Gálatas 4
Thomas Constable · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gálatas 4
Constable - Their irrational desire to become slaves to the Mosaic system and followers of the legalistic false teachers perplexed him. I am perplexed (present tense)(639)(aporeo/aporeomai always used in the middle voice in NT) means literally to be without a way or path (Vine - "a" = negative + "poros" = a way). The idea is not to know which way to turn, to be at a loss,to be "dazed and confused", to be in doubt, to be disturbed
Gálatas 4
Constable - Paul interpreted allegorically (figuratively, NIV) features of the history of Abraham's two sons to convince his readers that they were in danger of joining the wrong branch of Abraham's family. The apostle appears to have used the story of Abraham the way he did because this was a common rabbinic method that the Judaizers probably employed in their teaching in Galatia. (Galatians 4) And notice the fact that Paul just jumps into the story of Abraham with no other explanation or background, indicates that he assumed the Gentile believers in Galatia knew what he was talking about. It implies that when he was with them, he had taught them out of the Old Testament. And so Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac and Ishmael would have been familiar to them. Of course this also makes sense, because at this time in the early church history the only Bible Paul had from which to preach to the Gentiles was the Old Testament. Recall that when he spoke about justification by faith, he drew his support from the Old Testament (Gal 3:6-9+). For (gar) is a term of explanation -
Gálatas 4
Constable - This does not mean church leaders should excommunicate all legalistic Christians (ED: THE PEWS MIGHT BE A LITTLE "THIN" NEXT WEEK!). However, it might be wise to exclude promoters of legalism and nomism if they do not change their teaching. THOUGHT - GOOD POINT BY DR CONSTABLE AND IT BEGS THE IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR ALL PASTORS AND ELDERS - ARE YOU SITTING IN ON THE TEACHING OF THOSE WHO ARE FEEDING YOUR FLOCK TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE TEACHING SOUND DOCTRINE? YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AT THE BEMA SEAT (Heb 13:17+) SO DON'T SHY AWAY FROM THIS UNCOMFORTABLE TASK (2 Cor 5:10+). THE SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF YOUR BODY DEPENDS ON YOUR VIGILANCE. SEE PAUL'S STRONG WARNINGS - Acts 20:28-32+) I TAUGHT AT A BIBLE CENTERED CHURCH FOR YEARS AND NO ELDERS EVER CAME TO CHECK ME OUT!