Galatians 1

Thursday, 11 February 2016

And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. Galatians1:14

Paul continues here with his qualifications as a true “Jew” to be fawned over, if that was appropriate to occur. Again, the reason for this line of thought is to show those in Galatia that just because someone possessed all of the qualifications of a true “Jew,” it had no bearing on whether they were teaching the true gospel message or not. He will continue to show himself as the “standard” by which all other such Jews would be more than willing to gauge themselves if these were the things which mattered.

First he says, “And I advanced in Judaism.” This means the teachings of Judaism. It included more than the cultural aspects of that life, which any Jew would be aware of. Instead, it included the fullest knowledge of those things. Any Jew would know to observe the Passover, but Paul knew the reasons behind the observance in the most detailed manner. Any Jew would know to wear particular clothing, but Paul would understand “why” they did so. These, and countless other precepts, were the things he faithfully studied.

Going on, he said that such knowledge was “beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation.” He, along with many other students, was trained at the feet of Gamaliel, a great Jewish rabbi. And yet, he excelled beyond them. He had a greater knowledge, and a greater application of the knowledge, than many who were his contemporaries. This means those of his age and generation who set about to advance in Judaism.

In his advancement, he was “more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” The word for “zealous” is zélótés. This word gives the idea of boiling over with fervency. It comes from zéloó, which refers to the sound of boiling. Paul’s fervency for his life as a strict and adherent Jew was the epitome of such fervency, exceeding those around him as he strived to be the very best adherent possible. This included “the traditions of my fathers.”

These “traditions” are the things which Jesus rebuked the leaders of Israel for. They were those things which Jewish life and culture adhered to, but which were beyond that of Scripture. Whatever laws were set down by the religious elite, Paul was the first to agree to them and to strictly adhere to them. He wanted, in all ways, to be thought of as the cream of this legalistic society.

If those at Galatia wanted someone from Jewish circles to emulate, Paul would be the cat’s meow of the one to follow after. But Paul turned from all such things and pursued Christ and His gospel of grace. These notes of his past life are intended to get those in Galatia to see the futility of doing anything but that as well.

Life application: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.

Heavenly Father, how easy it is to get star struck by a fancy preacher, an eloquent orator, or a noted figure within Christian circles. In doing so, we inevitably will take our eyes off of Jesus in our pursuit of this notable person. And how unwise that is! All are fallible; all are prone to fall; all are filled with a constant stream of error. Let us never take our eyes from the One who is infinitely glorious in order to set them on something which is anything but! Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Wednesday, 10 February 2016

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. Galatians 1:13

This is a transitional verse between the thought of the Source of Paul’s reception of the gospel and that of a description concerning his conversion and subsequent learning and evangelistic efforts. In order to make that transition, he describes his life just prior to his conversion.

This description is a reiteration of what those in Galatia already knew. This is evident from the words, “For you have heard.” He is recalling his testimony to them in order to give them a standard of comparison between himself and the false apostles who had come in and infected their churches with the heresy of reinserting Judaism into the church.

In this case, the term “Judaism” is referring to the religious aspects of life among the Jewish people. He fell into that category, and in that capacity he says, “I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.” The term “church” in the Greek is in the singular. Thus it shows a set distinction between the practice of Judaism without Christ, and that of unity within the many churches who are “in Christ” and under His sole authority.

Again, these words are given to show the contrast between life under the old system and that under the new. Paul was under the old and felt he was acting in accord with the will of God at that time. However, the term “I persecuted” is in the imperfect tense and should more appropriately be translated as “I was persecuting.” Paul was acting in a particular manner towards the church when his conduct was suddenly ended and a great change in his actions took place. But just before that change, it was his intent and passion to utterly destroy the church.

The reason for his words is to refute the Judaizers who were reinserting the law. The break had been made between the two. Christ and His church is on a new and separate path from that of the law, which was set aside through His completed work.

Life application: Many people have amazing conversion experiences. They are heading down one path and suddenly their life makes a sudden turn towards Christ. The zeal and passion with which they follow this new path is one of the surest signs of the power of Christ to change the hardened heart. From time to time, go back and evaluate your own conversion. Return to the roots of that time and look to reenergize the zeal you felt. Rekindle the fire once again, and then press on in His power.

Lord God, what a change was wrought in me when I met the risen Christ. I was heading down one path and suddenly my life was on a new and marvelous one. The sky was bluer, the grass was greener, and the sun shined more brightly. The darkness of life took on a new and wonderful tone. Help me to remember that moment and to continue on in it all the days of my life. Help me to be the one who honors You through my devotion to Christ all my days. Amen.

