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Galatians
BC Weekly Digest Monday, May 24 1999 In this issue: Galatians 1:1 Galatians 1:1 Galatians 1:1-5 Galatians 1:1-5 Galatians 1:1 Galatians 1:1 This epistle may be Paul's first inspired writing, written around 48-49 AD. It is unique in that it was written to a group of churches - those in the Roman province of Galatia. Paul and Barnabas visited there on their first missionary journey with unforgettable results - - being driven out of Antioch and fleeing to Iconium, then to Lystra where Paul was stoned (Acts 13-14). Yet, churches were formed, where later certain false teachers came in with a perverted gospel. When the apostle heard of this, he was deeply disturbed and wrote to remedy the situation. When we begin a study of this epistle, without much knowledge of the problems involved, we start something like a person hearing only one side of a telephone conversation. Yet as we read, we can begin to see the major issues treated: these false apostles were saying that Paul's message was without authority and was not sufficient for salvation without keeping parts of the Mosaic Law.(We assume they were teaching that Gentiles had to first become children of Abraham by being circumcised before they could be saved.) Paul's defense will show that he was an accredited spokesman of God, an apostle, and that his message came, not from men, but directly from the Lord by revelation, and that obedience to this gospel message made one a true son of Abraham (and of God) through faith in Christ Jesus. It is in his epistle to the Galatians that Paul will begin outlining the righteousness that comes from a living faith in Christ - a theme he will continue to develop in other writings, especially in his letter to the Romans. J. Lee Roberts ------------------------------ Galatians 1:1 This introduction to Galatians is from "New Testament in Survey" Copyright 1958 by Paul Southern Used by permission Published in book form by Quality Printing Co., Inc. Abilene, Texas GALATIANS I. The Title This book is called Galatians because it is addressed to "the churches in Galatia" (Galatians 1:2, 3:1; I Corinthians 16:1). II. The Writer From Galatians 1:1 we learn that Paul the apostle was the writer. III. Time and Place of Writing Since the date and place of writing are indefinite, we shall not attempt a lengthy discussion of these matters. Scholars have suggested several dates ranging from A.D. 50 to A.D. 58; and three different places of writing: Ephesus, Macedonia and Corinth. We have no data in the epistle indicating the exact date of writing. IV. The Country of Galatia Politically it was the Roman province of Central Asia Minor, and included Lycaonia, Isauria and parts of Phrygia and Pisidia. Geographically it was the center of the Celtic tribes. The exact location is a moot question between two schools of thought. Exponents of the South Galatian theory make it include churches founded by Paul on his first mission tour: Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (Acts 13:14 to 14:24). The North Galatian school interprets the term to mean a strip of country in the north of Asia Minor, occupied by the Celts. Again, we are more concerned with the contents of the epistle than with exact locations of the ones addressed. V. The Celtic Tribes Celtic tribes from Northern Europe invaded Asia Minor about 280 B.C. They were subdued by the Romans in 189 B.C. and incorporated into the Roman province of Galatia in 25 B.C. Galatia means "the land of the Gauls" (Celtae- Galatae-Galli). The people were impulsive, quick-tempered, hospitable and fickle. They received impressions quickly, and just as hastily gave them up. After receiving Paul enthusiastically, they suddenly turned away from him, and from the gospel (1:6-9; Colossians 4:13-15). VI. Establishment of the Churches The origin of the churches of Galatia is indefinite. As indicated above, some think that the Galatians of this letter were people of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. If so, Paul converted them on his first mission tour (Acts 13,14). However, Acts 16:6 indicates that the term Galatia meant something besides the foregoing places. It has been suggested that Europeans returning home after Pentecost established churches in Galatia. Others think that Paul might have evangelized the country while he was in Tarsus before going to Antioch. At any rate, we know that he visited them on his second tour (Acts 16:6); that he became sick and preached while there (Galatians 4:13-15), and the he also visited them while on his third journey (Acts 18:23). VII. Occasion for the Letter Paul left the churches running well (Galatians 5:7). Shortly afterwards, Judaizing teachers crept in teaching that the Jewish law was binding upon Christians (Ch. 3). They accepted Jesus as the Messiah, but claimed that salvation is reached through the works of the law, and that Gentiles should be circumcised (5:1-6). In order to carry their point, they tried to undermine Paul's apostolic authority by saying that he was not one of the apostles, and the he received his doctrines from men and not from the Lord (Chs. 1 and 2). VIII. Purpose of the Letter The purpose of the letter was to correct these errors, and show that salvation is a matter of faithful obedience to the gospel of Christ and not to the law of Moses. Paul Southern [Note: Paul Southern, a retired professor of Bible, had his 98th birthday on April 16, 1999. His wife, Margaret will be 90 on May 24th, Lord willing. We appreciate brother Southern's willingness for his "New Testament in Survey" to be placed in The Old Paths Archive, which will be done when we can get it all into electronic form. R.D.] ------------------------------ Galatians 1:1-5 Galatians 1:1-5 (OPV) 1 Paul, an apostle (neither from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren 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, 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 for ever and ever. Amen. === 1:1 "Paul, an apostle" The Greek word for 'apostle' means 'emissary' or "missionary" (one who is sent with a mission). The word is used in the general sense of 'missionary' for example in Acts 14:14 (Barnabas was not one of the twelve) and in Romans 16:7. Some translations use a different word in such cases and reserve the word 'apostle' for the inspired apostles of Christ, the twelve and Paul. 1:1 "Neither from men, nor through man" Although Paul did not include himself among the twelve (see 1 Corinthians 15:5-9) he had the same commission, power and authority. He will discuss this in greater detail later, but he now affirms that his apostleship was not of human origin, but that he had been made an apostle by the Lord himself. 