The Relationship of Jewish and Gentile Believers to the Law Between A.D. 30 and 70 in the Scripture

207 direction of information was from Peter to Paul rather than the other way . 169 The same was true of the churches of Judea which heard "only ... 'He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy," (1:23). Thus , Paul's gospel and call are legitimate and true, though others may not have been aware of them. 170 The Example of Titus 2: 1-10 The example of Titus advances Paul's argument by giving tangible definition to his heretofore abstract "gospel to the Gentiles." Titus is the quintessential test case for Paul 's gospel because he is an adult, male, believing Gentile . He thus embodies the critical question at hand : must Gentiles become Jews? 171 When the decision is made that he should not have to be circumcised Paul rejoices that "the truth of the gospel" might remain with his audience. Nowhere in the story does Paul hint that the real subject was a question between human merit and divine grace; rather , the issue is the historical question of Gentiles taking on the yoke of the law. The final decision which is reached and confirmed by the pillars is that Paul ' apostleship to the Gentiles is legitimate and appropriate (2:8-9). The Conflict at Antioch 2: 11-14 The story at Antioch advance Paul 's introduction to it trategic goal a it provide another test case which further define the i ue, but more important} , furni h Paul the opportunity to perfectly articu late the i ue . Thi i in keeping with the patt rn f rhetoric which Betz ha identified . 169 H w rd , ri i tn alatia, 36 . up ain t J ru I mt I ut ht pel u ith P ul' 11. 171 If Paul' th hdtt hd1t f th la th n uld h b n n mf nt J