Lawlessness

This challenge to Paul’s Gospel is quite the opposite the previous two examinations of the Judaizers and the legalistic approach.  Both of those ideas focus on a strict adherence to a code of law.  They were based on ethnicity, human constructs, and false teaching.  This next and final group is a type of “anything goes” way of life which flows from the false teachings of non-believers and “strange philosophies”.

In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul writes

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.” – Hebrews13:8-9 (NLT)

Paul speaks about “strange, new” ideas.  With a closer examination of his letter to the Colossians we see the “strange ideas emerge”. 

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.  For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. (2:8-10)… So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud. – Colossians 2:16-18 (NLT)

Paul is not so clear about who these false teachers are.  There are three theories.  First, they were Stoic philosophers mentioned in Luke’s Acts of the Apostles.  Second, they were Jewish Ascetics.  Third, could have been an early, primitive form of Gnosticism. In any event, this group of false teachers preached a false gospel that through human rules about diet, drink, self-denial, and rituals believers could earn admittance to heaven and commune with angels. As we already saw, these strange philosophies lead to a strict legalism based on rules to be followed.  These ideas also promote a total denial of the human body’s feelings, desires, and tastes. Completely contrary to Christian teaching, this group views human nature as evil. Such a philosophy neglects the fact that Jesus was the Incarnate Word, fully human and fully divine. 

Paul goes so far to challenge universalism.  It seems that these false teachers preached the idea of wisdom over revelation, of a merging of beliefs instead of steadfastness in Christ, and the acceptance of general immorality.

 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.  For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.  So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority…. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.  Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.  But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.  Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.  In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. – Colossians 2:8-10, 3:5-11 (NLT)

Paul passionately confronts this idea of lawlessness and immorality in his Second Letter to the Corinthians.  Corinth was one of the great commercial hubs in the Mediterranean world and had a large Christian community.  At the time of this letter it seemed that the community was fractured, many had succumbed to false preachers, and had accepted the sinful ways of their members without calling fellow Christians to right living. Paul wrote to boldly confront this lawlessness and false teaching. 

Christians are not saved by the Old Testament Law, by the rules, or a lack of moral law.  We were saved by Christ who printed in our hearts His Law of love. This love leads to righteousness. “Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.” – 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NLT)

What does this mean for us today?  Are we living with the love of Christ in our hearts, following His law, and loving others? Or are we living according to our own interpretation of what is right? Do we live by a “YOLO” philosophy (you only live once, so do what makes you happy)? Do we listen to the Church or disregard it? 

Parts in this Series
1. Paul’s Gospel is about Gospeling
2. Euro-Centric Christianity
3. Legalism
4. Lawlessness
5. Paul’s Gospel
6. The New Perspective on Paul is Catholic

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Sources

• Dunn, James D. G. The Gospel and the Gospels. Durham: University of Durham, 2013.
• Hensell, Eugene, O. S. B. The New Perspective on St. Paul. n.d. http://www.biblicalcourses.com/workshops/introduction-to-saint-paul/the-new-perspective-on-st-paul/ (accessed March 15, 2015).
• Longhenry, Ethan. A Study of Denominations. n.d. http://www.astudyofdenominations.com/history/judaizers/#sthash.U5aqE3tS.dpbs (accessed March 13, 2015).
• Puskas, Charles B., and Mark Reasoner. The Letters of Paul: An Introduction. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1993.
• Rocca, Francis X. "Pope: Catholic educators must share Gospel with multicultural society." Catholic News Servce/USCCB, February 2014.
• Russle, Walt. Who Were Paul's Opponents in Galatia? Dallas: Dallas Theological Seminary, 1990.
• "The New Living Translation Bible, Catholic Reference Edition." Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. , 2001.