Why did the Holy Spirit inspire Paul to call Judaism 'the Jews' religion in Galatians 1?
The Holy Spirit moved Paul to call Judaism 'the Jews' religion because by his day it had become a watered-down, degenerated system rather than the pure Law given at Sinai. Over 1,500 years it added 613 rules and regulations, functioning as a religion with no saving power.
Les explains that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to use the phrase 'the Jews' religion because that is what Judaism had become. It started as the pure Law given on Mount Sinai, with Israel's priesthood and sacrificial worship, but over 1,500 years it was watered down and degenerated. By Paul's day it had become 613 rules and regulations, including stipulations like how far one could walk on the Sabbath. It was now merely a religion, and the Judaism of Christ's day had no saving power. There were only a few true believers, such as Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, and no doubt Joseph and Mary. Many Jews were very religious, keeping feast days and practicing sacrifice; Josephus claimed one million animals were sacrificed every year at the time of Christ.
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
More Questions
What was the Jews' religion like when Paul practiced it before his conversion?
The Jews' religion, at the time Paul practiced it during Christ's earthly ministry and shortly after, was all it was — there was nothing of the power of God in it.