Table of Contents
Parent: JesusWordsOnly
Does Paul Imply The Angels Lacked God s Authority in Issuing the Law?
When you examine other letters of Paul, it is clear Paul means in Galatians that the angels lacked God s authority in giving the Law. You can deduce this by looking at Paul's comments in (Rom. 13:1) about our duty to submit to Roman authorities. Paul says they are God's ministers. By contrast, in Galatians chapters 3 and 4, we have no duty to submit to the Law "ordained by angels." In other words, Paul gives the Roman governors a higher spiritual authority than angels.
In (Rom. 13:1), Paul says "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities...." Paul explains why. The Roman rulers are "the minister of God for your own good." (Rom. 13:4, repeated twice.)
Next, look at (Gal. 3:19), 4:8-9. Paul says you should not submit to the Law of Moses. It was merely ordained by angels. Paul says 'do not submit to those who are not gods.' (Gal. 4:8). However, when we look at Romans chapter 13, Paul says you should submit to the "governing" (Roman) authorities as the "minister(s) of God."
The implication arises that the angels must not have been acting as God's ministers when they gave the Law. If they were, Paul would tell you to submit to the spiritual authority of these angels. They would be at least on par with the Roman rulers. Paul said such rulers were "the ministers of God." You owe them obedience for "conscience sake."
So why instead are Roman rulers deserving of submission but angels are not? Why does Paul fault a desire to submit to the Law as seeking to submit to those who are "not gods"-the angels? It must be Paul thought the angels acted without God's authority in giving the Law. That's the only explanation why you must submit to Roman rulers who are "ministers of God" but not to the angels who supposedly gave the Law of Moses. Paul must be understood as saying the angels gave the Law without God' authorization. In saying this, Paul certainly contradicts the Bible.