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Obedience to Scripture vs Works of the Law in Galatians

The Epistle to the Galatians addresses a fundamental distinction between obedience to Scripture and "works of the law," particularly in the context of justification and salvation. Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia, whose Pauline origin is universally acknowledged [3], confronts Judaizing teachers who sought to incorporate Jewish rites into Christianity, influencing many converts to adopt their views [3].

Paul argues that justification is not achieved through "works of the law" but through faith in Christ [5, 7]. He asks the Galatians, "Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?" [2]. This rhetorical question underscores his point that their initial experience of salvation and reception of the Spirit was by faith, not by adherence to Mosaic law [6]. The law, Paul states, "is not of faith, but, 'The man who does them will live by them'" [1]. This implies a system of perfect and continual obedience that no one can achieve [8]. John Gill notes that the law requires sinless obedience and condemns any failure, thus demonstrating that justification cannot come from it [5].

The "works of the law" in Galatians refer to the Mosaic Law, which includes ceremonial, civil, and moral precepts. John Calvin argues that Paul's contention in Galatians is not merely about freedom from ceremonies, but about the broader principle that Christ alone is to be held forth for righteousness, surpassing all the perfection of the law [4]. He emphasizes that those who seek righteousness through their own works, rather than through Christ, fail to submit to God's righteousness [12]. Augustine, in his anti-Pelagian writings, also references Galatians to show that justification is "through faith in Jesus Christ" [10].

The concept of "obedience to Scripture," however, is not dismissed by Paul. Instead, it is recontextualized within the framework of faith. While "works of the law" cannot justify, true faith is expected to produce obedience as a fruit, not a cause, of salvation. Matthew Henry explains that since justification comes only by faith in Jesus Christ, the law's role shifts from a means of justification to a guide for Christian living [9]. The law, according to Adam Clarke, was given to show sin and lead people to Christ [7].

Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, describes the moral law as a complete rule of duty, meaning that nothing is sinful which the Bible does not condemn, and nothing is obligatory that it does not enjoin [11]. This perspective aligns with the idea that Scripture provides a comprehensive guide for ethical living. However, this obedience is distinct from the "works of the law" that Paul critiques. The latter implies an attempt to earn salvation or maintain a justified status through human effort, whereas the former is a response of gratitude and love to God's saving grace.

The distinction is crucial: "works of the law" are seen as a path to self-righteousness, which Paul explicitly rejects [12]. In contrast, obedience to the moral principles of Scripture, particularly as summarized by love for God and neighbor, is affirmed as the fulfillment of the law within the context of faith [13]. As Paul states elsewhere, "love is the fulfilling of the law" [13]. This obedience flows from a transformed heart, empowered by the Spirit received through faith, rather than being a legalistic striving for acceptance.

