Exploring Paul’s Exploring Paul’s Letter to The Letter to The

GalatiansGalatians

By Paul J GoodhallBy Paul J Goodhall

GalatiansGalatians

• Introduction:

• The Letters of Paul to the Romans, Galatians and Ephesians are spiritual dynamite, and it is therefore almost impossible to handle it without explosions”

Martin LutherMartin Luther

• The Epistle to the Galatians played a very important role in Martin Luther’s (1483-1546) Spiritual awaking and John Wesley’s assurance of faith (1703-1791) The ramifications of their teaching can still be felt in the church today.

• It would be unwise to teach an over simplistic view of the Reformation because the reformation of the church was certainly far from simplistic both in nature and

action.

Before Luther Before Luther

• Before Luther there was • John Wycliffe, 1320-1384. • John Hus, 1369-1415. • And during the same time frame as Martin Luther the

following were busy in the service of God in translating the bible into English.

• Thomas Linacre, 1460-1524. • John Colet, 1467-1519.• Erasmus, 1466-1536.

Before Luther Before Luther

• Erasmus, 1466-1536. • William Tyndale 1494-1536. • Myles Coverdale 1488-1568. • Thomas Cranmer 1489-1556.

Martin Luther Martin Luther

• Of course with out doubt during any period of time that God moves among men there will always be those people who stand out from the crowed to be acclaimed as the movers and shakers of their day. Martin Luther was to be recorded in history as such a man. He was born in 1483 in Eisleben and studied law at the University of Erfurt. In 1505 he joined the Augustinian hermits in Erfurt after taking a dramatic vow during a thunderstorm Luther was ordained in 1507 and after studying theology he was sent by his order to the University of Wittenberg to teach moral theology. In 1510-11 he visited Rome on business for his order and in 1512. Became a doctor of theology and professor of biblical studies at Wittenberg After a long spiritual crisis Luther finally came to understand the nature of the righteousness of God He now rejected all theology based solely on tradition and emphasised personal understanding and experience of God’s word. The discovery that God spares the sinners “we are justified not by our deeds but by faith alone.

Luther MartinLuther Martin

• On the Eve of All souls day 31st October 1517 Martin Luther was 30 years old and professor of biblical studies at the newly founded university of Wittenberg in Germany He announced a disputation on indulgencies he stated his argument in “95 theses”. Though they were heavily academic and moderate in tone news of them spread like wildfire throughout Europe within fourteen days every university and religious centre was agog with excitement. All marvelled that one obscure monk from an unknown university had stirred the whole of Europe.

GalatiansGalatians

• The Epistle to the Galatians was Paul’s only letter written to a group of Churches They were located in the cities of Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, The Galatians were originally from north of the black sea and divided from the main westward migration of Gauls. They settled in Asia Minor during the third century B.C

• The Churches were established during Paul’s first missionary journey Paul’s ministry in Galatia had been very successful and the Lord had blessed the church with many converts. Paul revisited these churches during his second missionary journey accompanied by Silas. And again during his third missionary journey Acts 18:23.

GalatiansGalatians

• Later some Jewish teachers began teaching that circumcision was essential to salvation these judaizers had to first undermine the confidence of the Gentiles in the apostle Paul before they could destroy their faith in the Gospel of salvation without works. Apparently they had some success for many gentiles Christians were circumcised when Paul heard this he wrote this epistle declaring that circumcision had no part in salvation. It is probable that this epistle was written in 57AD from Ephesus or Macedonia. But of course we can not be sure of the time of writing or place.

An out line of Galatians:An out line of Galatians:

• Introduction 1:1-9• Paul’s Apostleship Defended Galatians 1:10-2:21• Paul’s Gospel Explained Galatians 3-4• Paul’s Gospel Practiced Galatians 5:1-6:15.• The Gospel practiced in liberty 5:1-12.• The Gospel practiced in love 5:13-15.• The Gospel practiced in the spirit 5:16-26.• The Gospel practiced in service 6:1-10.• The Gospel practiced in separation from the world 6:11-15.• 5. Conclusion 6:16-18.

Paul’s Heavenly callingPaul’s Heavenly calling

• Galatians Chapter 1.• Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ,

and God the Father, who raised him from the dead ;)

• The Salutation follows the conventional frame work of letter-writing is here utilised but transcended for the writer was an apostle with authority from God and he addressed those who by grace have been delivered from this present age. They too were not ordinary men, for they were Christians.

Paul’s Heavenly callingPaul’s Heavenly calling

• Galatians Chapter 1.• Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by

Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead ;)

• Apostle, from the Greek Apostolos. Meaning literally one sent forth. And is used to denote some one who is chosen by God and commissioned by him to do his will for a particular function for example Paul was commissioned by God to preach the Gospel to the

Gentiles.

Heavenly Calling contrast to the earthly calling of Heavenly Calling contrast to the earthly calling of the false teachersthe false teachers

• Of course Paul was using this fact to draw the contrasting picture between his own heavenly calling to the earthly calling of the self electing false teaching Judaizers who were doing there utmost to destroy the faith of the Gentiles through out Galatia. Within the opening lines of this letter Paul places a strong emphasis upon his apostleship the reason for this was because the false teachers had to attack Paul’s authority before they could attack Paul’s gospel. These false teachers claimed that Paul was not one of the twelve, proclaiming that he had been taught by untrustworthy teachers and altered the gospel message.

Unto the Churches Of GalatiaUnto the Churches Of Galatia

• Galatians 1:2-3•  2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the

churches of Galatia:

•  3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and

from our Lord Jesus Christ,

• The identity of the brethren with Paul is unknown. Contrast this with Colossians Paul gave a long list of those people who were with him at the time.

