Christianity today believes that the Apostle Paul taught the law was done away with.
Scripture shows this view is totally wrong.
Paul kept the Torah. Nothing he ever said contradicted Yeshua or scripture.
Did Paul Abolish Yahweh’s Torah?
Paul Taught From the Scriptures We Call the Old Testament
Modern Christianity often claims that the apostle Paul taught believers that Yahweh’s law was abolished. Some even speak as though Yeshua taught obedience, while Paul later introduced a new religion based on grace without law.
That interpretation creates an impossible contradiction.
Paul never taught against Yeshua. He never claimed that Yahweh’s commandments were defective or abolished. Paul opposed using law-keeping as a means of earning justification, but he consistently upheld the Torah as holy, righteous, spiritual, and worthy of obedience.
Peter warned that Paul’s letters contained passages that could be misunderstood:
“Our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you… in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”
—2 Peter 3:15–16
The problem is not what Paul taught. The problem is how people have interpreted him.
1. There Was No Collected “New Testament” in Paul’s Day
When Paul preached, the collection of books now called the New Testament did not yet exist. Some apostolic writings were being written and circulated, but the New Testament had not been collected into the Bible that we possess today.
When Paul spoke about “the Scriptures,” he was primarily referring to the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings—the books commonly called the Old Testament.
Paul told Timothy:
“And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yeshua.”
—2 Timothy 3:15
What Scriptures had Timothy known from childhood? He could not have been reading a completed New Testament. Paul was speaking about the Hebrew Scriptures.
Paul continued:
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of Elohim, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
—2 Timothy 3:16
Paul did not call the Torah obsolete. He said Scripture was profitable for:
- Doctrine
- Correction
- Instruction
- Righteous living
Paul’s teachings must therefore be understood through the Scriptures he studied and preached.
2. Paul Preached From the Torah and the Prophets
When Paul taught people about Yeshua, he used the Old Testament Scriptures to prove his message.
“So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of Elohim, persuading them concerning Yeshua from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.”
—Acts 28:23
Paul did not tell people that the Law of Moses had become irrelevant. He used it to explain the Kingdom of Yahweh and prove that Yeshua was the Messiah.
Paul also declared:
“Therefore, having obtained help from Elohim, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come.”
—Acts 26:22
Paul said that he taught “no other things” than what Moses and the prophets had already revealed.
His message was not a replacement for the Old Testament. It was the fulfillment and proper explanation of those Scriptures.
3. Paul Personally Denied Teaching Against the Torah
Paul was repeatedly accused of teaching against Yahweh’s law. His recorded response was not, “Yes, the law has been abolished.”
Instead, Paul denied the accusations.
“Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.”
—Acts 24:13–14
Paul said plainly:
“I believe all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.”
Later he declared:
“Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”
—Acts 25:8
When Paul arrived in Rome, he again stated:
“Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers…”
—Acts 28:17
Paul repeatedly testified under serious legal circumstances that he had not taught or acted against the Torah.
If Paul had been teaching that Yahweh’s law was abolished, these declarations would not have been true.
4. Paul Walked Orderly and Kept the Torah
A report had spread that Paul was teaching Jews to abandon Moses:
“They have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses…”
—Acts 21:21
Notice that this was an accusation—not a statement of fact.
The elders in Jerusalem proposed that Paul publicly demonstrate that the accusation was false:
“Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.”
—Acts 21:24
Paul agreed and participated in the purification ceremony.
Scripture therefore tells us that the claim that Paul taught people to forsake Moses was “nothing”—a false report. Paul himself walked orderly and kept the Torah.
5. Paul Upheld the Law Through Faith
Some use Paul’s teaching about faith to argue that faith replaces obedience. Paul directly rejected that conclusion:
“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
—Romans 3:31
The Greek expression translated “certainly not” conveys a forceful denial. Paul was essentially saying, “May it never be!”
True faith does not overthrow Yahweh’s law. True faith establishes it.
Faith gives us a right relationship with Yahweh and produces willing obedience. We do not obey to purchase salvation; we obey because we trust and love the One who saves us.
6. Paul Called the Torah Holy, Just, and Good
Paul wrote:
“Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.”
—Romans 7:12
He also said:
“For we know that the law is spiritual.”
—Romans 7:14
And:
“For I delight in the law of Elohim according to the inward man.”
—Romans 7:22
Consider Paul’s own descriptions of Yahweh’s law:
- Holy
- Just
- Good
- Spiritual
- Something in which he delighted
Paul would not describe a sinful, oppressive, or abolished system in these terms.
The problem was never Yahweh’s law. The problem is human sin and the weakness of the flesh.
“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law.”
—Romans 7:7
The Torah identifies sin. It is not itself sinful.
