Galatians 5:6 "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Once, a seminarian countered (as students are wont to do)my use emphasis on the primacy of love by quoting: 1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts." "Actually, it gets even better," I said, pointing to: Galatians 5:15: "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation." "So, is Paul confused about what really counts? How would he define what God's commandments are, and what precisely is 'a new creation'?" We turned to: Romans 13:8-10 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. So we're right back to Jesus who clinched the argument in Matthew 22:34. BACK |
