Ang Sulat sa mga Taga-Galacia

Galacia: del Norte o del Sur?

Ang Galacia ay hindi isang siyudad kungdi — katulad ng ating NCR — ay binubuo ng iba’t ibang mga siyudad. Ang Galacia sa orihinal na pagkakaturing ay binubuo ng mga siyudad sa kaloob-loobang bahagi ng Asia Minor, tulad ng Ancyra (ngayon ay Turkey), Pessinus at Tavium. Nguni’t nuong 25 AD, idinagdag ng Imperyo Romano sa probinsya ng Galacia ang mga siyudad sa katimugan nito — Derbe, Pisidia at Lycaonia. Sino ba ang mga sinusulatan ni Pablo sa "Sulat sa mga Taga-Galacia?" Ang mga orihinal na "Galacia" ba o ang mga nasa Iglesya ng Galacia del Sur? Mahalaga ang sagot sa katanungang ito dahil kaugnay sa tugon ang datasyon ng sulat. Ang mga siyudad sa Galacia del Sur ay dinalaw ni Pablo sa kanyang unang biyahe (Gawa 13:13-14:27); samantalang ang mga siyudad sa orihinal na Galacia ay pinuntahan ni Pablo sa kanyang ikalawa’t ikatlong biyahe (Gawa 16:6; 18:23). Mapapansin na hati ang opinyon ng mga eksperto sa katanungang ito: ang salin ng NAB ay pumapanig sa mga nagsasabing sumulat si Pablo sa Galacia del Sur; ang JB naman ay para sa orihinal na Galacia.

Bakit Sumulat si San Pablo?

Bagama’t mahirap siguruhin kung sino ang orihinal na tagabasa ng Sulat sa mga taga-Galacia, malinaw naman ang dahilan kung bakit sumulat sa kanila si Pablo.

1. May mga nagpapakilalang sugo na nagsasabing kailangang tanggapin ng mga Kristiyano ng Galacia ang Batas ni Moyses.
2. Sinasabi ng mga sugong ito na si Pablo ay hindi apostol (na sa isang banda ay totoo naman dahil hindi naman siya kabilang sa labingdalawa), at hindi kinikilala sa Jerusalem ang kanyang ebanghelyo. Isang pruweba ng mga ito ay ang pangyayari sa Antiochia na kung saan si Pedro at Barnabas ay nagpakitang hindi sila kapanig ni Pablo.

Sa katawan ng kanyang sulat ay ipapakita ni Pablo na

(a) walang kamaliang nakita ang mga pinunong nasa Jerusalem sa kanyang ebanghelyo, bagkus ay
(b) ipinahuntulot pa nilang siya ang magpahayag ng ebanghelyo sa mga Hentil

Balangkas ng Sulat

Ang sulat sa mga taga-Galacia ay may sumusunod na balangkas

  • 1:1-5 — Pambungad
  • 1:6-6:17 — Katawan ng Sulat
    1. Ang Pagiging Apostol ni Pablo (1:6-2:10)
      Korolaryo: Ang Talagang Nangyari sa Antiochia (2:11-15)
    2. Ang Ebanghelyo ni Pablo (2:15-4:31)
    3. Ang Pagsasabuhay ng Ebanghelyo (5:1-6:10)
      Mga Karagdagang Payo (6:11-17)
  • 6:18 — Pagtatapos

Mapapansin agad na iba ang pagkakasulat ng Sulat sa mga taga-Galacia sapagka’t una, walang Pasasalamat at hindi rin binabanggit ni Pablo ang mga pagbati ng mga kasamang manggagawa.