7. Paul Defined Sin Through the Torah
Paul explained that the law gives people knowledge of sin:
“For by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
—Romans 3:20
He also wrote:
“Where there is no law there is no transgression.”
—Romans 4:15
If Yahweh’s law had been abolished, there could no longer be transgression. Sin cannot be defined without a law that identifies right and wrong.
Paul agreed with the apostle John:
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”
—1 John 3:4
Grace does not give us permission to continue breaking Yahweh’s law.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!”
—Romans 6:1–2
If sin is lawlessness, then Paul’s statement means that grace does not authorize continued lawbreaking.
8. Paul Taught That Obedient People Would Be Justified
Paul wrote:
“For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of Elohim, but the doers of the law will be justified.”
—Romans 2:13
This agrees with James:
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
—James 1:22
Neither Paul nor James taught that people earn salvation through their works. They taught that genuine faith produces action.
Paul described this as “the obedience of faith”:
“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.”
—Romans 1:5
Saving faith is not rebellion against Yahweh. It produces a heart willing to obey Him.
9. Paul Taught That Grace Does Not Permit Sin
Paul asked:
“Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”
—Romans 6:15
Being “under grace” does not mean that Yahweh’s law has disappeared. It means that a repentant believer is no longer under the law’s death sentence for past sins.
A pardoned criminal is released from the penalty of the law. He is not given permission to continue committing crimes.
Likewise, Yeshua’s sacrifice delivers us from the condemnation caused by our lawbreaking. It does not make continued lawbreaking acceptable.
Paul explained:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah Yeshua, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
—Romans 8:1
Freedom from condemnation is promised to those who walk according to Yahweh’s Spirit—not those who deliberately continue in rebellion.
10. Paul Distinguished Yahweh’s Law From the Law of Sin
Paul used the word “law” in several different ways. This is one reason his writings are sometimes misunderstood.
In Romans 7 and 8, he mentioned:
- The law of Elohim
- The law of his mind
- The law of sin
- The law of sin and death
- The law of the Spirit of life
Paul wrote:
“I delight in the law of Elohim according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind.”
—Romans 7:22–23
The “law in my members” was not the Torah. It was the power or principle of sin operating within human flesh.
When Paul said that believers had been delivered from “the law of sin and death,” he was not declaring that Yahweh’s commandments were abolished.
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yeshua has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
—Romans 8:2
Yeshua frees us from slavery to sin and from sin’s death penalty—not from Yahweh’s righteous standard.
11. The Torah Could Not Forgive Sin
Paul taught that the law could identify sin, but it could not forgive past sins or change the rebellious human heart.
“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, Elohim did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin.”
—Romans 8:3
Notice what was weak: not the law, but “the flesh.”
Yahweh did not send Yeshua to destroy the righteous requirements of the law. He sent Him so those requirements could be fulfilled in His people:
“That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
—Romans 8:4
The Spirit enables believers to live according to Yahweh’s will.
This fulfills the New Covenant promise:
“I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts.”
—Jeremiah 31:33
The New Covenant does not abolish Yahweh’s law. It writes that law upon the heart.
12. “Works of the Law” Cannot Purchase Justification
Paul strongly opposed the idea that a person could be justified—declared innocent—by “works of the law.”
“Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
—Romans 3:20
Law-keeping cannot erase sins that have already been committed.
Imagine someone who has broken the law for years. Beginning to obey today does not erase yesterday’s crimes. A penalty is still owed.
Only Yeshua’s sacrifice can provide forgiveness and reconciliation.
“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Messiah Yeshua.”
—Romans 3:24
We are saved by Yahweh’s grace through faith. We cannot earn forgiveness. But after being forgiven, we are expected to stop practicing the sins for which we needed forgiveness.
Obedience is not the price of salvation. It is the fruit of repentance and faith.
13. Paul Opposed Requiring Circumcision as a Condition of Salvation
A major controversy in Paul’s ministry concerned whether Gentile believers had to be circumcised in order to be saved.
“And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’”
—Acts 15:1
The issue was not whether believers should obey Yahweh. The issue was whether physical circumcision was a requirement for justification and entrance into the covenant community.
Paul taught that salvation could not be earned through circumcision or any other human work.
Yet Paul also wrote:
“Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of Elohim is what matters.”
—1 Corinthians 7:19
Paul distinguished physical circumcision from obedience to Yahweh’s commandments.
He also circumcised Timothy because of the circumstances surrounding their ministry:
“Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region.”
—Acts 16:3
Paul was not opposed to circumcision itself. He opposed teaching that circumcision could earn salvation.
14. Paul Kept the Sabbath
Paul regularly taught on the Sabbath:
“And Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures.”
—Acts 17:2
In Antioch, Paul taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath:
“But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.”
