Shortly after he had organized churches in Galatia and left the region, Paul was confronted by the accusations of victims of his earlier persecution, who denounced him to his new converts. In response, Paul devised an idiosyncratic reading of the Scriptures. His argument was that Torah was an interim mechanism and a cause of sin, intended by God to regulate transgressions. The lawful execution of the Messiah caused Torah to be rescinded. It could be re-imposed only at the cost of making meaningless the death of the Messiah. Thus, Paul argued, he should be acquitted of any condemnation as a transgressor.
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