Questioning Paul
Chapter 6
part 5
The third chapter of Galatians opens with some fairly insulting language. "O (o) ignorant and irrational (anoetos – foolish and senseless, lacking knowledge and understanding, unintelligent and unreasonable, unthinking and mindless) Galatians (Galatai – land of the Gauls; from Galatia, pronounced gal-at-ee-ah). To whom (tis) you (humeis) bewitched, deceived, and slandered (baskaino – practiced black magic and deluded, brought evil upon and seduced)?" (Galatians 3:1) This sounds eerily similar to the ongoing rant between Muhammad and the Meccans in the Qur’an – and it’s almost as poorly written.
Anoetos is a compound of a, the Greek form of negation, and noeo, "the ability to be judgmental, to be discerning, to perceive, to think, and to understand." I am quite familiar with the term, because I use its English quite often when speaking of those bewitched by religion and politics in America and the West. No amount of fact or reason has any influence on the preponderance of religious individuals today. They remain blissfully ignorant. And sadly, even when the evidence needed to make an informed decision is provided, because they are irrational, most are incapable of processing the facts logically. Far too many religious individuals, largely because of Paul’s and Muhammad’s proclamations, have become: ignorant and irrational, albeit there is no reason to attribute this to the Galatians.
I am also familiar with baskaino, translated "bewitched and deceived." Based upon phasko, (recognizing that "you" seems to be out of place in the sentence) it appears to be telling us that Paul thought that the Galatians had been fooled by people who "affirmed that what they were professing" was Godly, when it, at least according to Paul, was Satanic, or that the Galatians were now criticizing Paul, and he was slandering them for having done so. Either way it’s a bogus bill and an ad hominem fallacy.
Based upon the evidence at our disposal, and consistent with what we learned in Acts and have read thus far in Galatians, I’m convinced that the opposite of what Paul was inferring was actually true. Those Paul was slandering told the Galatians that Yahowah had instructed us to observe the Torah, while Paul has sought to dissolve and dismantle the Word of God. So it is like the Qur’an once again. The one who was doing the misleading, in that case Muhammad, recited words he attributed to God which were designed to convince his audience that the liar (Muhammad) was telling the truth, and that those who were telling the truth (the Meccans) were actually lying. And now it appears as if Paul invented the trick to achieve the same result. And like Muhammad, Paul got away with it. Billions believe that both deceivers were messengers of God.
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that it is Godly to expose and condemn ignorance, as well as failures in thinking. It is even Godly to infer that people have been bewitched and deceived by religion and politics. It is merciful, even compassionate, to hurt someone’s feelings if in the process you prompt them to change their thinking and their affiliations, so that they might come to know Yahowah, and thus save their soul. However, when Christian apologists attack those who bluntly condemn ignorance, suggesting that applying these labels isn’t godly, then since Paul did this, he could not have been godly. And while it is clear to those who are neither ignorant nor irrational that Paul is the furthest from being Godly, this is a bit of a conundrum for the faithful.
Had Sha’uwl told the truth, as opposed to weaving his lies in and out of God’s Torah tapestry, his bluntness might have been admirable. We should never care what people think about us, or be concerned over how we will be received, but instead care about sharing what we know about Yahowah, and telling people who He is and what He has done.
And that is precisely what Sha’uwl did next…well, sort of. It is one thing to say that Yahowsha’s life and deeds were predicted in the Torah and Prophets, and it is another altogether to explain the nature of the prophecies He fulfilled—especially those associated with our salvation, such as Passover, Unleavened Bread, FirstFruits, and Seven Sabbaths.
