The book of Galatians was written to a people who lived in what is now modern day Turkey. It is thought to be written between 53-56 A.D. The picture on the left is of the time of the Apostle Paul. In this commentary we will analysis the content and the doctrine of the letter. You can read along with a Parallel bible for futher study if you wish here. All the scriptures will be bold text. We begin with Paul’s greeting, |
CHAPTER 1 1. Paul, an apostle not sent from men nor through the agency of 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 our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen. Notice Paul was not sent by man, but was sent by Jesus Christ who was risen from the dead and by God. Also notice that Jesus gave himself so that he might rescue (ie. to save or deliver) us from this present evil age. In other words His death on the cross was meant to accomplish our salvation so that we wouldn't continue to live according to the evil way the world was living. 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. Paul is upset because the Galatians are turning to another Gospel and he tells them that those who do are with out God. Let’s see if we can figure out what this Gospel, this good news is. We know here that it is by the grace of God. 11 For I would have you know, 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 I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. We see here that not only was Paul sent by God, but was also taught his Gospel by God, by revelation. Unlike the other Apostles who were taught by Jesus when He was alive, Paul had been taught by the risen Christ. Paul had been transformed by God because he use to be a Pharisee and up until his conversion he had been persecuting the Church. 15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, Notice it was the grace of God that saved Paul, however this grace transformed him. Paul tells us here that Jesus was actually working through him. Quote, “was pleased to reveal His Son in me.” This was a new revelation of God. Moses had never spoken of God being in us. It was reveal to Paul that this was a fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-33. The New Covenant. 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23 but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they were glorifying God because of me. When Paul converted to Christianity he did not get taught by the Apostles but it seems he went to Arabia where he received revelation about the faith of Christ. CHAPTER 2 1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. On Paul’s second visit to Jerusalem to see the Apostles. Paul reveals the Gospel he has been preaching. He wants their approval to make sure the work he was doing wasn’t for nothing. There was only one faith, Paul wanted to make sure he was bringing people into the assembly of believers correctly. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. When they first arrived with the Apostles, Paul’s companion even though he was Greek was not compelled by the Apostles to be circumcised. 4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. 5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. Some fake converts had came into the Christian assembly and tried to compel the Christian’s to follow the Law of Moses. 6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) – well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. After consulting with the Apostles Paul was convinced that his gospel was in fact correct. In fact Paul didn’t really seem to get much more than the revelation he had received from Jesus Himself. 7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised 8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor – the very thing I also was eager to do. Paul was reassured he was on the right path and had the blessing of the Church at Jerusalem. Together they worked to build the church. They were in unity. 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? At a latter date when Peter came to Antioch it was Peter who needed correction as he acted one way with the Jews and another with the gentiles. This doesn’t mean they were at odds with one another, Paul was just exhorting Peter to be true to the faith. 15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. Paul saw the Jewish nation as those who were or should be living righteously because they were instructed by the Law. But conclude that it was faith in Christ that made us right with God. Here is were Paul really starts to get into the doctrine of the Cross. 17 “But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! 18 “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. Paul is saying If we claim to be Christians and are found to be sinners then we have misunderstood the Cross. Because we as Christians are crucified with Christ but we also live to God. 20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. We are supposed to die with Christ and then it is Christ who lives in us, He is supposed to live out the rest of our life with us. Because He is resurrected He can live with us helping us to overcome sin. 21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” This is the true grace of God, grace that transforms us. This is righteousness we are supposed to become. Not by our righteousness but His manifested in us. This is the righteous of God revealed apart from the Law. CHAPTER 3 1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain – if indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? It is having the Spirit of God that perfects us, not by us trying to follow the Law. Our salvation is by having faith in Christ but it is also by living by the Spirit. Being led by the Spirit. 6 Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the Nations will be Blessed in You.” This is the blessing! To accept what God has done for us through Christ and to be led by His Spirit. 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. 10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, to perform them.” 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The Righteous Man shall live by Faith.” 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us – for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” – 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Christ redeemed us from the curse of Law, by the Cross, in order that the blessing of Abraham might come. Receiving the Spirit is an act of God, He performs because we have faith in Christ. This is part of our salvation. 15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. Christ is the recipient of the promises and He passes them on to who He wants to. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. The covenant of promise came first so the Law could not over ride it. 19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. Law was added because of sin and put their until the Messiah came who was the heir of the promise. 20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? (May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Paul continues to reiterate that we are saved by faith. But what is this faith he is talking about? More on it in the next verses. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. We are children of God through faith in Christ. However in order to be God’s children we must be clothed with Christ, which literally means when someone looks at us they should see a Christ like person. And because of this we are heirs of the promise. CHAPTER 4 1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and manages until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. Until Christ came this inheritance could not be fully realized. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” When Christ came it was then that we could receive this adoption by faith but also by God sending forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. 8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. Paul is saying they became the children of God through Christ. Why are they going back to being slaves to something that is not from God? 12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; 14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? Paul urges them to become like him and not to reject the truth. As we know Jesus said, the truth will set us free. 17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you – 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. 21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? These false Christians wanted the Galatians to follow them instead of following Christ. 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, Barren Woman who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor, for more numerous are the children of the desolate than of the one who has a husband.” 28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the Bondwoman and her Son, for the Son of the Bondwoman shall not be an Heir with the Son of the Free Woman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman. Paul was telling the Galatians that the existing Jewish nation was in bondage and were not the children of the promise but that it was through Christ that we become the children of the promise. CHAPTER 5 1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. What is this freedom Paul is talking about? 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. Is it something we are still waiting for? 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. 7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? It is not the Law. It is being loving. As Christains do we have to obey something or someone? Yes we have to obey the truth. But it is not you or me doing it. It is the grace of God in us. This is the Good news. 8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves. This grace comes from God through faith in Christ. 13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. It enables us to live by the golden rule, “Love your neighbor as yourself” 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. If we don’t walk according to the Spirit then we will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. This is what a Christian should look like. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. The best way to sum this up is with a quote from another letter of Paul and we will see that his message is consistent. 2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” It literally means if we claim to be Christians then God should be making us into people who are like Christ. Is God doing this in your life? If not, then we need to examine our faith in Christ. CHAPTER 6 1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Do we have to fulfill the Law of Christ? 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5 For each one will bear his own load. Yes of course, we are supposed to be helping each other accomplish this. Anyone teaching something else doesn’t understand the true Gospel. 6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. I believed I have sowed to the Spirit in this commentary. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Don’t lose heart. “It is done.” 11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. It is the new creation you become, That is what really matters! 16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Let God rule in your life, This is the blessing! 17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen. Paul, a true Apostle.
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