to nor should it be altered by man. It IS "The Law"--and as such the implication is that it is 'one' Law---all of it together is "The Law"!

Ben

[benherndon]

Quote:

---

.....[19] Wherefore then serveth the law?

..........It was added because of transgressions,

...............till the seed should come

....................to whom the promise was made;

..........and it was ordained by angels

...............in the hand of a mediator.

.........................[20] Now a mediator is

..............................not a mediator of one,

...................................but God is one.

..........[21] Is the law then

....................against the promises of God?

..............................God forbid:

.........................for if there had been a law given

..............................which could have given life,

...................................verily righteousness should have been

........................................by the law.

..........[22] But the scripture hath concluded all

....................under sin,

...............that the promise

.........................by faith

....................of Jesus Christ

.........................might be given to them that believe.

---

>>>>No matter how we may try to keep 'the Law' it could never save us!! We are saved by Jesus and believing in Him as our Saviour! It "the Law" bad!! No! But even if we kept it perfectly, absolutely perfectly in every way, it could not save us from our sin--which means also that we could not ever even 'keep' it!!!--or any part of it perfectly enough to 'earn' us any consideration of Salvation.

Ben

[benherndon]

Quote:

---

..........[22] But the scripture hath concluded all

....................under sin,

...............that the promise

.........................by faith

....................of Jesus Christ

.........................might be given to them that believe.

..........[23] But before faith came,

...............we were kept under the law,

....................shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

...............[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster

....................to bring us unto Christ,

.........................that we might be justified by faith.

...............[25] But after that faith is come,

....................we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

---

>>>>"before faith came" is a proxy for "before Jesus came as our Saviour".

We are saved by 'faith' in Jesus and not by keeping "the law"--- including the Ten Commandments which are part of the 'one' of 'the Law'. The implication is, then, that this also includes the Sabbath---keeping it or not doesn't save us! Only 'faith' in Jesus as our Saviour saves us and it is completely separate from 'keeping' 'the Law' perfectly.

UNTIL "FAITH" CAME, WE WERE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF 'THE LAW'--it was all we had. We did not have Jesus UNTIL HE CAME even though it was indirectly promised in the Old Testament times. If He had not of come, the Old Testament would still be all we had--but it could not save us nor reconcile us to God. The sins committed befoer Jesus came were not removed by the blood of animals. That was only a promise that Jesus would come and His 'blood' and 'actions' would save us.

SINCE HE *HAS* COME!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE NOT UNDER "THE LAW"---IT IS NOT 'OVER' US IN ANY WAY SINCE HAVE HAVE 'FAITH'--OR SINCE WE HAVE JESUS AS OUR SAVIOUR!!!

This is an important distinction, it seems to me, that many SDAs and my education, failed to reveal to me. Why???

Ben

[benherndon]

Quote:

---

[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

.....[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ

...............have put on Christ.

..........[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek,

..........there is neither bond nor free,

..........there is neither male nor female:

.....for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

[29] And if ye be Christ's,

.........then are ye Abraham's seed,

.........and heirs according to the promise.

---

>>>>Those who trust Jesus as their Saviour receive also the promise to Abraham that He will always be their God and THEY will be His people--thus believers will become 'heirs' of the promise to Abraham that they are saved by their 'faith', their 'belief', their 'trust', in Jesus as their Saviour.

The rest of the Bible, particularly the NT will tell them how to live SINCE JESUS HAS COME!

Well, Ed, what are you thinking now that I have commented?. How do you put into practical use what you have 'blocked' out for us? Where in your opinion do I err? Anybody else?

Ben

[there buster]

Quote:

---

Ed, your sarcasm and self-righteous attitude is very typical of many traditional Seventh-day Adventists.

---

O.K., you've had your say. So far, everything you've put on this thread is off topic. Why don't you start a thread where you can discuss my perceived shortcomings. I'll let others decide what you're "typical of."

Meanwhile, we'll get back to Galatians 3.

[Robert]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Ed, your sarcasm and self-righteous attitude is very typical of many traditional Seventh-day Adventists.

---

...Why don't you start a thread where you can discuss my perceived shortcomings.

---

Thank you very much for proving my point! You sound just like the rich ruler who said, "All these things [commandments] I have kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?"

It will be interesting to see a traditional Adventist butcher the book of Galatians. I'll be watching....

[Taylor]

Amen! I coudln't agree more! Well stated. Thanks for the reminder!

Taylor

[Robert]

Quote:

---

Even God wants us to "LOVE" Him, doesn't He?---and He tells us that we need to

'love'

& respect each other----and He even tells us that our 'love' for each other identifies us as Christians!

