Few figures in Christian history spark as much theological debate as the Apostle Paul. To some, he is the divinely appointed apostle to the Gentiles, clarifying the gospel and expanding the reach of Christianity. To others, he appears to have significantly redefined — or even changed — the commandments of God given in the Old Testament. This tension has fueled centuries of debate: Did Paul change the commandments of God, or did he simply interpret them through the lens of Jesus Christ?
This article explores Paul’s teachings on the law, grace, and commandments, and whether they represent a departure from God’s original instructions.
The Commandments of God in the Hebrew Scriptures
The foundation of God’s commandments is rooted in the Torah, particularly the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20). These laws formed the ethical, spiritual, and societal framework of Israel’s covenant with God. In addition to the Ten Commandments, the Torah contains over 600 other laws governing worship, justice, health, and daily living.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the commandments are often equated with righteousness (Psalm 119:172), and obedience is the expected response of a faithful believer. The prophets consistently call the people back to the law of God, emphasizing repentance and covenant loyalty.
Paul’s Background and Transformation
Before becoming a follower of Jesus, Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) was a Pharisee — a zealous follower of the Torah. He studied under Gamaliel, a respected rabbi, and was deeply committed to the law (Acts 22:3, Philippians 3:5–6). However, Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) radically changed his understanding of the law and its role in salvation.
Rather than abandoning the commandments, Paul began to interpret them through a Christ-centered lens, arguing that Jesus fulfilled the law (Romans 10:4) and inaugurated a new covenant relationship with God based on faith and grace, not legal observance alone.
Paul’s Writings: Conflict or Continuity?
1. Faith Over Works of the Law
One of Paul’s most cited and controversial teachings comes from Romans and Galatians, where he argues that “a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28). This has led many to conclude that Paul rejected the commandments altogether.
However, Paul distinguishes between "works of the law" (often referring to rituals like circumcision, food laws, and ceremonial observances) and the moral principles behind the law. He emphasizes that justification—being declared righteous before God—comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through human effort or legalistic observance.
“For if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”
— Galatians 2:21
Still, Paul never encourages lawlessness. In fact, he upholds many of the moral commandments (like avoiding adultery, theft, murder, and idolatry) as consistent with Christian ethics (Romans 13:8–10).
2. The Law Is Good… But Weak Without the Spirit
Paul never describes the law as evil. In Romans 7:12, he writes:
“So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”
Yet he also says that the law, by itself, cannot save. The law reveals sin (Romans 7:7), but it doesn’t provide the power to overcome it. That power comes through the Holy Spirit.
Paul argues that under the New Covenant, believers are empowered by the Spirit to live righteously, fulfilling the spirit of the law, rather than its letter (2 Corinthians 3:6).
Did Paul Abolish the Sabbath, Dietary Laws, or Circumcision?
This is where interpretations differ.
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Sabbath: Paul never commands Gentile Christians to keep the seventh-day Sabbath, though he never explicitly abolishes it either. In Colossians 2:16–17, he warns against being judged over sabbaths and festivals, suggesting that such practices were “a shadow of things to come,” with Christ being the substance.
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Circumcision: Paul argues that physical circumcision is no longer necessary for inclusion in God’s covenant. Instead, what matters is “a circumcision of the heart” (Romans 2:29). In Galatians 5:2–6, he warns that relying on circumcision for righteousness undermines the gospel of grace.
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Dietary Laws: In Romans 14, Paul encourages believers not to judge each other over food choices. Though he doesn’t directly revoke the clean/unclean food distinctions from Leviticus, he promotes unity over ritual disputes.
In each of these areas, Paul seems to move away from rigid Torah observance—not to promote disobedience, but to prioritize faith, love, and spiritual maturity.
Did Paul Contradict Jesus?
Critics sometimes argue that Paul contradicted Jesus, who affirmed the law in Matthew 5:17–19:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Jesus often intensified the law’s demands (e.g., anger = murder, lust = adultery), pointing to the heart behind the commandments. Paul appears to do something similar by emphasizing the inner transformation that comes through Christ.
In Romans 13:8–10, Paul writes:
“The commandments… are summed up in this word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Far from contradicting Jesus, Paul echoes His teachings: love fulfills the law, not by abolishing it, but by embodying its deepest intent.
Accusations Against Paul—Even in His Day
It’s worth noting that Paul was accused in his own time of teaching Jews to “forsake Moses” and abandon the law (Acts 21:21). This controversy was so intense that it nearly led to riots.
However, in Acts 24:14, Paul defends himself, saying:
“I believe everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets.”
He also took part in purification rituals to demonstrate that he was not against the law for Jewish believers. What Paul opposed was forcing Gentiles to follow Jewish customs as a requirement for salvation — a major theme of his letters.
Conclusion: Did Paul Change the Commandments?
Paul did not change God’s commandments in the sense of abolishing morality or advocating disobedience. Instead, he reinterpreted the role of the law in light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
He taught that:
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Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works of the law.
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Moral commandments remain valid, but are fulfilled through love.
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Ceremonial laws (circumcision, festivals, food laws) are no longer binding on Gentile believers.
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The Spirit empowers believers to obey God from the heart.
In short, Paul shifted the emphasis from external rule-keeping to internal transformation, from ritual obedience to spiritual renewal. His teachings challenge believers to go beyond mere legalism and embrace a living relationship with God through Christ.
Whether one sees Paul as a reformer or a revolutionary depends largely on how one interprets the continuity between the Old and New Testaments. But what’s clear is that Paul’s goal was never to erase God’s commandments — it was to reveal their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.