"To whom (os – which) down from (kata – extended downward toward and according to) eyes (ophthalmos) Iesous Christos (ΧΡΣ ΙΗΣ – divine placeholders used by the Disciples for Ma’aseyah (the Implement Doing the Work of Yahowah), and Yahowsha’ (Yahowah Saves); but since this epistle has disassociated Yahowsha’ from Yahowah and the Ma’aseyah from the Work of the Towrah, it’s misleading to connect that which Sha’uwl has deliberately severed) described beforehand in writing (prographo – was documented in written prophecy) to be affixed to an upright pillar (EΣTPOΣ – placeholder for stauroo)." (Galatians 3:1)
Prographo, rendered "described beforehand in writing," is a compound of pro, meaning "before hand" and grapho, the Greek word for "writing" which is often the designated term for the written Scripture found in the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms. So while every significant aspect of the Ma’aseyah Yahowsha’s life was predicted in advance, and in writing, no aspect of it was fulfilled before Sha’uwl’s eyes or those of the Galatians – no matter how one deals with "down from eyes." Moreover, if Sha’uwl had wanted to resolve the perceived issue of Galatian "ignorance," and had he sought for them to be "rational," he would have cited any one of the many prophecies predicting Yahowsha’s and the Set-Apart Spirit’s fulfillment of Passover, Unleavened Bread, FirstFruits, and Seven Sabbaths. But he didn’t, and that speaks volumes. We should never call someone "ignorant and irrational" unless we are prepared to resolve this condition. Paul never does.
It is also interesting that Sha’uwl scribed prographo in the passive, which suggests that "Iesous Christos" was acted upon as opposed to the active voice which would have correctly revealed that Yahowsha’ chose to observe the Towrah, engaging in and acting upon its guidance. I don’t suspect that this was a careless mistake.
The antidote which has the power to protect people from the beguiling and bewitching influences of political and religious pontifications is Yahowah’s Towrah Teaching. In this regard, Yahowsha’ consistently explained His life in the context of the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms. So, if you want to inoculate yourself from man’s ignorant and irrational schemes, if you want to understand Yahowah’s merciful gift of salvation, if you want to benefit from the path home God has provided, if you want to capitalize on Yahowsha’s sacrifice, turn to the seven Called-Out Assemblies presented in the heart of the Torah and rely upon the Ma’aseyah’s fulfillment of these prophetic announcements.
Or you could choose to wallow in the swamp of man’s translations. And speaking of them, you should know that there is no mention whatsoever of "the truth," or of "obedience" in the Greek text in reference to this passage. So, not only are the King James and Vulgate erroneous, the fact that their errors are identical is proof that they are associated with one another, as opposed to being related to the Greek text. KJV: "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" LV: "O senseless Galatæ, who has so fascinated you that you would not obey the truth, even though Iesus Christus has been presented before your eyes, crucifixus/crucified among you?"
The way the NLT dispenses with the Scriptural references is indeed bewitching: "Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross." Speaking of deceiving with "a picture of his death on the cross," there is no reference to a "picture" in the passage, and the image of a "cross" would be pagan. Then adding insult to injury, the placeholder (EΣTPOΣ) represented a verb, not a noun (and thus not "cross"), and therefore the reference was to an event, not a religious icon or graven image.
Of this demeaning declaration, the NA published: "O unmindful Galatians who you bewitched to whom by eyes Jesus Christ was written before having been crucified." If this is divinely authored Scripture, God is illiterate.
Sha’uwl advances his theory by asking a rhetorical question: "This (houtos) alone (monon – only) I wish (thelo – I propose, want, and desire) to learn (manthano – to be appraised of) from (apo – speaking of dissociation and separation) you (sy): out of (ek – by means of) acts (ergon – works, tasks, accomplishments, and activities) of the Towrah ([n]omou – of the allotment which is parceled out for the purpose of nurturing those with and inheritance, nourishment which is bestowed to be possessed and used by heirs, precept which was apportioned, established, and is received as a means to be proper and approved, prescription to become an heir (genitive: singular and specific)) the spirit (ΠΝΑ – placeholder for Ruwach using pneuma) you received (lambano – acquired, grabbed hold of, and obtained or exploited by deception were possessed by) or (e – alternatively) out of (ek – from) hearing (akoe – listening to) of faith (pistis – of belief (the meaning migrated from trust and reliance as a result of the popularity of Sha’uwl’s epistles))?" (Galatians 3:2)
Again, if this is to be considered the inspired word of God as Paul and Christians protest, I hereby declare that we should find a much smarter, more articulate, and more dependable deity. And fortunately, I know right where to find Him: in the very Towrah Sha’uwl was assailing with this toxic drivel.
