Let me also add this, Paul said we were delivered form this present-day world, back then they didn't live like Christians do today they obeyed the church, and they were a BODY all of one mind (thought) and had all things in common (shared everything with each other equally) there were no have and have nots so this may have been what other were teaching. You have to remember it was Illegal to be a Christian then It'd be like us preaching and setting up churches in North Korea today. Here we are free and yet mostly silent..................
Hello Charles, It is true that the Christians in the early church lived differently than we do today in some respects, but there were some respects that we are today similar. We do know that in the early church, the believers gathered together for worship (we do that now).They prayed for each other (we do that now).They gave funds to help those in need (we do that now).They taught one another the doctrines of the faith (some churches do that now as a matter of course).They held everything in common (we do not do this today).They desired unity and oneness of belief (we desire that today).They were unable to keep the unity of faith and fellowship, as there were many false teachings creeping into the churches and many schisms within fellowships (we have this today).They had apostles establishing the churches, re-visiting them, and writing letters to them (we do not have that today).They were persecuted and martyred (there is some of this happening today in parts of the world).They had pastors, elders, and deacons (we have that today).The OT Scriptures and letters from the apostles were read during worship times (we do this today). The Holy Spirit manifested in believers in various ways (we have that today).
There is a lot that we do not know of what the early church did or was like. And the church was in constant change as the decades passed and centuries rolled by. Jesus said that He would build His church, and He has over the last 2000 years. Jesus always fulfills His word and what He purposes to do. As believers, we should believe that our Lord is still building His church today and has been over the centuries. To not believe this is to deny that Jesus keeps His word.
But we know He is faithful and His words are true. We know that as God the Son, He has the power to preserve the church against the gates of hell. Yeah!
We in our time do not need to be just like the church in the 1st century anymore than the 1st century church needed to function like the Israelites.
I don't believe it was the Galatians Christians, but Paul wrote that they who went out from among us are not of us and at that time false teachers had already begun teaching circumcision and stick obedience to the law among other things so it was false teachings why Paul wrote to them, and you see Paul say here: 6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Paul reiterates the gospel to them: 4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Most don't recognize as Paul was traveling on his mission and preaching and establishing new churches satan was right on his heels sowing discord and lies, I believe this was the thorn in the flesh Paul prayed about 3 times and God answered him. my grace is sufficient, that's just my opinion tho.
Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians to counter the message of missionaries who visited Galatia after he left. These missionaries taught that Gentiles must follow parts of the Jewish Law in order to be saved [NOT THE BIBLE]. In particular, these missionaries taught that Christian men had to accept the Jewish rite of circumcision.
The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians was written to Jewish Christians who were straying from the Lord by relying once again on the works of the law of Moses.
The central theme of Galatians is 'Freedom in Christ' which is understood as the birthright of every believer. Through faith in Christ, he has been delivered from the bondage and condemnation of the law and from the power of sin.
Galatia (/le/; Ancient Greek: was an ancient area in the highlands of central Anatolia, roughly corresponding to the provinces of Ankara and Eskiehir, in modern Turkey.
Hello Charles. Apostle Paul gave the reason for this letter in Galatians 1:6-10. The three main points are: 1. that another Gospel was being entertained by the Church; 2. that Paul's apostolic authority, as given him by the Lord, was being questioned; & 3. a re-hash of the Gospel of Christ, of Christian liberty & other matters given.
1. The Judaizers (Jewish Christians that refused to accept the non-relevance of the Law to Israel as Truth), had entered into this Church (or, other such gatherings in Asia Minor), & began proclaiming, even pontificating their beliefs with flowery speech & convincing arguments. Galatians 1:6-10; 3:1; 4:17. Paul refutes this 'new' teaching of 'faith plus works' ( Galatians 3:2-5).
2. Paul's apostleship defence. His authority acquired through revelation ( Galatians 1:11-24); it was approved by the Jerusalem Church ( Galatians 2:1-10); it was acknowledged in his rebuke to Peter ( Galatians 2:11-21).
