A Quick Look at Galatians

[Baron Nor]

I started to look at Galatians 1 and was going to look chapter by chapter over in apologetics, when my sister said it might be better here, so here it is. We were debating Paul and the Torah over in apologetics, and wanted to look closely at the passages in Galatians. This is not going to be a huge commentary, just a cursory glance through the book of Galatians, and any hopefully generate some discussion. (To the Mods, if this is not where this belongs, then please forgive me and place it where it needs to go.)

[Baron Nor]

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

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

Not another gospel, so one that is already on the scene, law keeping legalism for righteous justification. Paul calls them "perverts."
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11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

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

So, Paul's theology on Grace and his teachings come not from anything man made. He doesn't mention the Torah. God handed out the Torah, and Christ kept it bringing the grace and freedom from the law, as Paul passed on. This is why Paul was called, to combat legalism.

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15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Paul separates himself from anything that man had to teach. He learned nothing from the apostles or man's teaching of the Torah.

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18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

19But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

Hmmm...all we find is James in Jerusalem, and who was the thorn in Peter's side when he was eating with the gentiles, it was James. By James' own admission, in Acts and Galatians, he is a legalist, wanting his members to keep the law. Any wonder why James did not receive the persecution Paul received? The children of the law will always persecute the children of the free.

(continued later.)

Grace and Peace

[Biblenuggetlady]

This may add to your study....

http://www.moriel.org/articles/sermons/new_galatians.htm

[Buzzardhut]

Galatians (http://www.churchplantingvillage.net/atf/cf/%7B087EF6B4-D6E5-4BBF-BED1-7983D360F394%7D/05Galatians.pdf)

[HeIsEnough]

This may add to your study....

http://www.moriel.org/articles/sermons/new_galatians.htm

Great article. Lots of crazy beliefs out there which just don't line up with the word, and few to point out how.

[Baron Nor]

Thank you very much for the article link. That has filled me in on somethings that are being preached and some groups I was not familiar with.

Grace and Peace

[Baron Nor]

Galatians 2
1Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

2And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Here comes Paul, 14 years removed from Jerusalem. The last time we hear of Paul at Jerusalem was in Acts, and there was a split with his partner. It is interesting that it is by revelation that Paul shows up. Straight away we see something strange at foot. He has to go and speak in private because of fear of retribution from the legalists.

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3But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

4And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

This was a couple of verses that were looked at. Verse 3 was looked at with a different translation from another member on this board. I stick with the original KJV translation, and take it to mean, that Titus, after seeing the legalists in Jerusalem and seeing how the law was being used, was not compelled to join this group of law keeping Christians.

But this did not stop these Jewish Christians. They sent in false brethren, and I think by implication, they played at being aligned with Paul's theology of grace. What do these false brethren do? They try to put them into bondage, and I think it is clear, this bondage is the law.
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5To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

6But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

Paul doesn't give these brethren even an hour of his time. And the graveness of this, in my opinion, is overlooked by a quick read through the book. The truth of the very gospel we proclaim was at stake. If he would have given in, the gospel would not continue. That is grave. Thank God he did not concede.

He dismisses them out of hand. They added nothing to his theology. God doesn't accept any man, for all have sinned and fallen short. That is why legalism fails. You can't earn your grace.
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7But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

Finally, something clicks, and they see his theology. Paul, apostle to the gentiles, finally gets his due. They see how mighty his calling and teaching is.
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9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

10Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

Finally, Paul is recognized as a full apostle. This time, James' only charge is to remember the poor. And I think it is worth noting, Paul calls them pillars, or seemed to be pillars.

seem intr.v. seemed, seem·ing, seems

-To give the impression of being; appear: The child seems healthy, but the doctor is concerned.
-To appear to one's own opinion or mind: I can't seem to get the story straight.
-To appear to be true, probable, or evident: It seems you object to the plan. It seems like rain. He seems to have worked in sales for several years.
-To appear to exist: There seems no reason to postpone it.

I still believe and feel that Paul, by using seemed, was calling into question their standing.
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11But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

12For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

13And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

Here something very important, and I think something of a lesson for us happens. Peter, one of the pillars of the church, is confronted by Paul. There was something that he, Peter, is to be blamed for.