Mga Dapat Bigyan ng Pansin

1. Sa Galatians 2:1-10 ay binanggit ni Pablo ang isang dalaw sa Jerusalem upang konsultahin ang mga pinunong apostol tungkol sa turo na kailangang yakapin ng mga Hentil ang Batas ni Moyses bilang sine qua non ng buhay Kristiyano. Ang pagpupulong na naganap ay ang Konsilyo ng Jerusalem na isinalaysay ni Lukas sa Gawa 15.
2. Ang pagpapaliwanag ni Pablo tungkol sa nangyari sa kanilang dalawa ni Pedro sa Antiochia (Galatians 2:11-14) ay matatagpuan lamang sa Sulat sa mga taga-Galatas. Sa madaling sabi, ang panig lamang ni Pablo ang ating alam tungkol sa kaganapang iyon; hindi natin alam ang panig ni Pedro at ni Barnabas. Ikalawa, ang tinuran ni Pedro sa kaganapang iyon ay mauunawaan lamang kung ang sulat ng mga apostol na binabanggit sa Gawa 15:22-29 ay hindi pa naipapadala.
3. Ang Galatians 3:6-18 ay dapat basahin na isang buong paliwanag tungkol sa katuparan ng Genesis 12:3 "At ang mga Hentil ay pagpapalain sa pamamagitan mo (Abraham)". Ang pangakong ito ay natupad dahilan kay Kristo na siya ring tinutukoy na "binhi" sa Genesis 12:7 ("Sa iyong binhi ay ibibigay ang lupaing ito", cf. Galatians 3:16)
4. Ang Gal 3:19-4:7 ay paliwanag tungkol sa lugar ng Batas ni Moyses sa kabuuan ng Kasaysayan ng Kaligtasan. Ayon kay Pablo ang "Batas" ay tagapag-alaga (paedagogue) ng isang tagapagmanang hindi pa umaabot sa tamang edad. Sa pagsapit ng itinakdang panahon, tinatanggap ng eredero ang mana at siya ay hindi na kailangan pang ilagay sa pag-iingat ng isang tagapag-alaga.

Ang mga paliwanag sa bb 3 at 4 ay matatagpuan din sa Sulat sa mga taga-Roma.

Para sa susunod na Linggo: Sulat sa mga Taga-Roma 1-8

Galatians 2:1-10
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
1Then, after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.
2And I went up according to revelation; and communicated to them the gospel, which I preach among the Gentiles, but apart to them who seemed to be some thing: lest perhaps I should run, or had run in vain.
3But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Gentile, was compelled to be circumcised.
4But because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privately to spy our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into servitude.
5To whom we yielded not by subjection, no not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6But of them who seemed to be some thing, (what they were some time, it is nothing to me, God accepteth not the person of man,) for to me they that seemed to be some thing added nothing.
7But contrariwise, when they had seen that to me was committed the gospel of the uncircumcision, as to Peter was that of the circumcision.
8(For he who wrought in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, wrought in me also among the Gentiles.)
9And when they had known the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship: that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision:
10Only that we should be mindful of the poor: which same thing also I was careful to do.
Galatians 2:11-14
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
11But when Cephas was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12For before that some came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them who were of the circumcision.
13And to his dissimulation the rest of the Jews consented, so that Barnabas also was led by them into that dissimulation.
14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly unto the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all: If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as the Jews do, how dost thou compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Galatians 3:6-18
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
6As it is written: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.
7Know ye therefore, that they who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8And the scripture, foreseeing, that God justifieth the Gentiles by faith, told unto Abraham before: In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9Therefore they that are of faith, shall be blessed with faithful Abraham.
10For as many as are of the works of the law, are under a curse. For it is written: Cursed is every one, that abideth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11But that in the law no man is justified with God, it is manifest: because the just man liveth by faith.
12But the law is not of faith: but, He that doth those things, shall live in them.
13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
15Brethren (I speak after the manner of man,) yet a man's testament, if it be confirmed, no man despiseth, nor addeth to it.
16To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He saith not, And to his seeds, as of many: but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17Now this I say, that the testament which was confirmed by God, the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years, doth not disannul, to make the promise of no effect.
18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Genesis 12:3
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg LXX Hebrew
3I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee, and IN THEE shall all the kindred of the earth be blessed:
Genesis 12:7
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg LXX Hebrew
7And the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him: To thy seed will I give this land. And he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
Galatians 3:16
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
16To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He saith not, And to his seeds, as of many: but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

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