In the vernacular of our day, and buffed up a bit, the question may well have been: "Could you just answer one question for me: did you receive the spirit as a result of something you learned by observing the Torah, or because you decided to believe the message I preached to you?" As such, Sha’uwl has openly admitted that his preaching differed materially from Yahowah’s Word, and has inferred that his message delivered superior results to God’s instructions.
If this is true, and I don’t see any way around it, then this is a confession. Paul is guilty of committing the most heinous of all crimes: bearing false witness about God. Case closed.
Before we contemplate Yahowsha’s position on this topic, let’s review the Christian translations of the charlatan’s statements. The NA wrote: "This alone I want to learn from you from works of the law the spirit you received or from hearing of trust?" Of which, the KJV published: "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" "Hearing of faith" is a very odd concept, one obviously inherited from Jerome’s Latin Vulgate: "I wish to know only this from you: Did you receive the Spiritum/Spirit by the works of the law (operibus legis), or by the hearing of faith (auditu fidei)?" To their credit, while these read poorly, they are reasonable consistent with the underlying text, which says: "This alone I want to learn from you: out of accomplishments of the Towrah the spirit you received or alternatively out of hearing of belief?"
Since the New Living Translation theologians know that there was no modifier, or adjective, associated with the placeholder for "Spirit" in this passage, why do you suppose they added the pagan term "Holy" before Her title? Additionally, do you suppose that men who purported to be Greek scholars didn’t know that there was no reference in this passage to "obeying," no reference to "Moses’s" name, no answer to the rhetorical question being asked, no basis for "message" or to "Christ?" Just perhaps, there is the possibility that they may have lacked the professional integrity one might expect of those claiming to publish the inerrant word of God? "Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ."
So I presume another question is in order: why did the NLT change Paul’s message? Since they call Galatians "Scripture," are they suggesting that their god and this messenger he allegedly surrendered his authority to were such poor communicators that they needed their help? Or are they knowingly advancing a fraud, trying simultaneously to alter Paul’s message to suit their religion while at the same time elevating the writing quality in order to make the resulting piece of fiction seem credible? Or are they just frustrated authors, and saw this as an opportunity to publish their first novel?
Since Sha’uwl has posed this question regarding the receipt of an undesignated spirit, it is beneficial to know that Yahowah introduced the gender, power, scope, and purpose of the "ruwach of ‘elohym" to us in the opening statement of the Towrah. Let’s listen to God:
"In the beginning (re’shyth – the first born), the Almighty (‘elohym – God) created (bara’ – fashioned and conceived, giving birth to) and was alongside and closely associated with (‘eth ‘eth) the heavens (samaym – the spiritual abode) and the material realm (‘erets – the physical world).
And the material realm (wa ‘erets – the physical world) existed (hayah) as a formless (tohuw – in a state of lifeless confusion, as something which would dissipate into nothingness without energy added), empty void (bohuw – a deserted and unoccupied space, desolate of life), and darkness (hosek – ignorance and obscurity, without light) was upon (‘al) the presence (paneh – face and appearance) of great commotion (tahowm – of the Big Bang; from huwm: that which is anxious, agitated, perplexed, loud and distracting).
The Almighty’s (‘elohym – God’s) Spirit (ruwach – the manifestation of the divine power of God; from ruwych: that which can be accepted and is acceptable, that which can be tangibly experienced, that which is delightful and aids in perception and understanding, that which is enormous and brings relief, revival, renewal, restoration and the breath of life; a feminine noun) hovered over, ministered to, and expanded (rachap – caringly moved over, served, cleansed, and purified) according to (‘al) the presence (paneh – face and appearance) of the waters (maym – serving as a metaphor for life and cleansing).
And God (wa ‘elohym – the Almighty) said (‘amar – spoke, communicated, and declared), ‘Let there be (hayah) light (‘owr),’ and there was light (‘owr). And God (‘elohym) saw (ra’ah) that (‘eth) the light (‘owr) indeed (ky) was good, valuable, and pleasing (towb).
