Topical Bible: Strife: Judaising Teachers

◄ Strife: Judaising Teachers ►

Topical Encyclopedia

In the early Christian church, the issue of Judaising teachers was a significant source of strife and contention. These individuals, often Jewish Christians, insisted that Gentile converts to Christianity must adhere to certain Jewish laws and customs, particularly circumcision, to be fully accepted into the faith. This insistence on the necessity of following the Mosaic Law for salvation was a direct challenge to the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

The Apostle Paul addresses this issue extensively in his epistles, particularly in Galatians. In Galatians 1:6-7 , Paul expresses his astonishment that the Galatians are "so quickly deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is not even a gospel." He warns that these Judaising teachers are "troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ."

The conflict reached a critical point, leading to the Jerusalem Council, as recorded in Acts 15. The council was convened to address the question of whether Gentile Christians should be required to observe the Law of Moses. After much debate, the apostles and elders, guided by the Holy Spirit, concluded that imposing such legalistic requirements was not necessary. Acts 15:28-29 states, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality."

Paul's epistle to the Galatians further elaborates on the theological implications of this strife. In Galatians 2:16 , he asserts, "We know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." Paul emphasizes that adherence to the law cannot bring about justification, and he warns against returning to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).

The presence of Judaising teachers also posed a threat to the unity of the early church. In Galatians 2:11-14 , Paul recounts an incident in Antioch where he confronted Peter for withdrawing from Gentile believers out of fear of the circumcision group. This incident highlights the divisive nature of the Judaising influence and the need for steadfast adherence to the truth of the gospel.

The strife caused by Judaising teachers serves as a historical example of the challenges faced by the early church in maintaining doctrinal purity and unity. It underscores the importance of upholding the core tenet of salvation by grace through faith, apart from works of the law, as articulated in Ephesians 2:8-9 : "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast."

The resolution of this conflict through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the apostolic authority set a precedent for addressing doctrinal disputes within the church, emphasizing the primacy of the gospel message and the inclusivity of all believers, Jew and Gentile alike, in the body of Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 15:2
When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
Torrey's Topical Textbook