GALATIANS --Chapter 1
Introduction:
1. Paul's main topic is the proving of his apostleship.
I. A solemn declaration that he was not picked or
commissioned by man; a general salutation, 1:1-5.
II. Astonishment that the Galatians had so soon forsaken his
instructions; curses on the false teachers, 1:6-10.
III. To show again he was not appointed by men, he had received
his instruction directly from God. 1:11-24.
2. SALUTATION TO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA:
a. Paul does not commend these churches.
b. In every other letter he begins with a salutation coupled
with a commendation, but here Paul plunges into the
question at hand.
(vs 1) He hits at the very problem in the first verse:"I am an
apostle, not from man, but through Christ."
Highest authority.
"raised from the dead" -- the very core of the gospel. It is
the resurrection upon which all else depends.
(vs 2) "brethren" -- possibly Silas, Timothy, Luke; those of Paul's
companions; those traveling with Paul.
"churches" -- one of the few letters addressed to a group of
churches, various congregations in Galatia; possibly
Iconium, Lystra, Derbe (Acts 14).
(vs 3) "peace" -- Where else could peace come from?
The only peace is that which comes as a result of the
Word of God working through the life of the
individual.
Man cannot give perfect peace.
Phil. 4:7 -- "Peace which passeth all understanding..
Matt. 5:9 -- "Blessed are the peacemakers...." Those
who have made peace with their God.
(vs 4) "Gave himself for our sins..."
Main doctrine of the Gospel. Stated at the very beginning.
Christ gift was voluntary. What a precious thought.
Surrendered his life -- 1 Tim 2:6; Mt. 20:28;
Jn 10:17; Titus 2:14, etc.
Why go back to the old Law when we have a loving
Savior who gave himself for us.
"Our sins" -- not his own, He did no sin, guile, 1 Pet. 2:22.
"delivered us out of this..."
Idea of rescue, emancipation, cf. 4:31; 5:1, 12, freed.
Separation from sin.
Results of Christ's death -- freedom from bondage, Law.
He has given us the road of escape. We have no one to
blame but ourself is we are not delivered.
"present evil world (age)" --
Delivered from a world so calloused by sin; corrupt
passions, false opinions, corrupt desires, love for
money, etc., where God is not obeyed, a world not
desirous of doing righteousness.
Delivered to sit with Christ -- Eph 2:2, 6-7.
Rom. 12:2 -- "Be not fashioned according to....
Jn. 17:15 -- Prayer of Christ to keep them from evil
"will of the father" --
Not human will, plan, but Divine purpose. This was His
plan since the fall in the garden.
(vs 5) "To whom be the glory" --
Let Him have the praise and honor for the plan and for its
execution.
Do we give Him the glory?
Or perhaps do we attempt to steal some for ourselves?
False teachers were saying they were somebody; taking self
glory and honors.
ASTONISHMENT THAT THE GALATIANS HAD SO SOON FORSAKEN CHRIST (6-10):
(vs 6) Paul wastes no time in attacking the problem:
"I marvel" --wonder, perfect surprise. not so much reproof as
astonishment.
"so soon" -- not much time, short period,
"removed" -- changed sides, rebels, revolting, traitors,
The had moved from the firm, true foundation, to the weak,
the sand. cf. Mt. 7:24-27--Wise and foolish builders
"from him that called you"-- God, Christ, through Paul.
Paul had presented the gospel to them.
God calls -- 1 Thess. 2:12; 5:24; 2 Thess 2:14; 2 Tim.1:9
"grace of Christ" -- the unmerited favor of Christ. The plan
to save man included.
"a different gospel" -- The false teachers claimed to have the
gospel, but it was not the same; it was of a different
order or kind. Different from what Paul preached.
They said one must be circumcised, keep the Law.
(vs 7) "Not another gospel" -- Not the same as that which Paul had
brought to them, Rom. 1:16.
It (this different gospel) could not save.
The false teachers sought to bind part of the Law.
There is only ONE GOSPEL of Christ.