1:2 "And all the brethren with me" We do not know where Paul was when he wrote, so we do not know who these brethren were. The Christians in Galatia probably knew where he was. 1:2 "To the churches of Galatia" Galatia was in what is now Turkey. We do not know which congregations are being addressed. The disgrace of denominationalism had not yet developed. Paul is simply writing to the congregations of believers in Christ in that geographic area. As it was then, so it should be now. 1:3 "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" This is a common greeting of Paul, who was ever mindful of the grace of God in his own life and in the lives of all Christians. "Peace" was the common greeting among the Jews. But true peace can only come through the grace of God in Christ Jesus. 1:4 "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might rescue us from this present evil age" We are under the penalty of death because of our own sins. Christ paid the price for our sins on the cross. Notice that we are rescued, not only from our own sins, but from the evil age in which we find ourselves, a world that is corrupted by evil. Through the resurrection of Christ, which Paul mentioned in verse 1, we can look forward to a better age after this world has passed away (2 Peter 3:11-13). 1:4,5 "According to the will of our God and Father, to whom [be] the glory for ever and ever. Amen." The Father loved us so much that He sent His Son to save us (John 3:16). He wants people to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:9). God deserves our praise. And He shall be praised by the redeemed for ever and ever. Roy Davison ------------------------------ Galatians 1:1-5 Galatians 1:1-5 (OPV) 1 Paul, an apostle (neither from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren 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, 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 for ever and ever. Amen. === 1:1 "Paul" When Paul began his ministry to the Gentiles, he started using his non-Jewish name of Paul rather than Saul (Acts 13:9). "An apostle" An apostle is 'one sent forth' or 'a messenger'. The Greek word is used in the New Testament for five groups of 'those sent forth'. (1) Christ as the Apostle of God (Hebrews 3:1). (2) Apostles of Christ: * "The twelve" (listed in Matt 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:12-16); minus Judas: Acts 1:13; plus Matthias: Acts 1:15-26. * Paul qualifies as an apostle of Christ "as of one born out of due time" having been the last to witness the risen Lord (1 Cor 15:8). See 2 Cor 12:11,12; 1 Cor 9:1; 1 Cor 15:7-9 and compare with Acts 1:21,22. (3) Messengers sent by the churches (Acts 14:14; Rom 16:7; 2 Cor 8:23; Gal 1:19; Phil 2:25). (4) Messengers in general (John 13:16). (5) False apostles (2 Cor 11:13; Rev 2:2). "Neither from men, nor through man" Paul denies that his apostleship originated from any man or group of men!. He was chosen (from his birth - Gal 1:15) and put in place as an apostle by both the Father and the Son. As he will explain later, he received his Gospel by direct revelation. 1:2 "And all the brethren with me" Although his calling was divine and based on resurrection power, he did not work in isolation and had no problem associating his ministry with fellow Christians. "To the churches of Galatia" Paul addresses this epistle not to an individual, or to a single congregation, but to all the churches of Galatia. 1:3 "Grace to you and peace" This is Paul's standard greeting in all his epistles, probably referring to God's covenant favor to Israel seen in Num 6:24-26, and now extended to His new Israel, the church, containing both Jew and Gentile. Read Paul's marvelous account of the breaking down of the barrier between the two and making peace by joining both into one body - making Jew and Gentile into a spiritual temple for the dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph 2:11-3:6). This is the great truth preached to Abraham - that God's good news would bring blessings to all nations (Galatians 3:8). This "mystery of God's purpose and will," hidden for ages past, is now revealed to us in writing through the apostolic message to all who will hear and come to the obedience of faith (Rom 1:5; 16:25,26; Eph 3:3-6; Tit 2:11-14; 3:4-7). Hidden until God's marvelous grace was revealed to us through Christ whom He sent to die in our place- to give His life in place of our life - to become our sin-bearer and our Savior. Our peace came at the price paid at the cross -- THIS is the message of His grace!! While we walked in the darkness of spiritual death, following the course of this present evil world, God in His overwhelming love for us, made it possible for us to be made spiritually alive by the redemption He bought in Christ's blood (Ephesians 1:7-13; 2:1-8). 1:4 "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might rescue us from this present evil age" Paul asserts that the Christian's victory over the present evil age is assured by the saving death and resurrection of Christ. 1:5 "To whom [be] the glory for ever and ever" Compare with Eph 1:11-14. J. Lee Roberts