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NASB | Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law [it leads to Him and its purpose is fulfilled in Him], for [granting] righteousness to everyone who believes [in Him as Savior]. |
Bible Question: In 1 Corinthians 9:21 Paul claims he's under the Law (toward Christ).But in Romans 10: he said Christ is the end of the law.In Acts 21:20-26 he seems to have hypocricy,when he made preparation according to the law before the Jews.This is contrary to the justification by faith, as I suppose.Please,explain this cotradiction. |
Bible Answer: Paul's view of the Law is one of the most misunderstood ideas of Paul's that Christians today have. Your question is a very common one. 1) Paul never says that the Law of Moses has ended (as you can see in Acts 21-22.) The Messiah is the "end" of the Law is misleading. Jesus was not the "end" meaning that the Law ended and we can ignore it now. Jesus is/was that which the Law pointed to. The target, or goal. He lived it out perfectly and was in fact the very thing the Law pointed toward and it still does. 2) Paul never says that you can be saved by following the Law. We are saved by the faithfulness of the Messiah, but we are judged by works/deeds of which the Law is the measure. I'm sure I raise some concern with #2, but over and over, Judgment is based on deeds where as salvation is based on Faith. The two are not one and the same. 3) Paul never stopped being a Jew or a Pharisee as can be seen in Acts 21 on. He went to great lengths to show that he still followed the Mosaic law. Some say this was a mistake of Paul much like Peter's mistake in withdrawing from the Gentiles when Jews showed up. However, the text never says he made a mistake, but rather the text seems to say he was absolutely right. The question Paul faces is not "what do Jews do in regards to the Law?" But "what do Gentiles do in regards to the law? Specifically in regards to salvation." Do Gentiles need to convert to Judaism before they can be "saved?" or not? Paul argued over and over that they do not, and he used the "Old Testament" to make is argument. He didn't come up with new laws or ideas, only new and more correct interpretation of the Law/Torah/Old Testament with the help of the Holy Spirit of course. MJH |