Peter is caught by Paul eating with the gentiles. Fine, nothing bad there, but then here comes the "legalists", James' group. Do we find faith and grace from them? NO WAY! He actually fears them. This calls into question something we are discussing on the Torah thread. Why is it faith and grace inspires peace and forgiveness, and the Law inspires persecution? Especially, by legalists who profess that they are in Christ. That is why Paul will go on to say that the two will never exist together.

But, I digress. Peter's sin is brought to light. Yes, I say sin. Here it is, "dissembled."

dis·sem·ble /dɪˈsɛmbəl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[di-sem-buhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, -bled, -bling.
–verb (used with object)

1. to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of: to dissemble one's incompetence in business.
2. to put on the appearance of; feign: to dissemble innocence.
3. Obsolete. to let pass unnoticed; ignore.
–verb (used without object) 4. to conceal one's true motives, thoughts, etc., by some pretense; speak or act hypocritically.

Peter is guilty of being a hypocrite. He talks the talk, but doesn't completely walk the walk. Paul jumps all over this. The commentaries I looked at support this thinking, and all of it takes is some common sense.

Now, I think the lesson to be learned is, that all have sinned and fallen short. Even the apostles were just men. They still had their flesh to contend with. We tend to put these guys up on pedestals. They did not become perfect once they were saved. Their foibles still existed. They had the Holy Spirit, which we have, that worked to change them, like it changes us. They made mistakes, and we make mistakes. They and we won't be perfected until we breathe our first breath of eternity over there. Thank God for the grace of Christ to take us as we are. God wants trust, and for that he gives faith which covers our sins with his sons blood.
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14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

15We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

Paul quite simply states, why are you putting these gentiles through this? You are laying the law on these people and know better than that, you know the truth. And Paul confronts him before all of them. He didn't go back to some quiet room some where in a temple. He goes at it right there in front of the whole gathering.
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16Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

What is the truth of the gospel? Man is not justified by the law, only the faith of Jesus. The law saves nobody. But, the legalists, these Jewish Jamesian Christians still seek to use this "law." Over in the other thread, I drew the conclusion from the "just shall live by faith," and Paul's assertion that the "law is not of faith, " to say that we are not even supposed to use the law to live or we fall out from under faith. The Holy Spirit should lead and guide, and not the law.
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17But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

18For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

He is not rebuilding what is destroyed. What has been destroyed, the law. It has been kept by Christ, and therefore has no power over us. He says if I rebuild it, I make myself a transgressor. Something to think about if you are trying to live by the law.
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19For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

We are dead to the law, it no longer has rule over us, and to live to God, we have to be dead to the law. How does Paul live his life, by the faith of the son of God. Notice, he does not live or equate the conduction of his life by the law, it is by faith alone. He is dead to the law and the law is dead to him.

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21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Parting shot: The law frustrates the grace of God. It interferes with God's plan of grace. That should be a wake up call for all who still cling to the law. Paul goes on, if we can earn rightesousness by our effort, then Christ died in vain, because we or at least some should be able to earn their righteousness. That is a pretty bold statement, as he doesn't imply it has ever been done before Christ, or after Christ. The law will never save a soul. It was never meant to be kept, or could be kept. It was a schoolmaster, as Paul says later, to show us God's standard of righteousness. Again I say, you can sum up the law in this: "Love your neighbor as yourself." I don't know about you, but I don't even come close to that command. That simple statement has never been fulfilled by anyone, past, present, or future, not even those legalists who seek to put us into bondage. Quit trying to live the law, die to it, and live in faith and grace. Pray, read the Bible, and let the one who died for our sins do the changing.

Grace and Peace

[Kliska]

Galatians 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

Here something very important, and I think something of a lesson for us happens. Peter, one of the pillars of the church, is confronted by Paul. There was something that he, Peter, is to be blamed for.

Yes, I think this is one interesting bit that gets overlooked a lot. Peter and Paul had a disagreement. It puts their situation on a much more human level, and shows even the apostles saw things differently.

He (Peter) actually fears them (circumcised believers).

Here is a good place to pause; Peter is in fear of a fellow group of believers. As you pointed out, he isn't afraid of Paul, or the gentiles, but rather of this other group. Obviously he's got good reason to fear, in his experience somewhere he's had the fear put into him by these same style of believers.

