“Elementary Principles”


BIBLE READING: Galatians 4

Twice in Galatians Chapter 4, Paul referred to the "elementary principles."  In the first instance, the term refers to the Law that bound the Jews.  The second involves Gentiles, and it has a dual meaning.  The phrase "turn back" associates "elementary principles" with pagan idolatry (which the Gentiles had once practiced) as well as the Law (which they were embracing due to the Judaizers' influence.  Neither of these had the power to save them.
The Law served as a necessary tool leading up to the time when Christ would come.  A child needs tangible help to understand abstract ideas.  God used visible images and parables to communicate with Israel when they were in their infancy.  Children today go to "elementary school" to acquire the basic tools of learning.  They must know the alphabet and numbers before they can learn skills in reading and math.  Without these basics, the whole process of education would be impossible.  Once a child grasps the elementary principles, he moves on to "secondary education."  In a similar way the Law served its purpose, but after Christ came there was no reason to return to it.
As an educator, we never tell a student who has gotten to high school to return to elementary school.  Skills learned in grade school are expected to be retained in high school.  The things of the Law should have been learned and the student expected to go forward.  This doesn't mean that the student might not have to go back and review things learned earlier.  Sometimes we go back to the Old Testament to see lessons taught there, but not back into the system of worshiping God according to the Law.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday - October 4, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING:    Genesis 32:22-32 Do you want to be blessed? That sounds like a rhetorical question, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want to be blessed? I guess it really depends on your definition of “blessed.” Many people desire blessings that will make them wealthy or, perhaps, material goods. However, being blessed is not limited to those physical things. In fact, sometimes we can be blessed in the most unusual ways. For instance, in Genesis 32:26, we find Jacob wrestling with what we often call an angel. Within the story, Jacob is overtaking the angel and holding him down; refusing to let go until the angel gives him a blessing. The angel obliges Jacob, but not in the way he might have imagined. The angel changed his name from “Jacob” to “Israel,” but he also did something else. He put Jacob’s hip joint out of socket, causing him much pain and difficulty walking. In part, his blessing had to do with him walking with a limp. How is tha...
Read more

“Examples”

BIBLE READING: Mark 13- Luke 1 DISCUSSION                                                                                   This past week we have read of some great examples in the bible.   We read in Mark 13 about us being ready and being prepared for when Jesus returns.   We need to all stay awake!   In Mark 14 we read of one action having such an impact.   How this woman gave her very best to Jesus because of her love for Him.   In Mark 15 we read of Pontius Pilate and his desire to keep his power.   He loved his power and did not want to give it up even if that meant sending an inno...
Read more

Monday

BIBLE READING : Job 3. 1-26 “I wish I had never been born,” Job said to his friends. “I wish that my birthday was just wiped off of the calendar as though it never happened.” Who could blame him? The loss that he had endured in mere moments had been catastrophic. Job had experienced a wonderful life until that day, when all he had known changed. I know that many people have endured tragic losses, but Job’s defeat seems unfathomable. Isn’t it ironic that, although Job’s comments brought him so much pain, they can bring us so much joy? My mother always taught me that, no matter how bad I may think things are, someone else always is suffering more than I am. Not only does that help us to feel that we are not alone in our depression, but it gives us that hope for what is to come. Job’s story helps us to learn to appreciate the blessings that we have today! Job was not in control of his circumstances, but he was in control of his reaction to those circumstances. When Job was hurtin...
Read more