Proposition

The proposition is that Judaism was a legalistic religion.

Significance
If Judaism was a legalistic religion, then the purpose of Jesus and
Paul was to introduce a religion of grace. If Judaism was not
legalistic, then what was the purpose of Jesus' ministry and what
was Paul reacting to in his polemic against 'works of the law'?
Arguments That Support proposition that Judaism was a
Legalist Religion
1.How can Gentiles be united with Jewish believers in a single
community of faith.
The earliest followers of Jesus were Jews. Paul was called to be an
apostle to the Gentiles (Rom 1: 1; 11: 13). The question how Gentile
converts could be united with Jewish believers in a single community of
faith brought different responses from different early church leaders.
Some thought Gentile believers needed to become Jews through
circumcision, and to live as Jews by keeping Jewish food laws, the
Sabbath, and the like. To them and their views, Paul led the opposition.
Justification became a central theme in his letters first in his
response to this debate. Westerholm, Stephen (2013-11-14).
Justification Reconsidered: Rethinking A Pauline Theme (p. 3). Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.
1.
a debate provoked by teachers who followed Paul into Galatia
about whether Gentile believers in Christ should be circumcised.
Westerholm, Stephen (2013-11-14). Justification Reconsidered:
Rethinking A Pauline Theme (p. 12). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co..
Kindle Edition.
2.If males wanted to belong to Gods people they must be
circumcised
God had chosen the seed (i.e., the descendants) of Abraham as his
people. At Sinai he had entered into a covenant with them. By the laws
of that covenant Gods people were to live. Those laws included
circumcision. If males wanted to belong to Gods people they must be
circumcised. So, plausibly enough, the teachers who followed Paul into
Galatia likely argued. Westerholm, Stephen (2013-11-14). Justification

Reconsidered: Rethinking A Pauline Theme (p. 12). Wm. B. Eerdmans

Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

3.The Framework within which all Gods people were to live

for these teachers, too, it was incumbent upon all to believe in Jesus
and be baptized in his name. But the advent of Messiah was a Jewish
hope; its fulfillment was no reason for abandoning a Jewish way of life.
If Judaism meant life lived under the Mosaic covenant and its laws,
then these teachers came to Galatia to promote a sect that had
recently begun to take shape within Judaism, distinguished from other
Jews precisely (but only) by its faith in Jesus as Messiah. In the view of
these teachers, the framework within which all Gods people were to
live remained that of the Mosaic law and covenant. Westerholm,
Stephen (2013-11-14). Justification Reconsidered: Rethinking A Pauline
Theme (p. 13). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.
Pauls doctrine of justification ( a person is not justified by works of
the law but through faith in Jesus Christ) was formulated in opposition
to this position. Westerholm, Stephen (2013-11-14). Justification
Reconsidered: Rethinking A Pauline Theme (p. 13). Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

Im on page 66. according to Kindle

Look at page 78. The (impossible)
justification
Also look at page 79. One implication
of