Galatians (Written)

Wednesday, 2 March 2016

They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. Galatians 2:10

News Flash: This verse must be kept in its proper context.

Paul has just acknowledged that he was the designated Apostle to the Gentiles. In this acknowledgment, he shows that he and Barnabas were given “the right hand of fellowship” from James, Cephas, and John – the pillars of the church in Jerusalem. In this capacity, he was ordained as the one to go forth, evangelizing the Gentiles. However, they asked that he not forget one important thing which is “that we should remember the poor.”

The “we” in this verse means Paul and Barnabas. The context shows this is not a general “we” meaning the whole church. Additionally, the “we” was to extend to those who they evangelized, meaning the Gentiles. Further, there was intent behind this. The “poor” is not speaking of the poor in general, but the poor among the Jewish believers. Paul was being asked to make an effort to bind these categories of Christians together through this remembrance of the poor.

The admonition was given by these pillars of the church for a couple of reasons. The first is that there may be charges that Paul had such a disposition towards the Gentiles that he would forget his own Jewish roots altogether. And secondly, that even if he never forgot his roots, they desired that he would be willing to actively bless those from whom the Gentiles received their spiritual heritage.

The record shows that Paul was careful to take this to heart. His later dealings in Acts, Romans, and 1 & 2 Corinthians shows that he was faithful to this charge. His words in Romans perfectly reflect this attitude –

“But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. ²⁶ For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. ²⁷ It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.” Romans 15:25-27

Concerning our News Flash above, the context here does not concern assisting the poor elsewhere. This does not mean that it is wrong to help them, and other admonitions in the Bible show that helping the poor is a notable thing to do. But this verse is especially dealing with the poor who are Christians, and in particular those from whom our spiritual heritage is derived. At this time, it was Jews; later in church history, it applies to those who have carried the message on to other people groups.

Paul finishes his thought on this by saying that it was “the very thing which I also was eager to do.” Vincent’s Word Studies notes, “Lit. which, this very thing. The expression is peculiarly emphatic, and brings out the contrast between Judaising hostility and Paul’s spirit of loving zeal.”

As always, Paul’s words have intent. What he relays in this verse is directed towards the Galatians in particular. They had turned their allegiances towards the false apostles and away from Paul and his true gospel message. One of the points which Paul uses to show that the Judaizers were concerned with power and control rather than true evangelism is that they failed to follow through with this one admonition of the leaders of the church. Paul, however, never failed to adhere to it.

Life application: Context is king. When someone cites a verse such as this one, it must be carefully evaluated in order to ensure that its actual purpose is understood and adhered to. Too many churches will use a verse like this as an appeal to a social gospel for helping the poor. Although helping the poor is certainly a wonderful thing, we are not to tear verses out of context in order to justify our personal agendas.

Lord, it is a great thing to do good deeds and to help others, but it often becomes a means of feeling good about the things we have done and less about bringing glory to You. Churches with a social gospel, or a social agenda, are often the most self-serving churches of all. Help us to have a heart for You first and foremost. After that, we will be the type to faithfully let others know that what we do is for the sake of the name of Jesus and for bringing many to salvation through His name. Help us to have our good deeds properly directed. Amen.

Tuesday, 1 March 2016

…and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Galatians 2:9

These words follow naturally after the parenthetical insert of verse 8. To show the logical sequence of thought, follow the verses without the parenthesis –

“But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter … and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”

Paul’s words show the elevation of his apostolic ministry to the same level as that of Peter; recognized as such by “James, Cephas, and John.” James is named first as the leader of the church at this time. It was he who rendered the final decision at the Council in Jerusalem in Acts 15. Next “Cephas” is mentioned. This is Peter’s other name. He, along with John, was a special part of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Together, they were considered as leaders in their own right.

James is mentioned first when a particular act of the church is referred to. However, Peter or “Cephas” is mentioned first by Paul when speaking of the missionary function of the church. Concerning these three, Paul notes that they “seemed to be pillars.” Vincent’s Word Studies says that this is better translated as, “who are in repute as pillars.” The term “seemed to be” gives the impression that such really wasn’t the case. However, they were the pillars, and their reputation noted this.

