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So what is the Cliff Notes version? Why was Galatians written?
You’ve got some interesting content. The book of James was probably written shortly before Galatians. James also penned the first “epistle” to the church which is not a book on its own but is a very brief letter preserved for us in the book of Acts.
It is incorrect to say that Paul taught for Jewish Christians to abandon either the commandments of the Law of Moses or even the customs of Judaism (as long as those customs did not contradict the Law).
Acts 21:21 & 25
[The Jewish believers in Jerusalem] have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs... But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.
Paul and all of the apostles agreed and taught that Gentiles did not need to keep the Law of Moses. This is not referring to the Ten Commandments which are all reiterated for all followers of Christ (though the command to labor 6 days and rest on the “Sabbath” is applied spiritually rather than by observing days). However, Jewish Christians, including Paul, continued to follow the Law of Moses.
Acts 16:3
Paul wanted to have [Timothy] go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.
Paul, who wrote in Galatians that “Christ will profit you nothing” if you become circumcised, took Timothy and circumcised him! Why? Because Timothy was ethnically Jewish on his mother’s side.
What did Paul teach regarding the practices of Judaism?
1 Corinthians 7:17-18
As the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.
Notice the scope is universal: he taught this in ALL churches.
Notice the application: everyone should remain in the status they have when they come to Christ. Jews remain Jews. Gentiles remain Gentiles.
Paul continued to participate in things that were strictly Jewish, such as celebrating Jewish feasts and making offerings in the Temple.
Acts 21:26
Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.
He was falsely accused of bringing Gentiles into the Temple, which was forbidden. Gentiles were only allowed into the courtyard. The accusers were mistaken because they saw Paul socializing with Gentiles, and this was against their tradition of separating company from Gentiles. This is one of many unbiblical customs that Christ rebuked the Jewish leaders for and which Paul even had to correct Peter for going along with.
It is Biblical to advocate that Gentile believers should not convert to Judaism nor make it their aim to implement the Law of Moses, intended for Jewish people. Gentiles SHOULD conform with the Law of Moses as Gentile sojourners when in the land of Israel, as the text supports. (There is not a temple right now, but an application would be for Gentile Christians not to violate this prohibition.) And it is Biblical to instruct Jewish believers to follow the Law—not for salvation but as a way of serving God and being a testimony.
Grace
And
Law:
A
Temptation
Involving
A
Nonsensical
Salvation