—Acts 13:14
After Paul’s message, the Gentiles asked him to preach again:
“So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.”
—Acts 13:42
Paul did not tell the Gentiles to return the following day because Sunday had replaced the Sabbath.
“On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of Elohim.”
—Acts 13:44
At Philippi, where there apparently was no synagogue, Paul still sought a place of prayer on the Sabbath:
“And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made.”
—Acts 16:13
Paul’s custom agreed with Yeshua’s custom:
“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.”
—Luke 4:16
15. Paul Kept Yahweh’s Feast Days
Paul’s writings and travels show his awareness and observance of Yahweh’s appointed times.
Unleavened Bread
“But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread.”
—Acts 20:6
Pentecost
“For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus… for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.”
—Acts 20:16
Paul also wrote:
“But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.”
—1 Corinthians 16:8
Atonement
Acts records Paul’s journey according to “the Fast,” a recognized reference to the Day of Atonement:
“Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over…”
—Acts 27:9
Passover and Unleavened Bread
Paul instructed the largely Gentile congregation at Corinth:
“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Messiah, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast.”
—1 Corinthians 5:7–8
Paul did not say, “The Feast has been abolished.” He said, “Let us keep the Feast,” while explaining its spiritual meaning through Yeshua.
16. Paul Followed Yeshua’s Example
Yeshua declared:
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
—Matthew 5:17
To fulfill does not mean to abolish. Yeshua fulfilled the Torah by living it perfectly, revealing its complete spiritual meaning, and fulfilling the prophecies written about Him.
Yeshua continued:
“Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
—Matthew 5:18
Heaven and earth have not passed away.
Yeshua warned against breaking even the least commandments and teaching others to do the same:
“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”
—Matthew 5:19
Paul could not have taught the opposite without becoming a false teacher. Instead, Paul followed Yeshua and encouraged others to follow his example:
“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Messiah.”
—1 Corinthians 11:1
17. Paul’s Teaching Agrees With the New Covenant
Many assume that “New Covenant” means a new law. But Yahweh defined the New Covenant through the prophet Jeremiah:
“I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.”
—Jeremiah 31:33
Hebrews repeats the same promise:
“I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts.”
—Hebrews 8:10
Under the New Covenant, Yahweh’s Torah moves from external tablets into the mind and heart of a Spirit-led believer.
A law written upon the heart has not been abolished. It has become internalized—understood, loved, and willingly obeyed.
18. Paul Warned Against Lawlessness
Paul warned that the end-time rebellion would involve lawlessness:
“The mystery of lawlessness is already at work.”
—2 Thessalonians 2:7
He called the final evil ruler “the lawless one”:
“And then the lawless one will be revealed.”
—2 Thessalonians 2:8
Paul never presented lawlessness as Christian freedom.
He taught that Yeshua gave Himself to create a people zealous for good works:
“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
—Titus 2:14
Yeshua redeems us from lawlessness, not so that we may continue living lawlessly.
19. How Paul’s Difficult Statements Should Be Understood
When interpreting Paul, several principles must be remembered:
- Paul could not contradict Yahweh, Yeshua, Moses, the prophets, or the other apostles.
- Paul openly declared his belief in the Law and the Prophets.
- Paul personally lived in obedience to the Torah.
- Paul opposed attempts to earn justification through human works.
- Paul taught that forgiveness comes through Yeshua’s sacrifice—not through law-keeping.
- Paul distinguished Yahweh’s law from the law of sin and death.
- Paul opposed making physical circumcision a condition of salvation.
- Paul taught that genuine faith produces obedience.
- Peter warned that Paul’s difficult statements could be twisted into error.
No difficult verse should be interpreted in a way that contradicts Paul’s many clear declarations supporting Yahweh’s law.
Conclusion: Paul Did Not Create a Lawless Christianity
Paul did not abolish Yahweh’s Torah. He did not replace the teachings of Yeshua with a new religion. He taught from the Law and the Prophets and declared that his message agreed with Moses.
Paul taught that:
- Yahweh’s law is holy, just, good, and spiritual.
- The law identifies sin.
- Faith establishes the law.
- Grace does not give permission to sin.
- We cannot earn justification through law-keeping.
- Forgiveness comes through Yeshua’s sacrifice.
- The Spirit enables Yahweh’s righteous requirements to be fulfilled in us.
- True faith produces obedience.
- Believers should reject lawlessness.
Paul’s message was not, “Yahweh’s law has been abolished.”
His message was that we have all broken Yahweh’s law and cannot erase our guilt through our own efforts. We need forgiveness through Yeshua. After being forgiven, we are to walk in newness of life, led by the Spirit, with Yahweh’s law written upon our hearts.
“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
—Romans 3:31
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