Galatians

I found this book quite interesting, in that Paul gives us some insight into the conflict he had with the other men who were trying to lead the then-new Christian religion. His attitude of his own inerrancy in matters of doctrine is quite revealing, in my opinion. He also makes an effort to discredit some of the other members of the ruling group - by insisting that he was the only reliable source for doctrinal matters. Other than his claim of personal experience, though, he shows no evidence to suport his claim.

Gal 1:6-9 - I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!
Well, Paul starts off pretty quickly on his primary mission of making sure that his personal brand of Christianity has the upper hand! I expect that the other leaders who were set against Paul also said the same thing. Who was to decide which "exclusive" version was correct? Obviously, none of the believers, since Paul was having such a hard time keeping people in line with his version.

Gal 1:15-17 - But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
I read this and thought, "Well, that explains it!" Paul went off on his own to make up his own theology and didn't bother to ask anyone for any advice. No wonder his thoughts on the Christian religion were so far different from the people who actually followed Jesus! I also found it quite interesting that Paul went east to do his thinking, into the area of Arabia, where he presumably came into contact with all sorts of oriental religious ideas!

Gal 2:1-5 - Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up in response to a revelation. Then I laid before them (though only in a private meeting with the acknowledged leaders) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. But because of false believers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us- we did not submit to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might always remain with you.
Clearly, after fourteen years of running around with his own version of the Christian message, Paul had some pretty fundamental differences with Peter, James and the whole original crew. Paul decided to put the best light he could on the conflict - accusing unnamed "false believers" for his difficulties, rather than naming the people he had real problems with - the founders of the church. This was a pretty shrewd political move on Paul's part - considering the fact that he was writing to a group of people who had virtually no contact with the principal parties involved.

Gal 2:11,12 - But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood self-condemned; for until certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But after they came, he drew back and kept himself separate for fear of the circumcision faction.
Here, Paul tells more of the friction between himself and Peter, and accuses Peter of cowardice in the face of political hardships.

Gal 2:15,16 - We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law.
This statement puts Paul at odds with James, in particular, and even Jesus as quoted in the first three gospels, both of whom said that salvation involves not only faith, but actions. Paul's teaching is distinctly different from this - implying that he disagreed with even what Jesus said on the matter!

Gal 3:15-17 - Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person's will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, "And to offsprings," as of many; but it says, "And to your offspring," that is, to one person, who is Christ. My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
It looks like Paul fancied himself as a lawyer (and I think some people believe that the group known as Pharisees were not much short of the mark), however, he is dead wrong here. Please read Genesis, and the many times God talked about covenants with Abraham. The promises made are clearly talking about all of Abraham's descendants having eternal possession of a chunk of land. Paul builds his argument on a foundation of pure air and vapor. Add to this the fact that the promises were for all descendants, without any reservation, and I think it would be best for Paul to not bring up this particular subject.

Gal 3:24-26 - Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
This pretty well sums up the problem with the Christian view of morality. Paul says there's no need to be subect to a disciplinarian, which to my mind means there's no need for discipline. No matter what you do, you'll still be considered saved - meaning there's no action bad enough to keep you out of heaven. Give me elightened self-interest any day!

Gal 4:4,5 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.
In reading the gospels, we find that Jesus claimed to be above the laws on several occasions. This means that there is another contradiction between Paul and Jesus.

Gal 5:2-4 - Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
More insights into the controversy in the early church over the sexual mutilation ceremony of Judaism. I thought Paul had earlier said that faith was the only determinant for salvation. It seems to me that any action taken after establishing that faith would be acceptable. Here, Paul states that one could lose one's standing with God. Of course, this looks more like an emotional reaction to his political struggle for dominance, rather than a well thought-out stance.

Gal 5:13-16 - For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Of course, Paul earlier said that believers had no need of a disciplinarian. Now, he tries to take on the role of one himself, not realizing the hypocracy of his statement.

Gal 5:18-21 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
As we wrap up the book, we once again see Paul contradicting himself, now saying that if any believer does any of these things, they won't get into heaven, regardless of their beliefs. Note that his list of unforgivable actions include being angry and disagreeing with fellow believers. Considering some of the things I've read just in this letter, I think that lets Paul out, too!