Below is a Messianic translation of some difficult passages from the book of Galatians about Torah: Galatians (4:1–5:1) I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, though he is the legal owner of the estate; but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world [namely, the Jewish religious system of Torah-related traditions]. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under that Jewish religious system of traditions, that he might redeem those who were under that Jewish religious system of traditions, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave [to man-made religious traditions], but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Messiah. However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those [merely human religious leaders] who by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles [of the Jewish religious system of Torah-related traditions], to which you desire to be in bondage all over again? You painstakingly observe days, months, seasons, and years [according to Jewish traditions of men]. I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor which I invested in you. Brothers, I beg of you, put yourselves in my place — after all, I put myself in your place. It isnt that you have done me any wrong - but you know that through illness I preached the Good News to you the first time. And even though my weakness due to illness may have tempted you to treat me with scorn, you did not despise nor reject me. On the contrary, you welcomed me as if I had been an angel of God, as if I had been the Messiah Yeshua himself! Where now is that blessing you experienced? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. After all that, have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? True, these religionists are zealous for you, but their motives are not good. They want to separate you from us so that you will become zealous for them. To be zealous is fine, provided always that the cause is good [but theirs isnt]. Indeed, whether I am present with you or not, my dear children, I am suffering birth pains with you all over again — and this will go on until the Messiah is fully formed within you - but I wish I could be present with you now, and could change my tone toward you, because I am frustrated and perplexed by your behavior. Tell me, you that desire to be under the Jewish religious system of Torah-related traditions, don’t you listen to the Torah itself? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman, and one by the free woman. However, the son by the slave woman was born according to the ordinary manner of human flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through a promise [by a miracle of the Spirit]. These events contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, now bearing children to the bondage of man-made religion, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the Jerusalem that exists right now, for she is in bondage of man-made religion with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our Mother. For it is written, Rejoice, you barren woman who did not bear, for more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:59:06 +0000
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