Galatians 2:5
5 To whom [hos] we gave place [eiko] by subjection, [hupotage]
no, not [oude] for [pros] an hour; [hora] that [hina] the truth [aletheia] of the
gospel [euaggelion] might continue [diameno] with [pros] you. [humas]KJV-Interlinear
5 But we did not yield in
subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might
remain with you. NASB
Here is Pauls emphatic rejection and objection to
the false concepts that were being attempted by those people who were trying to
infiltrate their false ideas into the common thinking of everyone else.
The true doctrine of salvation, is salvation by
faith. That is, one is saved by merely
believing in Jesus Christ.
The false doctrine of salvation, is that works are
required in order earn and receive, and even keep salvation. And in this case, circumcision was being
promoted as the required work, lest you were going to be like every other
pagan, so to speak.
Symbolically speaking the term pagan is used to
refer to someone who lacks truth or wisdom.
Civilized countries would refer to uncivilized regions as being inhabited
by pagan peoples, because they lack the knowledge and understanding of modern civilization.
But in truth anyone who lacks knowledge and
understanding of God, of doctrine, of truth is a pagan by definition. This can
apply to extremely intelligent people in the most advanced countries, and most
certainly can apply to most people in every country regardless of their culture
or environment. Being a pagan is not
limited to a person who runs around barefoot and wearing only a flap of
clothing, if any, around their waist.
Only people who lack doctrinal understanding, will categorize
people in various classes. This is a
tendency of liberals or self-righteous people regardless of where they sit on
the political or social spectrum.
Doctrine is not political. Doctrine is not philosophical. Doctrine does not polarize people. People do all of that themselves.
And people who lack truth, certainly come up with
their own ideas that create rules, for everyone, that justifies their beliefs.
When you have beliefs that run contrary to truth, then you have to have a set
of standards or rules that justify your beliefs. And you inevitably create boundaries that
allow some but not all, into your belief structure. This leads to bias and prejudice, and abuse,
because it is sin that the false beliefs are founded on, not truth.
And when sin is the foundation, then the whole
false system of beliefs will crumble and fail sooner or later.
Paul did not give their ideas an inch or even an
hours consideration, but rejected them totally and completely. Today we might say, that we would not give
them a moment of our time.