---

I understand your meaning, but Ben it sounds like you are giving me a sermon from the law! After all God asks us that if we love Him to keep His commandments....Love, after all, is the fulfillment of the law....

[there buster]

Quote:

---

Thank you very much for proving my point! You sound just like the rich ruler who said, "All these things [commandments] I have kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?"

---

Unless you became God since that post, your perceptions are not His. I mention this because your last post confused the two.

As far as "butchering" Galations, I'll leave that to you.

[Nicodema]

I vote for putting distractions on ignore and continuing the study. All in favor?

[benherndon]

Love the Lord with all your heart & your neighbor as yourself or as I have loved you, Christ Himself said.. That's what I had in mind. What I am asking as gently as possible that we do not significantly interrupt Ed, until he is through with his analysis and interpretation of Gal 3. This chapter has information that conflicts, IMHO, with some former SDA teachings, it seems to me and I want to be sure I understand it well. Instead of fussing with Ed, if you have something to say about it, why not say what you think the chapter is saying to Christians?

Ben

[benherndon]

Nico, I think it is too late. I suspect Ed has about 'had it'.......I'm sorry. I thought we were making good progress. It was doing well and clarity was beginning to show up---until the insulting argumentativeness began to show up. If we must disagree, lets disagree with well chosen uninsulting choice of words from now on, please.

Ben

[Nicodema]

I hope Ed will find the grace to continue as I find his diagrams and analysis very helpful to getting meat out of the word. But if he chooses not to, I can understand -- hecklers can really be a drain and make you feel your valuable time is being wasted (though I assure you Ed, it is not!)

[Jeannieb43]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

I vote for putting distractions on ignore and continuing the study. All in favor? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

i've already done so. did it in the middle of the last study, in fact. the 'ignore' notice comes on, i don't lose my train of thought, and it makes studying the topic SO much easier....

now, ed and dr. ben... this has been another wonderful way to study a great BIBLE PASSAGE THIS MORNING. STILL PLANNING TO TAKE MORE TIME TO ASWSIMILATE IT, AND TO MARK MY OWN bible [aakkkk, please forgive the caps... i'm still typing w/left hand and not by touch.... that was a pure mistake].

[there buster]

Quote:

---

I hope Ed will find the grace to continue

---

Well, that's exactly what happened. Ben was correct, but I've had a couple of days where I've been near my computer very little. I had already decided to continue, and how to do so, when I read your posts (Nico, Ben, Jeannieb43). So I'm back. I won't post much until next week, because I got an urgent e-mail requesting an article by Monday if possible. So my time at the keyboard will be pretty dedicated until then. But I'll be able to post a question or two.

As I posted some time ago:

Start with an overview of the entire epistle.

Look for similarities and differences with other epistles.

Identify central themes, key words, key concepts.

I think the differences between the block diagram for this chapter and the one for 2 Cor 3 are striking.

They either reflect a different approach by Paul, or error on the part of the diagrammer.

Any of these issues are on topic.

[there buster]

I've made a few revisions in the block diagram.

[:"blue"]O foolish Galatians,

.....^who hath bewitched you,

.....|.............^that ye should not obey the truth,

.....|before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been

.....|...................^evidently set forth,

.....|...................|crucified among you?

.....|

.....|[2] This only would I learn of you,

.....|.........^Received ye the Spirit

.....|.........|....^by the works of the law,

....................|or by the hearing of faith?

.....|

.....|[3] Are ye so foolish?

.....|.........^having begun in the Spirit,

.....|.........|....^are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

.....|[4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain?

.....|..............^if it be yet in vain.

.....|

.....|[5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit,

.....|and worketh miracles among you,

.....|.........^doeth he it by the works of the law,

.....|.........|or by the hearing of faith?

.....|..............[6] Even as Abraham believed God,

.....|...................and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

.....|

.....[7] Know ye therefore

.....|....^that they which are of faith,

.....|.........^the same are the children of Abraham.

.....|

.....|[8] And the scripture,

.....|..............^foreseeing that God would justify the heathen

.....|..............|...........................^through faith,

.....|..............|.preached before the gospel unto Abraham,

.....|...................^saying,

.....|........................^In thee shall all nations be blessed.

.....|

.....|[9] So then they which be of faith

.....|.........^are blessed with faithful Abraham. [/]

.....|

.....|

.....|[:"red"][10] For as many as are of the works of the law

.....|.........^are under the curse:

.....|...........^..^for it is written,

.....|..............|....^Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things

.....|..............|.........^which are written in the book of the law

.....|..............|..............^to do them.

.....|..............|[11] But that no man is justified

.....|..............|.........................^by the law

.....|..............|.........................|in the sight of God,

.....|..............|............................^it is evident:

.....|..............|............................|for, The just shall live by faith.