And the Almighty (wa ‘elohym) conceived a division (badal – drew a distinction) to encourage understanding of (bayn) the light (‘owr – that which shines, brightens, illuminates, enlightens, provides sight, warms, and enables life and growth) and the darkness (hosek – obscurity, the absence of light, and people who are unknown)." (Bare’syth / In the Beginning / Genesis 1:1-4)
In the Towrah’s opening statement, the Spirit of God is credited with the "formation," and thus "birth," of the universe and its "expansion" and thus growth—giving it life, affirming Her role as our Spiritual Mother. Bigger than all of the galaxies combined, She (Ruwach is a feminine noun) filled the "void," just as she does in our lives, enabling us to live eternally in Yahowah’s presence, cleansing us with Her living waters. And as a result of Her work, Her enlightenment, we can avoid "the ignorant confusion" of lifeless deceptions, and thus preclude "dissipating into nothingness." She encourages understanding, enriching us with insights into Yahowah’s Teaching, helping us better appreciate the Light. She perfected creation, just as Her Garment of "Light" makes us look perfect in God’s eyes.
The Spirit is the "manifestation of God’s power and enlightenment who we can personally experience." If "we accept Her, She makes us acceptable." The ruwach "renews and restores us, reconciling us with God." She is not only the "breath of eternal life," She "enlightens us."
The nature of the spirit a person is receptive to and receives determines whether they spend eternity with Yahowah or with the Adversary in She’owl. So it is interesting to note that the rach root of rachap, translated "hovered over, ministered to, and cleansed," conveys many spiritual attributes. Rachamah depicts a "mother’s womb." Rechem is a matrix, the source from which life originates, develops, and takes form." Rachmany is a "compassionate woman," whereas rachuwm is simply "compassion." Racham is "love, deep, tender, affectionate, nurturing, familial, compassionate, merciful, and motherly love." Rachats is a "trusted female servant at a bath who washes and cleanses." Rachsah is "to wash and cleanse, removing all contaminants and filth." Rachem is "mercy." Rachab is "expansive, enormous in scope and breadth," even "enlarging, growing, and liberating." Rachash is "to move and stir, to awaken, invigorate, and motivate." A rachath is a feminine noun depicting a "winnowing implement, something which is used to separate the wheat from the chaff."
The ruwach-Spirit is always associated with "waters," as She is here, because of their life-giving and cleansing properties. The ruwach-Spirit is always associated with "light" as She is here, because "‘owr – is that which shines, brightens, illuminates, enlightens, provides sight, warms, and enables life and growth." And the ruwach-Spirit is always associated with "separation" as She is here, because Yahowah wants us to be set apart unto Him. He delights in those who are enveloped, covered, and adorned in the "Ruwach Qodesh – Set-Apart Spirit’s" Garment of Light, but He does not know those shrouded in darkness.
Yahowah invites us to come into the presence of the maternal manifestation of His light on the Miqra’ of Matsah, the day each year where we are perfected by God. We are also encouraged to answer His invitation to approach this same feminine aspect of God’s light on Yowm Kippurym, the Day of Reconciliations. Souls who don’t respond to Yahowah’s Invitation on either occasion, die, ceasing to exist, or they will be permanently separated from God in She’owl, where they will spend eternity with Sha’uwl. And between, on Seven Sabbaths, Yahowah’s Set-Apart Spirit empowers and enriches the Covenant’s children, helping them learn and grow.
Had Sha’uwl asked Yahowchanan, the actual Apostle and Disciple would have told the imposter that the only way the ruwach-Spirit could be acquired was by observing the Torah. After all, the genuine Apostle and Disciple transcribed one of the most important spiritual conversations in human history. Let’s listen in:
"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of Yahuwdah’s ruling council. He came to Yahowsha’ at night and said to Him, ‘Teacher, we know you have come from God. For no man could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not inside of him.’
In reply Yahowsha’ declared, ‘I teach you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born from above.’
‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be reborn.’
Yahowsha’ answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit.
You should not be surprised or marvel at my saying, you must be born from above. The Spirit blows like the wind and breathes life wherever it desires. You are endowed with the faculty to hear its voice, yet you do not know where it comes and becomes known or where it is going. In this manner, he who is to have eternal life, each and everyone is born, brought forth, and delivered by the Spirit.’
Nicodemus said, ‘In what manner or way can this happen, becoming a reality?’
Yahowsha’ answered, ‘You are Yisra’el’s teacher, and do you not understand this? Most assuredly, I tell the truth concerning this. We speak of what we have known and bear witness to what we have seen, but still you do not receive our testimony.’