The word “pillars” gives the obvious mental picture of those who support a body or an organization. They would be those who kept the organization strong and properly structured. In other words, Paul’s naming of these three is intended to show that these great representatives were in full approval of his ministry. They “perceived the grace that had been given to” him. Christ had set his seal of approval on Paul and his ministry, and they therefore gave both him “and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.”

In the Bible, the right hand is the prominent one. It signifies approval, power, and authority. In their eyes, Paul’s apostolic ministry was fully qualified to receive this status. Barnabas is mentioned here because it was he who traveled with Paul and who helped establish the church at Galatia. Therefore, the message these two carried to them was fully sanctioned by the leaders of the church. They were to go “to the Gentiles” while James, Cephas, and John would continue to evangelize “the circumcised.”

Paul has carefully and methodically shown that his ministry was fully approved of by the very leaders of the church. If this is true, then anyone who showed up afterwards with a different message could not claim that Paul’s message was invalid. He is building his case against the false apostles and their false message which had come to infect the church at Galatia. This is important for us to understand because this letter is included in the Bible. It is a portion of the record and witness concerning the ministry of Paul to the Gentile-led church. To dismiss Paul is to stand opposed to the doctrines of Christ Himself.

Life application: Don’t believe the false teachers of today who dismiss the words of Paul as having been “corrupted” by some later body (such as the RCC) who had an agenda to pervert the word of God. This is not an uncommon teaching among Judaizers, but it is without any biblical or historical support at all. Paul’s words have been accurately maintained and stand as the necessary instruction for the church age. To state otherwise is to call into question the competence of the Lord who has given these words to 2000 years of church history.

O Lord God, help us to reject those who call into question the truth of Your word. Too many people want to tear apart this beautiful gift You have given to us. It is so easy to fall into such a trap if we are unwilling to do the hard work and to study to see if the words are true or not. And so help us to set our priorities, and to be willing to study in order to show ourselves approved concerning the truth and reliability of the Holy Bible. Yes, help us in this, O God. Amen.

Monday, 29 February 2016

…(for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), Galatians 2:8

This verse is parenthetical, and it is rightly placed that way by the NKJV. It is an explanation of the preceding verse which said, “…when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter.” What Peter had done though the power of the Holy Spirit was also accomplished by Paul, demonstrating and proving his apostolic commission. Further, Paul’s words place himself on the same level, in all ways, as that of Peter.

Again, he is doing this for a reason. He is demonstrating to those in Galatia that his ministry is valid, and therefore the gospel message that he preached to them is valid. The purpose of his words is to refute the false brethren who had crept in and proclaimed a gospel of works, which is no gospel at all. Peter’s name is being brought in for two separate reasons. First, because he was well known as an apostle with great authority; and secondly, because of what Paul will show about him in the verses ahead.

Taken together, these points will verify that Paul’s message is sound and is to be listened to and adhered to. To demonstrate that what Paul did is comparable to everything that Peter did, the book of Acts meticulously records their workings. Following them and placing them side by side shows the truth of Paul’s words –

Act/Chapter

1. Peter’s work began by the Holy Spirit (2)
1. Paul’s work began by the Holy Spirit (13)

2. Peter was thought to be drunk and & then explains himself (2)
2. Paul was thought to be mad and then explains himself (26)

3. Peter’s first sermon begins new section of book (2)
3. Paul’s first sermon begins new section of book (13)

4. Peter has a time of work, preaching, and then persecution (2-11)
4. Paul has a time of work, preaching, and then persecution (13-19)

5. Peter has trouble after healing a man lame from birth (3)
5. Paul has trouble after healing a man lame from birth (14)

6. Peter says, “Silver and gold have I none” (3)
6. Paul says, “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold” (20)

7. Peter’s shadow heals (5)
7. Paul’s handkerchief heals (19)

8. Peter is arrested in the temple and taken to Sanhedrin (4, 5)
8. Paul is arrested in the temple and taken to Sanhedrin (21-23)

