• La Civiltà Cattolica
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Contact us
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Church Life
    • Faith
    • Mission
    • People
    • Pope Francis
    • Spirituality
  • Church Thought
    • Doctrine
    • Scripture
    • Theology
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Editions
  • Authors
  • Donate

No products in the cart.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Church Life
    • Faith
    • Mission
    • People
    • Pope Francis
    • Spirituality
  • Church Thought
    • Doctrine
    • Scripture
    • Theology
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Editions
  • Authors
  • Donate

No products in the cart.

No Result
View All Result
LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA
No Result
View All Result
     
Home 2007

The Letter to The Galatians: ‘The Truth of the Gospel’

Giancarlo Pani SJbyGiancarlo Pani SJ
July 9, 2020
in 2007, AGAINST RELIGIOUS NATIONALISM, Church Life, Church Thought, Edition, Full Text Article, Scripture, Subscriber Only Articles
0
Valentin de Boulogne's depiction of Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, 16th century
0
SHARES
381
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Letter to the Galatians is an exceptional New Testament document. It was written by Paul at a time of great anguish, because a fervent community that the Apostle had worked hard to establish and to which he remained closely attached, found itself being misled by Judaizers. These had come from the People of Israel and had accepted faith in Christ Jesus, but had not abandoned the observance of the Law, Jewish traditions and circumcision as indispensable conditions of salvation. For them, it is the Law that saves, not Christ. They considered him a marginal agent in the economy of salvation.

For the first time, the Letter to the Galatians addressed this new and very delicate situation, which was a matter of life or death for the nascent Church. The Judaizers forced Paul to reflect on an essential issue: Do we have to become Jews to be Christians? The Apostle gradually came to a sharpened awareness that culminates in Chapter 3 of the Letter. This will be fundamental to the Gospel proclamation: “All of you who were baptized in Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ.”[1]

It is also, in absolute terms, the first reflection on the value of faith for salvation. The Gospels came later and were written following the pioneering work done by the Apostle. Hence the passionate character of the Letter,, its dense and, to a degree, violent exposition . Certainly, from a theological point of view, it is an expansion and an explanation of Paul’s thought, which matured through years of apostolic mission. For this reason the doctrinal treatment is emotional, frantic and nervous. It lacks the detachment associated with  a measured discourse, although such a “fiery” way of approaching the themes guarantees interest, concreteness and an immediate relationship with the reader.

The Letter to the Galatians and the Letter to the Romans

After the foundation of the community of the Galatians some time before, events in the community had stirred the Apostle and caused him to intervene. On the one hand, it was a time of rediscovery and inner reflection, in which he re-lived his vocation; on the other, Paul found himself challenged precisely in his mission as Apostle. This could not but lead to his witness of faith, which united writer and addressees, and which included, in addition to strictly spiritual guidance, the biblical tradition of the Old Testament. Its final conclusion was that Christian life, in its most essential aspects, is freedom in peace, in communion, in harmonious growth.

This article is reserved for paid subscribers. Please subscribe to continue reading this article
Subscribe

Welcome to
La Civiltà Cattolica !
This article is reserved for paid subscribers
Please login or subscribe to continue reading this article
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE
What is La Civiltà Cattolica?

Tags: Apostle PaulChristianHeinrich SchlierJewJudaizersLetter to the RomansMeyers KommentarNew TestamentTheologische Kommentare
Previous Post

Death in the Digital Age

Next Post

‘A New Imagination of the Possible’: Seven Images from Francis for post-Covid-19

Giancarlo Pani SJ

Giancarlo Pani SJ

Deputy Director, La Civiltà Cattolica

Related Posts

An Afghan woman is seen covered in the Afghanistan national flag
Full Text Article

Women in the New Taliban State

byGiovanni Sale, SJ
June 7, 2023
Raffaellino Bottalla - Meeting between Esau and Jacob
Bible Studies

Jacob and Esau, from Conflict to Repairing a Wounded Relationship

byVincenzo Anselmo, SJ
May 31, 2023
Francis’ Vision for a Renewed Theology
Church Life

Francis’ Vision for a Renewed Theology

byJames Hanvey, SJ
May 29, 2023
Don Lorenzo Milani - Priest and Prior of Barbiana - La Civilta Cattolica
Church Life

Don Lorenzo Milani, Priest and Prior of Barbiana

byGiancarlo Pani SJ
May 26, 2023
China’s Role in the Reconciliation of Iran and Saudi Arabia
China

China’s Role in the Reconciliation of Iran and Saudi Arabia

byVladimir Pachkov, SJ
May 24, 2023
Next Post
‘A New Imagination of the Possible’: Seven Images from Francis for post-Covid-19

‘A New Imagination of the Possible’: Seven Images from Francis for post-Covid-19

Subscription Offers

Premium Content

Raffaellino Bottalla - Meeting between Esau and Jacob

Jacob and Esau, from Conflict to Repairing a Wounded Relationship

May 31, 2023
Francis’ Vision for a Renewed Theology

Francis’ Vision for a Renewed Theology

May 29, 2023
Children go to school in Tamil Nadu, India. (photo: Jesuit Refugee Service). -church-

Renewing and Realizing the Social Doctrine of the Church

May 22, 2023

Browse by Category

BEATUS POPULUS CUIUS DOMINUS DEUS EIUS

The most respected digital Catholic journal from Rome. A must-read on all the present issues alive in the Church. Discover top Church scholars interpreting the history, politics, culture, science and art in the light of the Christian faith.

Categories

  Editions
  Church Thought
  Authors
  Church 
 
  Culture
  Perspective Series
  Politics & Socitey

 

About Us

   Contact Us
   La Civiltà Cattolica  
   China Forum
   Feedback
   Terms & Conditions
   Privacy Policy
    Email : [email protected]
My IP Address : 3.239.129.52
Facebook Twitter Instagram

© Union of Catholic Asian News 2023 | All Rights Reserved.
Except for any fair dealing permitted under the Hong Kong Copyright Ordinance, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior permission.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Church Life
    • Faith
    • Mission
    • People
    • Pope Francis
    • Spirituality
  • Church Thought
    • Doctrine
    • Scripture
    • Theology
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Editions
  • Authors
  • Donate
SUBSCRIBE

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?
Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
  • Login
  • Sign Up
Forgot Password?
Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

laciviltacattolica.com uses cookies and similar technologies to optimize the user experience,  analyze site traffic and communicate with subscribers. To read more about how we use cookies and how you can control them click on settings, or click Accept to start browsing our site.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?
LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.