What did the men from Judea teach in Acts 15:1?
The men from Judea taught that circumcision according to the manner of Moses was required for salvation, saying, 'Except you be circumcised . . . you cannot be saved.' They promoted a works-based message that salvation required keeping the Law of Moses, not faith alone. This false teaching infiltrated the churches and was the problem addressed in Acts 15.
Les explains that the letter’s whole reason was that the churches in Galatia were being submarined by false teaching, which torpedoed them with the claim that you cannot be saved by faith plus nothing; you have to keep the Law of Moses. He then takes listeners back to Acts chapter 15, Luke’s recording, where certain men came down from Judea to Antioch in Syria and taught the brethren: 'Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.' Les notes these Judaizers from Jerusalem were believing Jews, and by verse 5 the same teaching is repeated, especially by Pharisees who had become believers. He suggests they somehow got into teaching positions, perhaps pulpits, though congregations were small.
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
More Questions
Who were the men in Acts 15 who taught that circumcision was required for salvation?
The men who brought this teaching in Acts 15 were Judaizers from Jerusalem — believing Jews — who in some way worked their way into places of teaching position.
What did the Judaizers from Judaea teach the Gentile converts in Acts 15:1?
The Judaizers who came down from Judaea taught Paul's recent Gentile converts that unless they were circumcised after the manner of Moses they could not be saved.