.....|..............|[12] And the law is not of faith:

.....|..............| but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

.....|..............|

{13] Christ hath redeemed us

...........^from the curse of the law,

...........|being made a curse for us:

...........|...............^for it is written,

...........|...............| Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

...........|

...........|[14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles

...........|........through Jesus Christ;

...........|that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. [/]

[:"green"][15] Brethren, I speak after the manner of men;

.....Though it be but a man's covenant,

..........yet if it be confirmed,

...............no man disannulleth,

...............or addeth thereto.

.....[16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.

...........^He saith not, And to seeds, as of many;

...........|but as of one, And to thy seed,

...........|...................which is Christ.

...........|

...........|........v[17] And this I say,

...........|that the covenant,

.........................^.....that was confirmed before of God in Christ,

.........................|.|the law,

.........................|.v.....^which was four hundred and thirty years after,

.........................cannot disannul,

............................^that it should make the promise of none effect.

.....[18] For if the inheritance be of the law,

..............^it is no more of promise:

..........but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

[/]

[:"purple"]

.....[19] Wherefore then serveth the law?

..........It was added because of transgressions,

...............till the seed should come

....................to whom the promise was made;

..........and it was ordained by angels

...............in the hand of a mediator.

.........................[20] Now a mediator is

..............................not a mediator of one,

...................................but God is one.

..........[21] Is the law then

....................against the promises of God?

..............................God forbid:

.........................for if there had been a law given

..............................which could have given life,

...................................verily righteousness should have been

........................................by the law.

..........[22] But the scripture hath concluded all

....................under sin,

...............that the promise

.........................by faith

....................of Jesus Christ

.........................might be given to them that believe.

..........[23] But before faith came,

...............we were kept under the law,

....................shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

...............[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster

....................to bring us unto Christ,

.........................that we might be justified by faith.

...............[25] But after that faith is come,

....................we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

[/]

[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

.....[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ

...............have put on Christ.

..........[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek,

..........there is neither bond nor free,

..........there is neither male nor female:

.....for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

[29] And if ye be Christ's,

.........then are ye Abraham's seed,

.........and heirs according to the promise.

block diagram © 1995-2005 by Ed Dickerson

The very first thing that strikes me about this is how linear it is. Paul usually rambles all over the place.

Here, he sticks close to his main topic, and he addresses the Galatians directly repeatedly. That conveys to the reader a sense of urgency. Paul seems deeply concerned, and anxious to correct some misconception on the part of his audience.

I've divided the passage into five sections by color, and summarize them thus:

Spirit v. Law

The curse of the law

law v. covenant

the function of the law

Our status in faith

Thoughts? And please, take it slow and general.

[benherndon]

Well, first of all, Ed, congratulations on being brave to take the criticisms of some and blessings of the few by coming back into the discussion.

Now I don't really want to comment right now--- I want to learn and see if my previous conclusions tend to be verified or weakened.

So, let me ask you, who is a SDA and who has studied in the Seminary, what does this text of Gal 3 say to you? Do you find any conflict with what you were taught at the Seminary? Do you find any conflict with any of the traditional teachings, the traditional doctrines of our church? What was the schoolmaster? What does it mean to NOT be under the supervision of a 'schoolmaster' in regards to the subject of this text.?

I like what you did and I think it makes it clearer than just quickly passing over it as we hastily read the KJV Bible Friday nights hoping to not look like 'dummies' in SS the next morning.

Ben

[there buster]

Quote:

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Do you find any conflict with what you were taught at the Seminary?

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I had marvelous teachers at the Seminary: Robert Johnston, William Johnsson, William Shea, W.G.C. Murdoch, Roy Graham.

No, I find no conflict with my Seminary learning. When you say "traditional SDA" do you mean official church teaching? Or do you mean what most people got when I was growing up? The two are quite different.

The "schoolmaster" question is a little bit ahead, but I'll give you a quick summary.

The NASB translates the word "tutor." The NIV leaves out the word entirely, saying only that " [T]he law was put in charge to lead us to Christ£ that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. "

The word in question is:

παιδαγωγός

paidagōgos

pahee-dag-o-gos'
 a boy leader, that is, a servant whose office it was to take the children to school; (by implication [figuratively] a tutor

[“paedagogue”]):—instructor, schoolmaster.

In fact, the paidagogos was more of a bodyguard than a tutor. It was that servant's job to get the son to school safely.

I believe this is the clearest exposition of Paul's understanding of the law. Like the paidagogos, the restrictions of the law are safeguards, designed to get us safely to Christ. The law is for our good, but it is not enough. It is worthwhile but limited.It keeps us out of trouble, keeps us safe so that Christ take us beyond mere obedience, beyond safety, beyond childhood.