3. A re-hash of the Truth - an expansion of what they earlier heard from Paul. Was the Spirit received through faith or through the Law? (3:1-5). Of Abraham's faith (3:6-9). Justification only by Faith - the Law given, only to draw men to Christ (3:10 - 4:11). Paul's own testimony (4:12-20). Testimony from an OT allegory (4:21-31).
This faith (apart from the Law), gives meaning to: full Liberty (5:1-12); genuine Love (5:13-15); enjoying the Fruit of the Spirit in spiritual walk (5:16-26). And then matters pertaining to sin in the Church (6:1-5) & giving for the Lord's Work (6:6-10).
Paul ends with his closing words (6:11-18): a final warning to beware of any who demand circumcision or keeping the Law (which those teachers even fail to keep). They might do it with false motives, even to avoid persecution from the Jews (6:12) or to boast in being their teachers (6:13), but none of them carry the marks of persecution which Paul has, showing his stand for the Truth & love for the believers.
I hope this brief explanation answers your question.
There is a lot that we do not know of what the early church did or was like. And the church was in constant change as the decades passed and centuries rolled by. Jesus said that He would build His church, and He has over the last 2000 years. Jesus always fulfills His word and what He purposes to do. As believers, we should believe that our Lord is still building His church today and has been over the centuries. To not believe this is to deny that Jesus keeps His word.
But we know He is faithful and His words are true. We know that as God the Son, He has the power to preserve the church against the gates of hell. Yeah!
We in our time do not need to be just like the church in the 1st century anymore than the 1st century church needed to function like the Israelites.
7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Paul reiterates the gospel to them: 4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Most don't recognize as Paul was traveling on his mission and preaching and establishing new churches satan was right on his heels sowing discord and lies, I believe this was the thorn in the flesh Paul prayed about 3 times and God answered him. my grace is sufficient, that's just my opinion tho.
The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians was written to Jewish Christians who were straying from the Lord by relying once again on the works of the law of Moses.
The central theme of Galatians is 'Freedom in Christ' which is understood as the birthright of every believer. Through faith in Christ, he has been delivered from the bondage and condemnation of the law and from the power of sin.
Galatia (/le/; Ancient Greek: was an ancient area in the highlands of central Anatolia, roughly corresponding to the provinces of Ankara and Eskiehir, in modern Turkey.
1. The Judaizers (Jewish Christians that refused to accept the non-relevance of the Law to Israel as Truth), had entered into this Church (or, other such gatherings in Asia Minor), & began proclaiming, even pontificating their beliefs with flowery speech & convincing arguments. Galatians 1:6-10; 3:1; 4:17. Paul refutes this 'new' teaching of 'faith plus works' ( Galatians 3:2-5).
2. Paul's apostleship defence. His authority acquired through revelation ( Galatians 1:11-24); it was approved by the Jerusalem Church ( Galatians 2:1-10); it was acknowledged in his rebuke to Peter ( Galatians 2:11-21).
3. A re-hash of the Truth - an expansion of what they earlier heard from Paul. Was the Spirit received through faith or through the Law? (3:1-5). Of Abraham's faith (3:6-9). Justification only by Faith - the Law given, only to draw men to Christ (3:10 - 4:11). Paul's own testimony (4:12-20). Testimony from an OT allegory (4:21-31).
This faith (apart from the Law), gives meaning to: full Liberty (5:1-12); genuine Love (5:13-15); enjoying the Fruit of the Spirit in spiritual walk (5:16-26). And then matters pertaining to sin in the Church (6:1-5) & giving for the Lord's Work (6:6-10).
Paul ends with his closing words (6:11-18): a final warning to beware of any who demand circumcision or keeping the Law (which those teachers even fail to keep). They might do it with false motives, even to avoid persecution from the Jews (6:12) or to boast in being their teachers (6:13), but none of them carry the marks of persecution which Paul has, showing his stand for the Truth & love for the believers.
I hope this brief explanation answers your question.
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