9. Peter confronts Simon the sorcerer (8)
9. Paul confronts Elymas the sorcerer (13)

10. Peter performs an exorcism (5)
10. Paul performs an exorcism (16)

11. Peter raises Tabitha from the dead (9)
11. Paul raises Eutychus from the dead (20)

12. Peter lays hands for reception of Spirit (8)
12. Paul lays hands for reception of Spirit (19)

13. Peter worshipped (10)
13. Paul worshipped (14)

14. Peter imprisoned with miraculous escape (12)
14. Paul imprisoned with miraculous escape (16)

15. Angel stood by Peter (12)
15. Angel stood by Paul (27)

16. Peter called by vision to preach in Caesarea (10)
16. Paul called by vision to preach in Macedonia (16)

17. Peter’s success brings Jewish jealousy (5)
17. Paul’s success brings Jewish jealousy (13)

18. Peter heals the bedridden Aeneas (9)
18. Paul heals the bedridden father of Publius (28)

19. Peter ordains deacons (6)
19. Paul ordains elders (14)

20. Peter is “filled with the Spirit” (4)
20. Paul is “filled with the Spirit” (13)

Peter (twice) the Apostle to the Jews
Paul (four times) the Apostle to the Gentiles

—————————————————————

1-12   – Peter mentioned 57 times (Simon 4)  // Paul mentioned 0 (Saul 21)
13-28 – Peter is mentioned once (Simon once)  // Paul mentioned 132 (Saul twice)

Life application: If you know someone who is caught up in the legalism of “returning to the law” such as in an aberrant sect or a Judaizing messianic church/synagogue, your greatest weapon in correcting their error is to show them, directly from the word, the movement of the focus of Acts from Peter to Paul. Then take them to Galatians for correction. If they still won’t pay heed, show them in Hebrews where it explicitly says that the law is obsolete, annulled, and set aside. If they still won’t listen, then you have done your job. They are brainwashed and would rather listen to men than God’s word. Drop them from your fellowship, but not from your prayers.

Thank You Lord God for being there for us every step of this difficult life we live. The days may be marvelous at times, but there is always a challenge or a frustration that creeps in and takes over the moments of joy. In those times, we still have Your word ready to fill us with that joy once again. Knowing that everything is already settled, and that the last page restores Paradise lost, makes every difficult time seem manageable! Thank You for this wonderful assurance. Amen.

Sunday, 28 February 2016

But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter… Galatians 2:7

The words, “But on the contrary” are given to contrast his previous words of verse 6 which said, “…for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.” There was nothing deficient in Paul’s gospel message, nor was there anything unsound or inappropriate. Instead, just as he noted, those in Jerusalem “added nothing to me.” His message was complete, sound, and in line with the truth of Jesus Christ. His commission was valid and there was no need to add anything to it for it to be complete.

Because of this he says, “…they (meaning the leaders in Jerusalem) saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised has been committed to me.” The light of what Christ was doing through Paul truly dawned on them at this time. It was already known that the Gentiles could be a part of the church. This was seen in the account of Cornelius’ conversion in Acts 10 & 11. And even more than this, it came through Peter’s evangelism rather than Paul’s.

There could be no disputing that what Paul was doing was both correct and in line with the purposes of God because of this occurrence between Peter and Cornelius. And yet, the focus of the evangelism of “the uncircumcision” belonged not to Peter, but to Paul. He was uniquely qualified to carry out this ministry and it had been committed to him. The fact that Paul is specifically noted as the Apostle to the Gentiles is recorded both implicitly and explicitly numerous times in the New Testament, but three specific references are found in Romans 11:13, 1 Timothy 2:7, and 2 Timothy 1:11. These, along with this note in Galatians 2:7 are sufficient evidence of the specificity of Paul’s ministry.

Continuing on, he next notes, “…as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter.” What this means is that Peter was not only an apostle to the circumcised (meaning the Jews), but he is the main apostle to the Jews. The singling out of Peter in this way is used to show this, and it is well attested to in the structure and layout of the book of Acts. Acts 1-12 highlight Peter and his ministry to an exceptional degree. However, chapters 13-28 highlight Paul and his ministry in the same way. Everything that Peter accomplishes in his section of Acts is repeated in a marvelous way by Paul in his section.

