Duh!! Galatians 3:19

[Cyberseeker]

In my study I have got up to the verse in Galatians 3:19 which says, “What then was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgression.†Hmmm, good question … exactly the same one as I’m asking myself. But, with all due respect to St. Paul, he doesn’t answer his own question! “... It was added because of transgression ...†Duh! What is that supposed to mean?

Now, someone is going to tell me that we need law in order to define transgression. (Roman 4:15, 7:7) Fine, I get it. But somewhere else St. Paul tells us God is within his rights to kick butt whether we are under law or not. (Romans 2:12-14) Sooooo, we are back to square one with our question. :nag "What then was the purpose of the law?"

Any thoughts?

 

[seekandlisten]

In my study I have got up to the verse in Galatians 3:19 which says, “What then was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgression.†Hmmm, good question … exactly the same one as I’m asking myself …. But, with all due respect to St. Paul, he doesn’t answer his own question! “... It was added because of transgression ...†Duh! What is that supposed to mean?

Now, someone is going to tell me that we need law in order to define transgression. (Roman 4:15, 7:7) Fine, I get it. But somewhere else St. Paul tells us God is within his rights to kick butt whether we are under law or not. (Romans 2:12-14) Sooooo, we are back to square one with our question. :nag What then was the purpose of the law?

Any thoughts?

Could it be along the line of our failure to put our faith in God to guide us through the Holy Spirit? Did Jesus not come as the solution to people not obeying the written law as it was? Is it not lack of faith in God to provide rather than needing it all written out for us? Just some thoughts/questions.

 

[Drew]

Sooooo, we are back to square one with our question. :nag "What then was the purpose of the law?"

Paul seems to think that the purpose of the Law is to actually intensify and magnify sin in national Israel. As he writes in Romans 5, the law was given to make trespass increase.

Why would God do this? Why would God give a law to Israel to make them more sinful, not less?

Because God has a plan - He is "luring" sin into one place - Israel. Once there, it (sin) can be focused into the flesh of the one true Israelite - Jesus - and then condemned on the cross.

Paul sees sin as a "personal" power. And he understands that God uses the Torah to make sin "take up residence" in Israel, where it is vulnerable to being then "cornered" in Jesus and there defeated.

This is a strange picture - but I suggest it is true to Paul's argument in Romans (and in Galatians and 1 Corinthians 15).

 

[Cyberseeker]

Because God has a plan - He is "luring" sin into one place - Israel. Once there, it (sin) can be focused into the flesh of the one true Israelite - Jesus - and then condemned on the cross.

I must admit this concept is new to me. However it has a 'feel' to it that is both logical and biblical. If what you say here is true, then it certainly answers a few of my longstanding questions.

Thanks,
Cyber

 

[seekandlisten]

I was just reading through Galatians 3 and doesn't it just pretty much state that the law was established because of Abrahams righteousnes and because Jesus had not yet come to fulfill it?? More or less an 'authority' or guidline to follow until Jesus took it's spot?

 

[veteran]

It was added because of THESE TRANSGRESSIONS...

1 Tim 1:9-11
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
(KJV)

 

[Elijah674]

In my study I have got up to the verse in Galatians 3:19 which says, “What then was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgression.†Hmmm, good question … exactly the same one as I’m asking myself. But, with all due respect to St. Paul, he doesn’t answer his own question! “... It was added because of transgression ...†Duh! What is that supposed to mean?

Now, someone is going to tell me that we need law in order to define transgression. (Roman 4:15, 7:7) Fine, I get it. But somewhere else St. Paul tells us God is within his rights to kick butt whether we are under law or not. (Romans 2:12-14) Sooooo, we are back to square one with our question. :nag "What then was the purpose of the law?"

Any thoughts?

I doubt that you are up to the law question? One is Erernal (Heb. 13:20) & one came on the scene by Moses pen for the psalms 77:13 Sanctuary recepie so to speak, or its functional blueprint. Called Moses law of ordiances. Also there are health laws etc.

--Elijah