Paul wrote these new believers out of deep sorrow and dismay. It was hard for him to imagine how easily legalism turned people away from the good news of the grace found in Christ. The allure of legalism is a fascinating force that plays upon the single most powerful cause of humanity's fall: pride and self-idolatry. It is the poison of prideful self-idolatry that inspired our first parents to turn their backs on God when Satan promised that they would become gods if they did. If they ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they could control their own lives and choose for themselves what was good and what was bad. Ever since that tragic day when they turned their backs to the Tree of Life, the poison of pride has sought to exterminate a life of humble love and reliance on God. It is this poison of hell that takes the laws, rituals, and works of religion and turns them into a way to exalt ourselves in a self-righteous rebellion against God. Manmade religion is one of the most destructive forms of prideful religion against God because it kidnaps the things of God and then throws God out. We trample on His grace as we offer up our dead, lifeless, and impure deeds as all things worthy of salvation. We begin to believe that we are not so bad as to need grace. But God sent His Son, the author of life, to offer Himself as a free act of grace to fully restore us to Jesus Christ, the "Tree of Life." Why would anyone turn his back on such a gift? Pride is the answer. Pride seeks to earn salvation. Pride seeks to take credit for salvation. Pride asks, "What laws can I fulfill? What rituals can I perform?" This allure of the law had begun to draw these new Christians away from grace as false teachers played on our fallen instinct to be saved or made right before God by our own self-righteous efforts. Paul bluntly declared such teachers accursed. He pleaded with these new Christians, reminding them that he too once drank from the pool of prideful religion. But Jesus had broken into Paul's world with Christ's gift of grace. This grace of God in Christ has become the perfect gift of salvation for all people, but it also gives us the humble life of Christ as the antidote for the poison of pride. 1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Greetings To The Churches v.1 Apostle – The basic meaning of this word is "one sent." It is used in scripture primarily to refer to the 12 apostles whom Christ commissioned to establish His church. They were chosen during Christ's public ministry (Mark 3:13-19). Matthias was chosen to replace Judas (Acts 1:15-26). Apart from the 12, others along with Paul were referred to as apostles. This includes Barnabas (Acts 14:14), Andronicus and Junias (Rom. 16:7), Silas and Timothy (1 Thess. 2:6), and James the half brother of Jesus (Mt. 13:55; Gal. 1:19). Not From Men – Paul affirms that his apostolic authority was based on a direct encounter with and call by God the Father and God the Son. This was placed at the beginning of this letter to introduce Paul's defense of his calling, which was questioned by those who opposed his teaching (1:6-12). Who Raised Him – The resurrection is the main proof throughout the New Testament of the authority and power of God. Here it is attributed to the Father. The resurrection is also attributed to the action of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. This is one of the many proofs of the triune nature of God. v. 2 Churches Of Galatia – the churches started through the impact of Paul and Barnabas' first missionary journey (Acts 13-14) v. 3 Grace To You – Paul's customary greeting, it conveyed his high regard for grace as the fountainhead of all that is conveyed to humanity by God. One of the key results of this grace is the peace of God. v. 4 Who Gave Himself – The salvation provided by God through the sacrificial and substitutionary payment for humanity's sins was not only rooted in the heart of the Father (John 3:16) but also the Son. Our salvation is often referred to as sourced in God's act of giving. It is not in what we earn but in what God gives as an act of His own love and grace (Eph. 2:8). To properly appreciate what Jesus did, it is important to come to a clear understanding of Romans 5:6-11 and Hebrews 9:11-10:25. | Deliver Us – Several Greek words convey different aspects of the concept of deliverance. Here the Greek word is exaireo. When used in the middle voice, it means to "take out for oneself." It refers to someone who rescues another who has a special interest in the result of the deliverance. Here it reveals Jesus' personal pleasure and purpose in the results deliverance will bring to humanity. Present Evil Age – This defines that from which humanity needs deliverance. It is referred to as present in that there was a time, or an "age" before the fall, when evil did not rule this world. It is referred to as evil because Satan is declared the god of this present age (2 Cor. 4:4). What Paul was saying is that because of what Christ did on the cross the believer is freed from the spirit of this present age that is ruled by Satan. Paul added in Colossians 1:13 that the believer is not simply delivered from this evil age but also placed in the realm of Christ's Kingdom by the work of the Holy Spirit. The reign of Christ that will be brought upon this world at His second coming has already begun in the lives of those He has delivered. This result of transferring from an evil kingdom to God's Kingdom was central to the initial call given to Paul when he was told by Jesus to turn people from the power of Satan to the power of God (Acts 26:18, Rom. 12:1-12, 1 John 2:15, James 4:4). According To the Will Of God – The method of deliverance from this present evil age was accomplished in complete harmony with the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God. To Whom Be Glory – The perfections and matchless beauty of God's nature are manifested in His provision of salvation for humanity. v. 5 Forever And Ever – The salvation of fallen humanity will be for all eternity a living revelation of "the praise of the glory of His grace" (Eph. 1:6). |