This calls into question something we are discussing on the Torah thread. Why is it faith and grace inspires peace and forgiveness, and the Law inspires persecution? Especially, by legalists who profess that they are in Christ. That is why Paul will go on to say that the two will never exist together.

Yeah, the bondwoman vs. the free makes a lot more sense when seen through verses like these.

[Baron Nor]

Galatians 3

1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Paul is short and to the point. He calls them fools. They were free from the constraints of the law. There is no works involved with salvation. Grace is a free gift from God, that can't be earned. These Galatians started out in freedom, and then by the subjugation of the James crowd, they were trying to bring them back under the law. Christ saves, but you have to keep the law, or parts of the law. Didn't fly with Paul then, and shouldn't fly with the church now.
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4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Again, how are these miracles done? It is by the ones practicing faith, not using works for salvation.
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6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Paul makes the case that faith was at work back in the Old Testament. He cites Abraham, and if you go back and look, Abraham's life was sprinkled with times of faith. One that always sticks out in my mind is when he is told to sacrifice his son. If you read it, he says we will worship, and then we will come back. Abraham knew God was one to keep a promise, and if he killed Issac, then to keep his word, God would have to raise him from the dead. Issac was a child of promise that had to carry on for God's word to be true.

Next, Paul makes the case for faith in our salvation. We obtained blessing by Abraham's faith. God's plan had Christ coming from this frame work. You have to trust in God. That is what he is looking for, that trusting faith like Abraham.
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10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Simply put, you try to keep the law, even the smallest jot or tittle, and you are under the curse of condemnation. You have to keep it all, or you are found guilty by it. Another way, a miss is as good as a mile. The law shows God's impossible standard. Sinning man can't even come close. What then shall we do? LIVE BY FAITH. The law is not of faith. It is not related to faith. If you are relying on any part of the law, then you live in all of the law. Christ brought us out from this curse, and now we are seen as Christ in God's eyes. If Christ is our covering, then there is no more condemnation from God.

The question we need to ponder, "Why is there so much condemnation from other Christians, if there is none from God?" Do you not hear the scriptures: "Judge not lest ye be judged." We need more understanding and the ability to look at other's beliefs. We do not need the close mindedness that was created by man's tradition. We are all guilty out from under God's grace. There is no one good, not one.
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14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Here you can see God's faithfulness in keeping his word. This is what differentiates our religion from others. You can bank on what God says, because he is faithful to his word.

Look at the inheritance by the law. The law was a set of rules that spelled out exactlly how one should act and what one has to do. If I have this list, then it is not faith that I am following, but a list. Abraham received a promise, that was not based on any written document. He has to take God at his word. Faith is not a contract, if you do this then. God just says believe and I take care of it. Law v. Faith - two different animals.

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19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Paul jumps to the question of "why". Why do we need a law? And he tells us. Because of transgressions we have a law. It was to be followed until the seed came that would provide our freedom.
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21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Paul is quick to point out, it there was a law that could have given what Christ gave, then yes, we would follow the law and receive eternal life, but it didn't.
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22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Thank God, that we get the promise via Jesus Christ. All we do is believe, Paul's words. He clearly states, before we had this faith, we were under a law, and could not fully realize that faith. Even the Old Testament peoples had to keep the law, even though there are plenty of examples of their faith in their lives.

The law was only meant to be a school teacher. It could only show us God's standard. It did not help us out, much like our laws do to day. The law condemns us, faith saves us.
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25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

So, no longer under this schoolmaster, means that the law has been fulfilled through Christ, and imparted to we Christians as having kept the law. This means God sees Christ when looking at us, and if we are his body, then we have kept the law. As long as we are in faith, which puts us in Christ, eternal salvation is ours.

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26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Paul wraps up with saying there is not a division in the body of Christ. All are on equal footing, as we are all one in Christ. And if we are in Christ we get the promises made to Abraham's seed.

The main upshot again, is that Faith saves, the just live by Faith, and without Faith it is impossible to please God. FAITH is the key, and if you don't keep walking in it, and get off on the track of legalism, then you are out from under grace, and will be judged by the strict standard of God. And we know from reading Paul's writings, no flesh will be justified by the law. Stay on the track of Faith.

Grace and Peace