Expert: Sal - 9/10/2010

Question
Hello.  I've been reading the Bible and have a couple questions about what seem like discrepancies. In Romans 3 Paul says "There is much value in circumcision" but in Galatians 5 he says circumcision has no value?"   just seems like a contradiction I'm trying to clear up.   Along with why Jesus said "The Father is greater than I" but yet he is God?  Thanks, Laura

Answer
Dear Laura:

As is true of all Bible contradictions knowing the context will clear things up. On Romans 2 especially vs. 17-29 St. Paul says that being a circumcised Jew doesn’t mean that one is saved. “Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised” (Romans 2:25). St. Paul then goes on to say that the Gentiles who do what is right even though they don’t have the Law or circumcision, marks of the people of God, are better off then the unrighteous Jew. When the Jew hears this message from St. Paul he would naturally ask, “What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?” (Romans 3:1). St. Paul then answers this question, “Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God” (v. 2). Having the Law of Moses and circumcision was valuable because they were marked as members of the people of God. But now a new covenant has emerged where outward observance of the Law doesn’t matter what matters is having a pure heart with faith in Jesus Christ. “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:21-22).

In Galatians St. Paul is speaking to Gentile Christians. These Gentiles are being deceived by Judaizers, Jewish Christians who still observe circumcision and the Law of Moses, into adding these Old Covenant signs onto faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

“You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3).

The Gentiles became Christians by faith, but were now adding, under the teaching of the Judaizers, Old Covenant observances. “You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you” (Galatians 4:10-11). Then the apostles tells a beautiful allegory in 4:21-31 (If you want a detailed look at the meaning of this allegory just let me know). Basically St. Paul tells the Gentile Christians to cast out all Old Covenant observances. Therefore, if they follow the Judaizers and add circumcision and the Mosaic law to faith in Christ they will be lost.

“Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:2-6).

To sum up: in Romans 3 St. Paul is addressing Jewish Christians telling them that their background as circumcised Jews had advantages in the past, and in Galatians St. Paul is addressing Gentile Christians warning them not to add Old Covenant observances including circumcision to faith in Christ.

In John 14:28 Jesus says that “the Father is greater than I.” How can Jesus be God and yet say that the Father is greater? While Jesus was here on earth the Father was greater because Jesus had given up his divine knowledge and relied completely on the Father. “Who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8). So that is how Jesus could say that “the Father is greater than I” and yet still be fully God.

God Be With You,
Sal