"trouble you" -- shake your allegiance to Christ.
Unsettling your minds by teaching a different doctrine.
Had brought doubt into their minds; questioned Paul's
teachings, thus Christ's teachings.
"pervert" -- would turn you away, aside. A polluted message.
Cf. A little salt in a glass of water "pollutes" or
"perverts" its ability to quench thirst.
(vs 8) 2nd Class conditional sentence: "Condition contrary to fact"
Taking an impossible and saying even if it were so.
The false teachers had said Paul had changed his teaching-
--Even "WE." But, even if he did he was cursed before
God for so doing.
Rank, character, talent, eloquence, or piety of a preacher
does not of necessity prove his teaching to be true;
even an "angel."
The gospel that Paul preached was a "certified gospel."
Certified by Heaven.
(vs 9) Paul emphasizes by stating a second time.
NOTE: This thought applies to all of the doctrines that
have come forth since the days of the inspired
apostles.
It is impossible for man to improve upon the provisions
set forth by the mind of God; yet still people try.
Churches (religious bodies) do not have the right to add
any new doctrines or decrees, as they have. Cannot
improve upon God's ways.
QUOTATION from Gibbons: "A rule of faith, or a competent
guide to heaven, must be able to instruct in all the
truths necessary for salvation. Now the Scriptures
alone do not contain all the truths which a Christian
is bound to believe, nor do they explicitly enjoin all
the duties which he is obliged to practice. (p.72)
"We must, therefore, conclude that the Scriptures
alone cannot be a sufficient guide and rule of faith
because they cannot, at any time, be within the reach
of every inquirer; because they are not of themselves
clear and intelligible even in matters of the highest
importance, and because they do not contain all the
truths necessary for salvation."
Faith of our Father, The
James Cardinal Gibbons, (pp. 72, 73.)
(vs 10) "Now" -- might suggest that before Paul's conversion he had
been striving to please men, but now.....
False teachers had alluded to the fact he was now seeking
to please men. Cf. 6:17; 2 Cor 11:23-28. "Sufferings"
Still hitting at the thought of his commission coming from
God and not from man. cf. 1 Thess. 2:4.
Reason why the false teachers were gaining favor-- they
were pleasing men. That is the way you build a crowd.
Give the people what they want. Scratch their itching
ears. 2 Tim. 4:1-4.
"If" -- 2nd class conditional sentence; contrary to fact.
"I'm not pleasing men, but if that were possible,
which it isn't."
Conclusion:
(1) for a man to please God, he cannot please man.
(2) A Christian must act from a higher motive than man.
(3) If we find ourself pleasing men all the time, then we
should examine ourself.
(4) World seeks to please man, Christian seek to please
God. Not that we strive to make enemies, but our
standard is different from the standard of man.
PAUL NOW PROCEEDS TO SHOW HE WAS APPOINTED BY GOD AND HAD RECEIVED
HIS INSTRUCTIONS FROM GOD AND NOT FROM MEN: (vs. 11-24)
(vs 11) Paul begins to expound of the affirmation made in verse 1.
Paul's message was not a lesson that was learned, but a
revelation that was given -- in perfection.
Paul's message had no opportunity to be defiled or debased by
passing through other men's mouths. Direct revelation.
(vs 12) "taught it" -- Paul did not spend time in school learning
this message, nor at the feet of some teacher.
"revelation" -- revealed directly from heaven. by the Spirit.
(vs 13) Paul had been reared in the rigid school of legalism--
Gamaliel. Acts 22:3; 5:34.
He had been taught so strongly that he put his whole body
against anything that differed with his early teachings.
Paul shows the great contrast between Jewish religion and
Christianity. His knowledge of the religion of Christ
could not have come by his early instructions by the Jews
"beyond measure" -- very zealous. cf. Acts 7:57--8:3.
(vs 14) "advanced"- (K.J.-"profited") Not that Paul gained any
blessing or such like. He was outstanding in whatever he
undertook.
