makes so much more sense after this last time that i read acts. In chapters 2-4 Paul is appealing to his Jewish brothers to see that God is not concerned with circumcision or following the law. The funny thing is that he is in prison in Rome. He is there because these same brothers mobbed him and caused him to be put in chains.
He is appealing to his enemies to see the truth about faith in Christ. That there own revered forefather Abraham was not circumcised, did not have the Law to follow, yet was accepted by God because of his faith. Why can't grant that God is doing the same for their Gentile brothers?
It hits me hard that Paul was endangered because of his fellow believers locked into the traditions:
"And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him,
"You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs".
"What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take them and (AR)purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law."
"But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote,having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication."
Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them. When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, crying out,
"Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place "
Acts 21:18-28
In an effort to appeal to his brothers who were married to their customs Paul put himself in harms way. he ran into some enemies who had been out for his blood in Asia and they turned a crowd against him. In Romans, Paul is still appealing to Jewish brothers captive to their customs, despite the injury that these kinds of people have already caused him.
When I read Romans this time, i can hear heart behind the intellectual arguments. i hear love not reasonings, appeal not commands
