There’s a major misconception which claims that the phrase “under the law” in 1 Cor 9:20 should be translated “under [the penalty of] the law.” Apart from being not what the Greek says, this would render Galatians 4:21 unintelligible: “Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?” This cannot mean, “Tell me, you who want to be under the penalty of the law...” No one wants to be under “the penalty of” the law; therefore “under the law” can have no such meaning. Obviously, Galatians 4:21 is speaking to those who do not yet understand that they should not be responsible to the Law of Moses in the letter. Paul pleads with them to be otherwise. We must let Paul tell us what he means by “under the law,” for after all, it is he who is responsible for this phrase throughout the New Testament.
Our final verse for “under the law” is Galatians 5:18: “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law” (cp. John 1:17). The entire context of Galatians 5 is that Christians should no longer hold themselves accountable to the Law of Moses, but should come under Christ by following the New Covenant teachings of Jesus, summarized as the Gospel of the Kingdom. We should be led by the spirit of God which will empower us to live godly lives. The chapter is too long to be included in this article, but it has nothing to do with “penalty,” but rather living a godly life and not subjecting oneself to the Law of Moses.
By Robin Todd
Our final verse for “under the law” is Galatians 5:18: “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law” (cp. John 1:17). The entire context of Galatians 5 is that Christians should no longer hold themselves accountable to the Law of Moses, but should come under Christ by following the New Covenant teachings of Jesus, summarized as the Gospel of the Kingdom. We should be led by the spirit of God which will empower us to live godly lives. The chapter is too long to be included in this article, but it has nothing to do with “penalty,” but rather living a godly life and not subjecting oneself to the Law of Moses.
By Robin Todd