Tuesday, 9 February 2016

For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:12

This verse further bolsters Paul’s statement of verse 1 concerning His apostleship which was “…not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead.” The words he gives now are to show the contrast between his teachings and those of the false apostles who had come into the churches in Galatia and infected them with the doctrines of mere men.

They had first received their false teachings from man, or they had made them up. Either way, the message that those in Galatia had received was of human origin. Paul stood in contrast to this. The “neither” and the “nor” of this verse both independently stem back to the preceding verse. If we tie them independently to that verse, the fuller meaning of what Paul is saying can be seen –

“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man….”

“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man; nor was I taught it,”

In the first instance, he is says that the gospel he preached was not received from man. There was no human origin involved in what he presented to the Galatians. If not human, then it was of divine Source. “The gospel is not from any human as it had come to you.”

In the second instance, he was not actually taught this gospel that he preached as if it were of human origin. “The gospel is not from any human as it came to me.”

Rather, its Source was “through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Paul had been converted on the road to Damascus. At that time, and then for the next three days as he waited to be healed of his blindness, he was able to process what had happened, coming to the realization that all of the Scripture he had been trained in and knew so well pointed to Christ. After this, Ananias came as directed and we read this –

“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Ananias did not give him any instruction; instead, he simply obeyed the Lord and proved the Lord’s message by restoring Paul’s eyesight. Even after this, there is no note of human instruction for Paul. Instead, the account simply states the following –

“Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
¹⁹ So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
²⁰ Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.”

When Paul was strengthened, he immediately went out preaching the Christ; the gospel message. There was no need for him to be taught by a human because the revelation, working through the knowledge he already possessed, and through the proofs of the encounter with the risen Christ, were sufficient to make the gospel known from that point on. Other instances of visions from the Lord are noted as well, but this first divine revelation was enough for Paul to understand and proclaim the gospel to others.

Before going any further, we must ask ourselves, “If Paul’s words are through the revelation of Jesus Christ, then shouldn’t we look for our doctrine in Paul’s letters and not from the misguided teachings of others?” His commission is clearly laid out in Acts. If it is an untruthful account, then the entire book of Acts is suspect and is to be disregarded. However, if Paul’s revelation (and thus his calling as an apostle) is true, then his words must be what the Bible portrays them as, which is the very word of God.

Life application: 1) Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles. This is noted several times in Scripture. 2) This is now the Gentile-led church age. 3) Therefore, Paul’s writings are doctrine for this dispensation of time. They are prescriptive and they are to be accepted as such. Should we fail to accept them as he intends, then we also disregard the One who speaks through him.

Lord God, there is nothing in this life that I desire more than to be right with You. I desire to dwell in Your presence in righteousness and in a manner which will find favor in Your eyes and approval from Your lips. And how can I obtain such a favorable nod of approval? I can only receive it by applying Your instructions to my life in the proper way. Help me in this Lord. Help me to accept Your word, apply it to my life, and to be in a good and happy standing with You at all times. This I pray. Be glorified in me, O God! Amen.

Monday, 8 February 2016

But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. Galatians 1:11

Paul is now going to defend the message he relayed to the Galatians. In doing so, he calls them “brethren.” The word is not without significance. They had departed from the true gospel and instead started following a false one. And yet, he still acknowledges that they are saved. The term “brethren” shows this. The correction then is for those who follow. If they receive a false gospel, they will never be saved. But the salvation of those who first received the true gospel is not in question.

After Paul pronounced his curse on anyone who would present a false gospel, one contrary to the one he first proclaimed to them, he then followed up with, “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” (verse 10).

Verse 11 logically follows after that. He has shown that his intent was not to seek the approval of men, but rather God. As he was so motivated, he truly was “a bondservant of Christ.” If so, then what he preaches is logically what was preached to him and it was the message of Christ. It was “not according to man.” This corresponds to what he said in verse 1, and this is the first in a list of arguments that he will make concerning the gospel he preaches. As Charles Ellicott notes –

“The Apostle now enters at length upon his personal defence against his opponents. He does this by means of an historical retrospect of his career, proving by an exhaustive process the thesis with which he starts that the doctrine taught by him comes from a divine source, and possesses the divine sanction. My doctrine is not human, but divine; it could not be otherwise.”