If I have spoken of the earthly and human, and you do not trust, how then might you rely on I speak of trusting the heavenly? No one has ever ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
Just as Moseh lifted up the snake in the desert, so likewise, in the same way and manner, the Son of Man must be lifted up, in order that everyone who relies on Him may have eternal life.
For Yahowah so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever trusts and relies upon Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever relies upon Him is not judged, separated, or condemned, but whoever does not rely stands condemned already because he has not trusted in the name of God’s only Son.
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness instead of light, because their behavior was annoying.
Everyone who practices evil hates the Light, and will not come into the Light concerned that his behavior and deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the Light, in order that it may be seen plainly, that what he has done is taking place in close proximity to God." (Yahowchanan / Yah is Merciful / John 3:1-21)
As a Pharisee in Yisra’el, Nicodemus should have been considerably more aware of what the Torah teaches regarding the Set-Apart Spirit, our spiritual birth into the Covenant, and the role the Invitations to Meet with God play in our receipt of the Spirit. Nonetheless, after chiding him for his ignorance, Yahowsha’ explained the process of our adoption into our Heavenly Father’s Family. And I suppose He did so, because Nicodemus was receptive, something he demonstrated by his search and his questions, things religious individuals all too often avoid.
Returning to Galatians, in a case of darkness calling the night black, Sha’uwl protested: "In this way (houto), ignorant and irrational (anoetos – lacking in knowledge and unable to think logically, foolish and senseless, dimwitted and without understanding) you are (eimi – you exist). Having begun (enarchomai – having commenced by way of) with spirit (ΠΝI – used by the Disciples as a placeholder for Ruwach using pneuma), now (nyn – at the same time) in flesh (sarx) you are completing (epiteleo – you are undergoing and finishing, bringing to a close (present tense which portrays an uncompleted action in process, middle voice reveals that those Sha’uwl is calling ignorant are doing this to themselves, and indicative mood indicating that this assessment is real))?" (Galatians 3:3)
When considered together (Galatians 3:2 through 3:5), it becomes obvious that Paul is associating the Torah with the flesh, and disassociating both from the Spirit in unbridled Gnostic fashion. Fortunately, however, those who are informed and rational recognize that the Set-Apart Spirit is a product of the Word and She completes and establishes us while we are still human – just as She did for Yahowsha’. Further, once we have been born anew from above by way of our Spiritual Mother, we are a new creation – just as was the case with Yahowsha’ during Bikuwrym / FirstFruits following Pesach and Matsah. Therefore, even if his connections and disassociations were accurate, which they are not, Paul’s premise remains flawed.
Also relevant, the moment we are born anew from above, we are established, we are eternal, and we are perfect children of the Covenant, at least in our Heavenly Father’s eyes. And His perspective is the only one which matters. So, once we have begun with the Spirit, there is nothing left to do relative to our status, rendering Paul’s protestation "ignorant and irrational."
In this case, it’s not that these translations are errant; it’s the message they translated which is wrong. NA: "Thusly unmindful you are. Having begun in spirit, now in flesh you are thoroughly completing." KJV: "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" LV: "Are you so foolish that, though you began with the Spirit, you would now end with the flesh?" But alas, there is an exception to every rule. NLT: "How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" It’s clearly Christians who make Christianity deceptive.
"So much (tosoutos – so many, so great, and so long these things) you suffered (pascho – you were affected and you were vexed, annoyed, and angry) without reason or result (eike – without purpose or cause, in vain, randomly and chaotically without a plan). If (ei) indeed, really (ge) and yet then (kai – and also) thoughtlessly and for nothing without cause (eike – without reason, result, or purpose, and for naught)." (Galatians 3:4)
Sha’uwl is insinuating that Yahowah’s plan of salvation, which consists of Passover, Unleavened Bread, FirstFruits, and Seven Sabbaths, and which the Ma’aseyah Yahowsha’ devoted His life to fulfilling, is comprised of thoughtless, random, and chaotic events that are neither part of an overall plan nor productive, and that by answering God’s invitations to celebrate these festival feasts with Him the participant suffers greatly, they are vexed and annoyed without benefit. Perhaps he is even insinuating that being observant is a complete waste of time because his replacement can be accepted impulsively, easily, and thoughtlessly – by faith no less. He is also suggesting that our Spiritual rebirth can be aborted. But none of this is so.