"traditions" -- doctrines of the Pharisees, usually learned
orally. cf. Acts 23:6-- a Pharisee.
NOTE: TODAY many are zealous towards traditions of fathers;
the customs that have been handed down. Many are zealous
towards parents religion, etc.
(vs 15) A divine purpose of God. Paul traced all of his hopes and
influences to God.
"Paul looks back on his parentage and early years as a
providential preparation for his future ministry; this
view is justified by his antecedents. By birth at once a
Hebrew, a Greek and Roman citizen, educated in the Hebrew
Scriptures and in Greek learning, he combined in his own
person the most essential requisites for an Apostle to the
Gentiles. He was further moulded by the spiritual
discipline of an intense, though mistaken, zeal for the
Law of his God, which issued in bitter remorse. By this
career he was fitted to become a chosen vessel to bear the
name of Christ before the Gentile world. (Greek
Expository, Galatians, p. 154).
Jeremiah was chosen before his birth, Jer. 1:5. Moses, John
the baptizer. Each played a predominate part in revealing
God's mind to mankind.
Three steps in the apostle's life:
(1) Purpose of God before his birth.
(2) Conversion -- the interposition of God in his calling
(3) Apostleship was especially to the Gentiles.
This verse is often used by predestinationalists and fore-
ordainationalists to prove that men are destined before
our birth. Either to salvation or condemnation.
But, we must remember that this is a special case in God's
plan to save man. The gospel began by a miracle, Acts 2.
In fact, everything began by miracle, but continues
through His laws. Man is now called by the gospel --
2 Thess. 2:14; 2 Cor 5:11.
NOTE: Although Paul's case was special, he did the same thing
that all others must do to receive the remission of
sins. Acts 22:16.
"grace" -- God's favor toward Paul.
(vs 16) "reveal" -- Christ was revealed unto him, made an apostle.
"straightway" -- proving his appointment was not from men.
Paul's message came directly from heaven.
(vs 17) He did not consult nor confer with the apostles.
Even upon his return from Arabia, he preached in the city of
Damascus before ever contacting an apostle.
(vs 18) "three years" -- three years passed between Paul's conversion
and his contact with an apostle.
"fifteen days" -- not much could be learned in only 15 days.
Acts 9:23, 25, 26. cf. Acts 22:18.
(vs 19) "save James" -- James, a blood brother to Jesus by Mary, Mt.
8:55. A prominent person in Jerusalem. Acts 12:17;
Acts 15:13; 21:18; Gal. 2:9, 12; 1 Cor. 15:7.
The phrase "Save one," "except one" -- may either state an
exception to the preceding negative, or merely qualify it.
Footnote in Revised Version, "but only James..."
(vs 20) Paul confirms that these things were the truth.
A solemn affirmation with God as a witness. cf. Rom 9:1.
He was writing in the sight of God, with God watching, in
fact, revealing every word.
(vs 21) cf. Acts 9:30 -- Tarsus was in Cilicia; still showing a lack
of contact with the apostles.
(vs 22) Still driving the fact that he did not receive his views from
man. Personally unknown by the apostles, churches
around Jerusalem.
"were in Christ" -- phrase still agrees with the plan of
salvation.
Rom. 6:3; Gal 3:27 -- How one gains entrance into Christ
(vs 23) Had not seen Paul -- only heard of him.
NOTE: The great change in Paul's life -- REPENTANCE.
"havoc" -- laid waste.
"the faith" -- used in two senses in N.T.
(1) The faith -- the gospel, that doctrine of the
death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
(2) faith -- one's own personal conviction in Christ
(vs 24) Although Paul had not received his teaching from the
apostles, he still had their entire confidence. They
praised God for his conversion and work.
NOTE:
(1) A Christian must be ready to receive a new convert, no
matter how profane or vile their lives might have been, if
he/she truly repents and obeys Christ.
(2) Christians should praise and glorify God when one is
converted.
(3) We, even to this day, should glorify God for Paul's
conversion. What an influence he has made on the world.
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