s uses 4 specific tactics to makeGalatians come back to the teachings according to Paul. Paul begins by defending his credibility as an apostle. He writes abrief autobiographical history, stressing that he once persecutedChristians, and then converted when Jesus appeared to him. Also, hetells the outcome of the Jerusalem Conference, probably to convincethem that other apostles have accepted his theology. This part of theletter is a bit like a resume of qualifications. I could imagine thatthe Judiazers who came to Galatia after Paul, denounced him as anapostle: that he never met Jesus, and was not truly educated to be anapostle. Next, Paul writes that "obedience to the Law could not earn approvalby God; approval is possible only through faith in Christ" (Perrin, pg.184). Faith in the crucified Christ will bring righteousness, not theLaw (Gal 2:21). Having circumcision will do nothing to make one betterin the eyes of God. Then, Paul uses an allegory of The Two Covenants: Abraham's child ofa slave woman represents Jerusalem living under the Law, and the childof the free woman represents Jerusalem being free! This tactic, alongwith Paul's use of familiar Jewish argument style, quoting scriptureafter scripture to prove a point (Gal 3), are common preaching styles;probably taught to him during whatever rabbinic training he got(perhaps when he spent time with Peter). Paul also tries to appeal tothe Helenistic enthusiasm in Christianity in Gal 3:1-5. Although Paul makes some very convincing arguments in favor of hisbeliefs, I cannot agree with his interpretation of Christ JesusChristianity. Compare these two quotes from New Testament Scripture(The first is by Paul in Galations. The second is a quote of Jesus inthe Book of Matthew.):"knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law butby faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus,that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the worksof t...