The primary meaning of pascho, rendered "you suffered," speaks of "an experience which is typically unpleasant," but at its heart it is mostly about "feeling" rather than thinking. It is about being "affected emotionally" rather than using evidence and reason to form a rational and reliable conclusion. So Sha’uwl is trying to turn the tables on those who are observant, accusing them of what he demands: belief in the unknown rather than trust in what has been revealed and can be known. Disingenuous politicians deploy this tactic to confuse the unsuspecting and to make it more difficult for their opposition to attack their weaknesses. In reality ignorance is required to believe Paul and Yahowah is known to those who are observant.
If Paul was speaking for God, he would not only have known if the Galatians had been born anew from above by way of the terms and conditions of the Covenant, he would have known that his question was ridiculous. It’s akin to asking someone if they have traveled across a bridge if after crossing it they retreat and go back to the original side.
In that this has all been so devious and deceitful, demeaning and demonic, let’s check the NA just to make sure Sha’uwl’s message is being conveyed accurately: "Such things you suffered without cause. If indeed also without cause."
Therefore, trying to put lipstick on this pig, "So much and so long these things you suffered, you were affected and you were vexed, annoyed, and angry, without reason or result, even chaotically without a plan. If indeed, really and yet then also thoughtlessly and for nothing without cause. reason, or result," the KJV proposed: "Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain." LV: "Have you been suffering so much without a reason? If so, then it is in vain." Our salvation is a joyous affair, which is why Yahowah’s Seven Invitations to Meet with Him are Festival Feasts. Further, the message of Yowm Kippurym, the Day of Reconciliations, is that God suffered for us so that we might be able to celebrate and enjoy Sukah—camping out with our Heavenly Father.
The Covenant and the Way to participating in it is the most beneficial agreement in the universe and the most enjoyable path to follow, yet ignorant of this, the NLT proposed: "Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?"
Paul cannot refrain from belittling the Torah. "The one (o) therefore (oun – consequently or then) supplying further (epichoregeo – providing and supporting) you (ou) the spirit (to ΠΝI – placeholder used by the Disciples for Ruwach (a feminine noun in Hebrew) using pneuma (a neuter noun in Greek)), and (kai) causing to function and operating (energeo – bringing about and producing to grant the ability of (present tense, active voice, participle (verbal adjective), nominative (to be or to become), singular, masculine (thereby misrepresenting the maternal nature of the Ruwach Qodesh))) powers (dunamis – abilities, authorities, and supernatural capabilities (feminine plural)) in (en) you (sou) out of (ek) acting upon and engaging in (ergon – observing and working on the tasks assigned in) the Torah (nomou – the allotment which is parceled out for the purpose of nurturing those with an inheritance (singular genitive and thus specific)) or (e) from (ek – out of) hearing (akoe – listening) faith (pistis – belief (the original meaning was trust but migrated to faith as a result of Sha’uwl’s letters))?" (Galatians 3:5)
If you are still clinging to the myth that this was inspired by God, you may be thinking that my translations are unfairly making Sha’uwl appear inarticulate. So please, consider this from the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament, 27th Edition with McReynolds English Interlinear, or NA for short: "The one then supplying further to you the spirit and operating powers in you from works of law or from hearing of trust."
It is apparent that Sha’uwl was not an eyewitness to Yahowsha’s participation in Pesach, Matsah, and Bikuwrym in Yaruwshalaim, so he missed the fact that the Ruwach Qodesh – Set-Apart Spirit on Shabuwa’ enriched and empowered all of the Children of the Covenant who observed Passover, Unleavened Bread, and FirstFruits. And as a result, Paul is either ignorant of the fact that these Invitations to Meet with God not only fulfilled the Towrah’s promises, they facilitated all five of the Covenant’s benefits – eternal life, perfection, adoption, enrichment, and Spiritual empowerment – or he was deliberately misleading his audience.
