Paul’s concern in the Epistle to the Galatians (Asia Minor) was to show that we have gone beyond the Law of Moses and entered the New Testament. He starts the passage that we read today by saying: “See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand”. By this, he means that he took the pen from the writer, whom he used to dictate, and wrote those few words in his own handwriting to show his love for his readers.
Then, he went to another subject, “circumcision”, and noticed that some people in Church that were still insisting on Moses’ Law thought that Pagans converting to Christianity must pass through Judaism first and then get baptized. Paul pictured this for his readers by saying that such people boast about circumcised bodies; he refused that and said: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”.
The world has been crucified for me because I have abolished the world that was subjected to the evil one; he used the word “I crucified”. He also said: “I was crucified”, and this means that the evil world got rid of me by killing me on the cross (morally).
Paul justified his liberation from circumcision and uncircumcision by making them equal as he says: “For in Jesus Christ (i.e. after we have become in Christ), neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything”. All of this means nothing and “what counts is the new creation”, i.e. the creation that is renewed in faith and Baptism.
To “All who follow this rule”, i.e. all who believe in my words or my gospel as he expresses sometimes, he sends peace and mercy and also to the Israel of God which means the new Israel, the Church.
Therefore, don’t trouble me with this controversy “for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus”. By this, he refers to the discomforts that he endured here and there, in addition to the persecutions. I carry the marks of my tiredness and I will continue my path to the cross as the Lord did. Actually, the Roman authorities killed Paul by sword around the year 67 and also killed Peter by crucifixion in the year 65.
After all these theological words, he sends his greetings to the Galatians by saying: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen”.
With this phrase, the epistle to the Galatians is ended, it is one of the deepest epistles theologically and resembles Paul’s epistle to the Romans. What the great apostle wrote is basic for those who love to taste the theology of the New Testament. Paul is the constructor of theological speech in Christianity.
Translated by Mark Najjar
Original Text: “الشريعة الجديدة” –Raiati 37- 09.09.2012