Having said this, it does not mean that Peter’s ministry was solely one of evangelizing Jews (as was noted concerning Cornelius above), nor was Paul’s ministry solely one of evangelizing Gentiles. There was also not a different gospel transmitted by Peter than that of Paul. Rather, there is, as the Bible scholar Lightfoot notes, “…a distinction of sphere, and not a difference of type.” This is absolutely certain by Paul’s comments in Galatians as well as Peter’s comments in his second epistle –

“…and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.” 2 Peter 3:15, 16

Because of the sphere of influence which the Bible marks out between Peter and Paul, it cannot go without notice or mentioning that the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrine of Peter being the first Pope is simply nuts. The Bible clearly shows that Peter was the Apostle to the Jews. Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles. As Peter’s message was to the Jews, then it would make as much sense as a baseball hoop for the Roman Catholic Church to claim its roots in the message of Peter.

There are many logical arguments for denying their claim concerning Peter, this being just one of them, but it is a convincing one. The structure of the book of Acts, the layout of the epistles in the New Testament, and the dispensational model of redemptive history, all show the truth that Peter’s message was intended for the early church, followed by a time when Paul’s letters would be church doctrine, and then Peter’s letters would again take on added significance after the rapture of the church.

Life application: Paul’s words are doctrine for the Gentile-led church age. All Scripture is God-breathed and all of it is useful for doctrine, reproof, learning about God, etc. However, not all of it applies in the same way at all times. Context is king in biblical interpretation and Paul’s letters are specifically designed for this dispensation of time.

Marvelous, O God! You are marvelous. You give us rain in its season. You provide us the day and the night so that we can work according to the seasons. You bring out the right weather at the right time so that the flowers bloom, the crops grow, and the animals know when to move and where to move. You give us our own seasons of life where our eyes can behold all things a bit differently as we change. Everything is so wonderfully perfect because of Your wisdom. Marvelous, O God! You are marvelous. Amen.

Saturday, 27 February 2016

But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. Galatians 2:6

Paul’s words in this verse appear to be a little harsher than they are in the original Greek. It seems as if he is unnecessarily dismissive of the apostles, but he is simply being logical about his calling and their relation to it.

He is now tying his words back to verse 2 after his parenthetical thought concerning Titus which comprised verses 3-5. He begins with “But from those who seemed to be something.” This is speaking of “those who were of reputation” in verse 2. However, the verb should be present tense, “those who are of reputation.” They not only had authority in the past at the Council in Jerusalem, they continued to have authority at the present, even over those in Galatia.

Paul continues though. Despite this authority, “…whatever they were, it makes no difference to me.” This is not intended as a statement of diminishing their authority. Rather, it is a statement concerning the Source of his. They had nothing to do with where Paul received his commission. Instead, it came apart from them and directly from Christ. The words, “…it makes no difference to me” are intended to show this. Whether they approved of his message or not, the matter had been settled by the same One who commissioned them.

This is supported by his next thought, “God shows personal favoritism to no man.” This is a Hebraism. The words “personal favoritism” literally means, “to accept the face.” In the Old Testament, it could be taken in a positive or a negative way. In the New Testament, it is only used in a negative way (the other such use is in Luke 20:21).

What it means is that God doesn’t look at a person and accept him based on externals; He is completely impartial in how He judges a person. In this case, God had selected Paul for His own sovereign reasons and that was the end of the matter. Because of this he says, “…for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.” There was nothing the other apostles could add to Paul’s actual authority with their approval, and there was nothing that they could diminish from it with their disapproval. Instead, he stood approved by God through his selection as an apostle.

Life application: God doesn’t look at externals when judging us. So why should we? How often we get caught up in following a teacher or preacher because he is famous, handsome, eloquent, a great orator, on TV, or for whatever reason! We get star-struck too easily. This is not a proper way of evaluating doctrine. Instead, we should evaluate doctrine based on how the presenter’s words match with Scripture. Let us keep this valuable lesson near to us and always test what we hear based on the word of God alone.

Lord God, Your word sure is marvelous. It comforts us in our times of sadness. It inspires us when we are lacking motivation, it corrects us when we do wrong, it edifies us when we have done what is right, it restores our souls when we are empty, and it fills us to overflowing as we continue to read it. Thank You for Your marvelous word which fills our hungry souls with delight! Help us to pick it up daily and peruse its marvelous pages. Amen.