Grace and PeaceGrace and Peace

• Galatians 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and

from our Lord Jesus Christ,

• Grace and Peace, are twin gifts of God, never reversed in their order the divine favour received makes possible a life of fullness and of harmony with God and fellow believers

The Great ExchangeThe Great Exchange

• Galatians 1:4-5• 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us

from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

• 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus Christ for our sinsJesus Christ for our sins

• Galatians 1:4-5• 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this

present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: • 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

• This verse does not say “he gave himself for sinners” but rather “Who gave himself for our sins the depth of this cannot be expressed in mere words this is the greatest exchange “Jesus Christ for our sins”.

Salvation is by GraceSalvation is by Grace

• The Following three scripture might help us in understand this great truth

• I Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness by whose stripes ye were healed.

• Isaiah 53:6 And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.• II Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew

no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him

• It is because of this great truth that we understand that Salvation is by Grace and is a free gift offered to all men.

The Great ExchangeThe Great Exchange

Word study in Galatians 1:4-5

The Greek word for sins is “Hamartia” sin, error, sin offering and is also used in Gal 2.17, Gal 3.22

The Greek word for deliver Greek, “Exaireo” meaning “to take up out of” and is also used in Acts 7.10, 7.34, 12.11, 26.17.

The Phrase Present evil world

The Word Present Greek, “Enistemi” meaning to put or place in

The Word evil Greek, “Proneros” meaning The evil

The World Greek, meaning “Aion”, age, indefinite time, dispensation.

I MarvelI Marvel

• Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

• Marvel Greek “Thaumazo” signifies to wonder at, marvel,

Pervert The Gospel Of ChristPervert The Gospel Of Christ

• Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some

that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

• “Which is not another”• there is only one Gospel• there is only one way to be saved.

Pervert The Gospel Of ChristPervert The Gospel Of Christ

• Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

• Just as in The apostle Paul day there were those who wanted to pervert the Gospel this would be the same through out the ages.

• The word Pervert in the Greek “Metastrepho” means to transform into something of an opposite character.

• In this case from Grace to works. • The privilege of declaring the Gospel does not include

the right to change it.

Preach Any Other GospelPreach Any Other Gospel

• Galatians 1:8-9 • 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any

other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

•  9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

• If any man is preaching a different gospel “let him be accursed”.

Servant of ChristServant of Christ

• Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

• Paul was concerned to be on good terms with God. Pleasing men by adjusting the message to suit their desires is inconsistent with being the servant of Christ.

The Certified Gospel The Certified Gospel

• Galatians 1:11 • But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was

preached of me is not after man.

• From the Greek “Gnorizo” is rendered Certify in the AV and in the RV “to make to know”

• This verse Brings out the thought “As Christ's servant, the apostle could only make known the gospel message though he preached it he did not originate it nor did any other man”

But by the revelation of Jesus Christ. But by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

• Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

• Revelation the Greek “Apokalupsis” meaning an uncovering.

• Since Paul came late into the apostolic ranks men might have supposed that he received the Gospel from his predecessors or learned through a course of instruction but this was not the case it came by revelation of Jesus Christ.

Wasted It.Wasted It.

• Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

• Conversation Greek Anastrophe ones behaviour, conduct is translated manner of life A.V conversation.

• Persecuted Greek “Dioko” and has the meaning to put to flight drive away, to pursue, and is used in Gal’s 1:13, 1:23, 4:29.

• Wasted Greek “Portheo” to ravage and is rendered in wasted in Gal 1:13 AV see Destroy Havock in the Greek is “portheo” meaning to destroy, ravage, lay waste and is used of the persecution inflicted by Saul of Tarsus on the church in Jerusalem.

Traditions of my fathersTraditions of my fathers

• Galatians 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the

traditions of my fathers.

• Zealous in the Greek “Zelotes” is used adjectively, of being zealous. And is used in Gal 1:14 of Paul's loyalty to Judaism before his conversion.

• Paul goes onto say that he in his style of Judaism rose above as an example those he thought were his equal

• The word Zealots means literally “an uncompromising partisan”. This would help us to understand The Apostles zeal in wasting the true Church before his conversion and his zealous behaviour full filling the will of God in his life as a Christian.

But When It pleased GodBut When It pleased God

• Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated

me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

• “But when it pleased God” what a wonderful phrase to use • this was not mans will but God’s will• It was done in God’s time • And it was done when it pleased God.

Pleased Greek “Eudokeo” meaning “to be well pleased”, “think it good”. But stressing the willingness and freedom of an intention or resolve regarding what is good.

Preach Him Among The HeathenPreach Him Among The Heathen

• Galatians 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred

not with flesh and blood: • The Heathen in Greek Hellen and originally denoted the

early descendants of Thessalian Hellas then Greek as opposed to barbarians Rom 1:14 It became applied to such Gentiles as spoke the Greek language Gal 2:3 and 3:28. Since Greek was the common language in the Roman Empire Greek and Gentile became more or less interchangeable terms. The RV always adheres to the word “Greeks”.

The Events After Paul’s ConversionThe Events After Paul’s Conversion

• Galatians 1: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia,

and returned again unto Damascus.

The Events After Paul’s Conversion The Events After Paul’s Conversion

• Galatians 1:18-20•  18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and

abode with him fifteen days. •  19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's

brother. •  20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie

not.

The Events After Paul’s ConversionThe Events After Paul’s Conversion

• Galatians 1:21-24 • 21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and

Cilicia; •  22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of

Judaea which were in Christ: •  23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted

us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

• 24 And they glorified God in me.

End Of Galatians Chapter 1End Of Galatians Chapter 1

• End of Chapter 1

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