Beyond being an effective communicator, Yahowah is trustworthy, as is His Torah. Yahowsha’ is reliable because He is the human manifestation of the Word—the living embodiment of the testimony contained in the Torah, Prophets, and Psalms. The Set-Apart Spirit is dependable, because She is the one who enlightens us when we study Yahowah’s teaching.
There is no dichotomy, therefore, between the Torah and the Spirit, between the Torah and Yahowsha’, between the Torah and God’s trustworthy and reliable message, between the Torah and possessing Yahowah’s power and ability. So it is unfortunate that Sha’uwl postured a conflict between them.
Paul is saying that it is better to believe what he has verbally communicated than it is to trust what is written in the Torah. In fact, he is saying that believing his preaching provides direct access to spiritual power and that the Torah’s guidance does not. By making this claim, this distinction, Paul is affirming that his message not only differs substantially from God’s, but also that his message is superior. If you believe him, you are a Christian.
Simply stated: Paul was attempting to devalue the Torah relative to his preaching. And having read both, that was an arrogant and foolish thing for him to propose.
The most effective lies not only contain an element of truth, they twist and corrupt the truth. In this regard, the passage devoid of the either/or, might have had some value if it was interpreted to say that we are not empowered because of things we do, but instead based upon trusting in and relying upon the things Yahowah has done. In this light, however, dunamis, translated "powers," in the plural, would have been singular instead, because there is only one source of "sufficient power, strength, skill, resources, authority, and ability to accomplish whatever task is necessary." Deployed in the business of sharing God’s message, this capability is infinitely superior to having the power to dazzle people with a display of miracles (signs and wonders in Paul’s parlance).
But even that hint of truth is obscured by these translations of, "The one therefore supplying you the spirit, and functioning to become powers and supernatural capabilities in you out of acting upon and engaging in the Torah or from hearing faith?" to: KJV: "He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" LV: First in Latin: "Qui ergo tribuit vobis Spiritum, et operatur virtutes in vobis: ex operibus legis, an ex auditu fidei?" Now in English: "Therefore, does he who distributes the Spirit to you, and who works miracles among you, act by the works of the law, or by the hearing of the faith?" And then in the fictional version (NLT): "I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ."
The Spirit’s power in our lives is directly attributable to the first four Miqra’ey, the presentation of which sits at the heart of the Towrah. For example, the power of the Set-Apart Spirit was unknown to the Called-Out Assembly until the fulfillment of the fourth Called-Out Assembly: Seven Sabbaths. As a direct result of the fulfillment of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and FirstFruits, the Set-Apart Spirit came upon the members of Yahowah’s family on Shabuwa, empowering them to convey God’s healing and beneficial message to the world.
Shim’own / Peter experienced the Seven Sabbaths transformation in person, just as he had witnessed the Passover, Unleavened Bread, and FirstFruits requirements being fulfilled in advance of this day. Paul had missed them all, and as a result, seemed to be missing the most important connections between the Torah and Yahowsha’, between the Set-Apart Spirit and the Invitations to Meet with God, and between those Festival Feasts and the Covenant.
On the predicted and promised day of the Spirit—Shabuwa—Yahowah enabled every member of His Called-Out Assembly to preach His Towrah testimony to people of every race in every language. The Spirit gave us the power to share Yahowah’s Torah, His prescriptions for living, with all mankind.
In that it is often helpful to see an author’s thoughts in unison, one sentence flowing to the next, the first five verses of Galatians three say:
"O ignorant and irrational, foolish and senseless, unintelligent and unreasonable, Galatians. To whom you bewitched, deceived, and slandered, brought evil upon and seduced? (3:1) This alone I want to learn from you: out of accomplishments of the Towrah the spirit you received or alternatively out of hearing of belief? (3:2)
In this way, you are ignorant and irrational, lacking in knowledge and unable to think logically. Having begun with spirit, now in flesh you are completing? (3:3) So much and so long these things you suffered, you were affected and you were vexed, annoyed, and angry, without reason or result, even chaotically without a plan. If indeed, really and yet then also thoughtlessly and for nothing without cause. reason, or result. (3:4)
The one therefore then supplying you the spirit and causing to function and operating powers in you out of acting upon and engaging in the tasks delineated in the Torah or out of hearing faith?" (Galatians 3:5)