Where his doctrine came from will be discussed throughout the rest of this chapter and also chapter 2. It will not be from his earlier years (studying as a Pharisee). It won’t be from those who were there at his conversion. It also won’t come from the other apostles, as he will defend in his words. In fact, they were unaware of the scope of Paul’s ministry for quite some time. Eventually though, they will acknowledge him as a true apostle and they will confirm his ministry to the Gentiles.

These points, and many others, will be seen in the verses ahead. As the other apostles confirmed his ministry and his apostleship, then it had to have been a gospel which came directly from the Lord. No other source had been a factor in what he preached, and yet he was fully accepted by the church leaders and also by proofs of the Holy Spirit.

Life application: It needs to be asserted and reasserted that if the letters of Paul are dismissed by the church, then there is no Gentile church. Only he carries the message of our being brought into the commonwealth of Israel. Further, if Paul is dismissed, then Luke must be dismissed because Luke testifies of Paul in Acts. If Luke is dismissed, then the Gospel of Luke must be tossed out, and thus the other two synoptic gospels are also in question. Further, Peter speaks of Paul in one of his epistles, confirming Paul’s letters as Scripture. Therefore, Peter must be tossed out. If Peter is tossed out, then John and Jude must also be tossed out as their writings are dependent on the truth of Peter’s apostleship. Therefore, there is no New Testament at all. Either Paul is who he claimed he is, or we have no hope at all. Shun anyone who rejects the gospel which Paul proclaims.

Heavenly Father, there is nothing more wonderful than having the surety that You are right here with us because of the work of Christ. Through Him, we have an eternal hope which transcends the difficulties of this world. Though we may have pains, troubles, trials, and afflictions, we have a greater hope than any of these things. Thank You! Thank You for the surety we possess because of our hope in the resurrection unto eternal life! Amen.

Sunday, 7 February 2016

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. Galatians 1:10

Paul begins this verse with the Greek arti gar – “For now.” The use of the adverb arti, rather than the more common word for now, nun, is used to indicate “here-and-now; exactly now, in the immediate present” (HELPS Word Studies). James Strong says that it indicates to “draw close together.” For this reason, these words of Paul are probably not speaking of his former life in Judaism which is just now being contrasted with his conduct in Christ. He has been converted for almost a quarter of a century at this point.

Rather, he is making an immediate connection with the words he just expressed –

“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.”

The “right now” attitude which he is expressing gives the thought of, “It is necessary to leave off with my usual way of greeting a church in my letter and to be stern and direct. If the matter weren’t so urgent, I would give a happy and friendly greeting. However, at this time, the matter is so urgent that it is just not possible.”

The urgency has prompted him to simply open the letter and move directly into a curse upon those would attempt to “persuade men.” The word “persuade” is not the intent here, though. It is better translated as “seek approval of.” Paul is concerned about the Galatians looking for the approval of the false apostles; something he was completely unwilling to do. In contrast, he would rather seek God’s approval than that of any man.

In addition to seeking approval, he next asks, “Or do I seek to please men?” The false apostles were doing just that. If they were seeking to please God, they would hold fast to the true gospel of Jesus Christ – salvation by grace through faith. Instead, they were seeking to please men through the observance of matters of the law; a law which was set aside by the work of Christ. This leads directly to his final proclamation of this verse –

“For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”

Paul had come out of the Old Testament system; the Law of Moses. This was certainly displeasing to those who were still under it. But that law was fulfilled. It was annulled, it was set aside, and it was nailed to the cross. If he were a men-pleaser, he would still be pursuing works of the law, and he would still be teaching others to do those works – “Don’t eat!” “Don’t touch!” “Observe the Sabbath!” “Get circumcised!”

But because Christ had fulfilled those and established a New Covenant of grace, Paul determined that he would “be a bondservant of Christ” rather than under the bondage of the law. He had a new Master and his face was set on pleasing Him. There is only one choice that is set before man – either please men though some type of work and thus reject Christ, or follow Christ and willingly receive what He has done, putting aside the works of the flesh.

Life application: Galatians is given to show us the utter severity of not receiving and adhering to the finished work of Christ. It is only though a complete submission to Him that we can be saved. We must realize that there is NO WORK which we can do in order to please God except to receive the completed work of His Son. This is why Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:29

Heavenly Father, help us to get our thinking straight. If Jesus died in fulfillment of the law, then the law is fulfilled. If we return to deeds of the law in an attempt to be acceptable to You, then we have rejected what You have already done and have set out to seek our own righteousness. Was the cross that meaningless to us? No! Help us to understand that we stand justified by faith in Christ alone. I put my hope in His work alone! Amen.