Only One Gospel 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Only One Gospel v. 6 Marvel – Paul expressed his genuine surprise at seeing them drift from the gospel of grace that is the glory of God. Different Gospel – This is a reference to the message from the Judaizers that had become a growing influence on the Galatian believers. Judaizers taught that a complete salvation of non-Jewish people required not only that they put faith in Jesus as their Savior, but also that they begin to follow the regulations and laws of Judaism. v. 7 To Pervert – This means to "change something so as to destroy its original purpose" to the point that it actually opposes what it used to stand for. v. 8 Let Him Be Accursed – Accursed is anathema in the Greek and refers to someone being turned over to destruction. Those who deserve such a tragic end could be anyone, including Paul or angels, who change in any way the essence of the gospel. It is a gospel of salvation as a gift received by faith sourced in the grace and love of God. | v. 9 I Say Again – Paul could not be more emphatic. He sought to leave no room for any compromising on the essential message of the gospel of grace in Christ. v. 10 Persuade Men or God – Paul addressed the intense attack on his authority by the false teachers. They attempted to undermine his message of the gospel. He pointed out that it would have been to his personal advantage to compromise the gospel message, for this would have made him more acceptable to people. However, because he sought to please the Author of the Gospel, Jesus Christ, he would remain faithful to his commitment to truthfully represent the gospel of Christ. Bondservant – "Doulos" (Gk.) Paul used this term in the Jewish sense, referring to a servant who out of love for a master chooses to serve the master for his lifetime (Ex. 21:5-6, Num. 12:7, 2 Sam. 7:5, Is. 53:11). |
Call to Apostleship 11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Call To Apostleship v. 11 Not According To Man – Paul made the clear distinction between the origin of what he preached and what these Judaizers taught. Paul showed the origins of his message to be directly from God, whereas the origin of these Judaizers was themselves. v. 12 Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Revelation is apokalupsis in Greek and basically means "an unveiling or uncovering." Paul made it clear that what set him apart from other teachers was the direct source of what he taught. It was first and primarily Jesus Christ. v. 13 Persecuted The Church – Paul turned to his former impassioned opposition to the gospel that drove him to seek its destruction as proof of the divine revelation he needed to now proclaim and defend the gospel of Christ. v. 14 I Advanced In Judaism – Paul pointed this out to show that he knew more about Judaism than these present Judaizers who are trying to teach Judaism to the Gentile Christians knew. Tradition Of the Fathers – This is a reference the to complex interpretations and additions to the Old Testament scriptures that had been developed by religious leaders generation after generation. This is similar to what has developed in much of Christianity today. Traditions that have no direct scriptural connection have become the primary message of various branches of Christians who will often fight to the death to defend their traditions. | v. 15 Who Separated Me – It was God's sovereign plan, determined in due time, to use Paul as a tool to reveal Jesus and His gospel to the Gentile world. This same process of God's plan for people prior to the outworking of that plan was seen in Jeremiah 1:5, Luke 1:13-17, and Isaiah 49:1. Through His Grace – Paul's conversion and subsequent ministry were the direct result of God's undeserved love. In reviewing Paul's conversion in Acts 9:1-19 and 26:1-18, you will readily see that it was God's grace not Paul's worthiness that brought about His conversion. v. 16 To Reveal His Son – Paul referred to the work of God the Holy Spirit who brought light within his spirit so that he could spiritually see now what he was completely blind to before. Preach Him – Paul pointed out to the Gentiles at Galatia that his ministry among them had been ordained by God's call upon his life (Acts 9:15, 26:15-18; Rom. 1:13-16, 15:18). Flesh And Blood – This refers to humanity. Paul did not look to man but to God to teach him the content of his apostolic ministry. v. 17 I Went To Arabia – Paul included this information about his initial actions as a new Christian to show that the origins of his gospel were the same as the origins of the gospel of other apostles. He had been taught directly by the resurrected Christ just as the apostles had been (Acts 1:1-3). The Arabian Desert referred to here lay east of Damascus and extended down to the Sinai Peninsula. |
Contacts at Jerusalem 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.) 21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God in me.
Contacts At Jerusalem v. 18 After Three Years – Paul spent the first three years of his conversion in the Arabian Desert and briefly in Damascus as God prepared him for the ministry he would later have among the Gentiles. To See Peter – Peter was a key leader of the 12 apostles, and Paul went to him to confirm that what he had been taught over the previous three years was in harmony with what the apostles were teaching. v. 19 James, the Lord's Brother – After the virgin birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph had other children (Mark 6:3, Mt. 13:55). James initially rejected the claims of Jesus as Messiah, but after seeing Jesus resurrected, he became a key leader in the early church (John 7:5; 1 Cor. 15:7; Acts 12:17, 15:13, 21:18). v. 20 I Do Not Lie – Evidently these Judaizers who sought to undermine Paul accused him of lying about his conversion experience and close relationship with the other apostles.
| v. 21 Regions Of Syria and Cilicia – Syria was located north of Israel, and Cilicia was located west of Syria. Paul spent his childhood in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia. He spent several years proclaiming Christ in these two areas. Barnabas later chose Paul to assist in ministering to the first established Gentile church in Antioch in the region of Syria (Acts 11:20-26). v. 22 Churches Of Judea – Judea was located in Israel. Paul pointed out that he had remained in the Gentile regions of Syria and Cilicia during the early years of his ministry. v. 24 Glorified God in Me – Paul referred to his miraculous conversion and subsequent ministry as something the Jewish Christians of Judea saw as a direct result of God's glorious work in his life. He pointed this out because the Judaizers sought to represent him as a renegade Jew who knew little about Judaism and was not recognized by the Jewish believers. |
