The Jews who had been settled for generations in the cities of Syria and Asia Minor had lost much of their exclusiveness in ordinary life (p. 143). Moreover, the development of events in Antioch had been gradual ; and no difficulty seems to have been caused there at first by this last step. We learn from Paul himself {Gal. II 12 f.) that even Peter, already prepared to some extent by his own bold action in the case of Cor- nelius, had no scruple in associating freely with the Antiochian Christians in general. But the Jews of Jerusalem were far more rigid and narrow ; and when some of them came down on a mission to Antioch from the Church in Jerusalem, they were shocked by the state of things which they found there. They could not well take the ground that one Christian should not associate with another ; they put their argument in a
Sec a. The Dispute in Antioch. 157
more subtle form, and declared that no one could be- come in the full sense a member of the Church, unless he came under the Jewish Law, and admitted on his body its sign and seal : the Nations could be received into the Church, but in the reception they must conform to the Law (XV 2). The question, it must be clearly observed, was not whether non-Jews could be saved, for it was admitted by all parties that they could, but how they were saved : did the path of belief lie through the gate of the Law alone, or was there a path of belief that did not lead through that gate? Had God made another door to Himself outside of the Law of Moses ? Had He practically set aside that Law, and declared it of no avail, by admitting as freely them that disregarded it as them that believed and followed it?
When the question was put in this clear and logical form, we can well believe that Jews as a rule shrank from all the consequences that followed from free admis- sion of the Nations. We can imagine that some who had answered practically by associating with the Gentile Christians, repented of their action when its full conse- quences were brought before them. Only rare and exceptional natures could have risen unaided above the prejudices and the pride of generations, and have sacrificed their Law to their advancing experience. The record confirms what we see to be natural in the circumstances. Paul stood immovably firm ; and he carried with him, after some wavering, the leaders (but not the mass) of the Jewish Christians. This point requires careful study.
The occasion of the dissension at Antioch is thus described by our three authorities, — Luke, the Apostles at Jerusalem, and Paul himselC
158
The Apostolic Council. Chap. VII.
Acts XV i.
CERTAIN PER- SONS CAME DOWN FROM JUDiEA AND TAUGHT THE BRETHREN, THAT "IF YE BE NOT CIRCUM- CISED AFTER THE MANNER OF MOSES, YE CAN- NOT BE SAVED ".
Acts XV 24.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT CERTAIN PER- SONS WHICH WENT FORTH FROM US HAVE TROUBLED YOU WITH WORDS, SUBVERTING YOUR SOULS [AND (as v. 28
Gal. II 12. BEFORE THAT CERTAIN PER- SONS CAME FROM JAMES, PETER USED TO EAT WITH THE GEN- TILES; BUT, WHEN THEY CAME, HE BEGAN TO DRAW BACK AND SEP- ARATE HIMSELF,
implies) LAYING FEARING THE