Sources

  1. Galatians “The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.” -- Galatians 3:12”
  2. Galatians “I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? -- Galatians 3:2”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Galatians, Epistle to — The genuineness of this epistle is not called in question. Its Pauline origin is universally acknowledged. Occasion of. The churches of Galatia were founded by Paul himself (Acts 16:6; Gal. 1:8; 4:13, 19). They seem to have been composed mainly of converts from heathenism (4:8), but partly also of Jewish converts, who probably, under the influence of Judaizing teachers, sought to incorporate the rites of Judaism with Christianity, and by their active zeal had succeeded in inducing the majority of the churches to adopt their views (1:6; 3:1). T”
  4. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 74: but Christ, who surpasses all the perfection of the law, is alone to be held forth for righteousness. 3. On this almost the whole subject of the Epistle to the Galatians hinges; for it can be proved from express passages that those are absurd interpreters who teach that Paul there contends only for freedom from ceremonies. Of such passages are the following: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled ag”
  5. Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,.... That is, Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and other believing Jews knew this, and that from the law itself, which requires perfect and sinless obedience, and accuses, holds guilty, and adjudges to condemnation and death for the least failure, both as to matter or manner of duty; and from the prophets, which declare that by the deeds of the law no flesh can be justified in the sight of God, and who bear witness to the doctrines of remission of sin, and justification by the righteousness of Christ; and from the G”
  6. Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 3:2: 3:2 The Galatians, like all Christians, received the Spirit by faith in Christ, not by obeying the law of Moses (see Acts 2:38-39; Rom 8:9-11; 2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:11-14; cp. Acts 10:44-48; 11:15-18). God accepted the Galatians because of their faith in the message . . . about Christ (cp. Rom 10:14-17), which made their turning to the law absurd (Gal 3:3-4).”
  7. Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 3 (introduction): The apostle inquires how they could be so foolish as to renounce the Gospel of Christ and turn back to the law, after having heard, received, and suffered so much for the Gospel, Gal 3:1-5. Asserts the doctrine of justification by faith, on the example of Abraham, Gal 3:6-9. Shows that all who are under the law are under the curse, from which Christ alone redeems us; and the promise made to Abraham comes to the Gentiles who believe, Gal 3:10-14. For the covenant is not by the works of the law, but by promise, Gal 3:15-18. The law was given to show the”
  8. Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 3:10: Confirmation of Gal 3:9. They who depend on the works of the law cannot share the blessing, for they are under the curse "written," Deu 27:26, Septuagint. PERFECT obedience is required by the words, "in all things." CONTINUAL obedience by the word, "continueth." No man renders this obedience (compare Rom 3:19-20). It is observable, Paul quotes Scripture to the Jews who were conversant with it, as in Epistle to the Hebrews, as said or spoken; but to the Gentiles, as written. So Matthew, writing for Jews, quotes it as "said," or "spoken"; Mark and Luk”
  9. Galatians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Galatians 5:1: In the former part of this chapter the apostle cautions the Galatians to take heed of the judaizing teachers, who endeavoured to bring them back under the bondage of the law. He had been arguing against them before, and had largely shown how contrary the principles and spirit of those teachers were to the spirit of the gospel; and now this is as it were the general inference or application of all that discourse. Since it appeared by what had been said that we can be justified only by faith in Jesus Christ, and not by the righteousness of the law, and that the la”
  10. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 22 [X.] --WHO IS THE TRANSGRESSOR OF THE LAW? THE OLDNESS OF ITS LETTER. THE NEWNESS OF ITS SPIRIT. (part 2): then, that which is good made death unto me ? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, worked death in me by that which is good,--in order that the sinner, or[3] the sin, might by the commandment become beyond measure."[4] And to the Galatians he writes: "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, except through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of ”
  11. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 39: whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.” Perfection of the Law. The perfection of the moral law as revealed in the Scriptures, includes the points already considered, — (1.) That everything that the Bible pronounces to be wrong, is wrong; that everything which it declares to be right, is right. (2.) That nothing is sinful which the Bible does not condemn; and nothing is obligatory on the conscience which it does not enjoin. (3.) That the Scriptures are a complete rule of duty, not only in the sense just stated, but also in the sense that th”
  12. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 66: of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith,” ( Phil. 3:8, 9 ). You here see a comparison of contraries, and an intimation that every one who would obtain the righteousness of Christ must renounce his own. Hence he elsewhere declares the cause of the rejection of the Jews to have been, that “they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God,” ( Rom. 10:3 ). If we destr”
  13. Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 5:14: all the law--Greek, "the whole law," namely, the Mosaic law. Love to God is presupposed as the root from which love to our neighbor springs; and it is in this tense the latter precept (so "word" means here) is said to be the fulfilling of "all the law" (Lev 19:18). Love is "the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2; Mat 7:12; Mat 22:39-40; Rom 13:9-10). is fulfilled--Not as received text "is being fulfilled," but as the oldest manuscripts read, "has been fulfilled"; and so "receives its full perfection," as rudimentary teachings are fulfilled by the more perfec”
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