The Book of Galatians – Chapter 1
Introduction
The Letter to the Galatians deals with the question of whether a Gentile believer had to become a Jew, particularly in the area of circumcision, before he or she could become a Christian. This letter (or epistle) is a book of protest against orthodox Judaizers who had come to Galatia behind the Apostle Paul specifically to tear down his teachings. Earlier, the apostle had established Christian churches in Southern Galatia (Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe) while on his first missionary journey. When completed, Paul felt confident that these churches were growing in their faith in the true Gospel of Christ. Sometime after he left, however, certain Judaizers from Jerusalem came up to dispute Paul’s authority and teachings. As such, the apostle wrote this letter in response to the corruption that was trying to set in by the Judaizers, focusing on justification by faith rather than the works of the Law. In a spirit of inspired agitation and passion, the Apostle Paul began his letter.
Salutation
Gal 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle-sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead; and all the brothers with me – to the churches of Galatia. NIV
A good fifteen years had passed since Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. The Apostles Peter, John, and other original apostles or disciples of Jesus, who were all Jews, had been primarily preaching to a Jewish population. To them, their Messiah had come in the flesh, which was long prophesied throughout the Old Covenant. While they embraced Jesus as the one and final sacrifice for sin, they still followed the Law, meaning the Law of Moses. The Apostle Paul, on the other hand, was called by God to preach mainly to the Gentile population who knew nothing of the Law of Moses with its sacrifices and rituals, and had no interest in following them. They especially did not want to be circumcised to become a believer and follower of Christ. This caused problems between both Jewish and Gentile believers. As a result, the Apostle Paul was often considered a heretic by orthodox Judaism, meaning those who followed the Law of Moses and the traditional Oral Law of the elders of that day.
Defense of his position as an apostle
As we begin our study in chapter one of the Book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul uses the name of Paul instead of his Hebrew given name of Saul. He chose to use his Greek name when he witnessed to a Greek audience in order to win them over to Christ. As he begins his letter, he is defending his position as an apostle of Jesus Christ. He dispenses from his usual introduction of thanksgiving and commendation, plunging right into a vigorous defense of his apostolic authority and the validity of his teaching.
Paul’s defense of his position was not unique to him in his travels because he was often placed in a position of defending himself because (1) he was not one of the original apostles and (2) he had earlier set out to kill Christians – both Jewish and Gentile believers. In addition, he was hated by most orthodox Jews because he claimed to be a Pharisee who no longer preached Judaism in the tradition sense, especially that of circumcision to the Gentile believers. Neither Jew of Gentile trusted him.
In Paul’s introduction, he was trying to emphasize that he was sent by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, not by any man. As such, he was commissioned to be an apostle, or ambassador of Christ, to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Messiah to all mankind. He preached that the Messiah had already come in the flesh and that Jesus was “everyone’s” eternal sacrifice. As was his custom in every city he entered, he taught in the synagogue. When he preached to the Jews he preached as a Jewish Pharisee - it was his open door. He, however, preached that salvation no longer rested in adhering to all the sacrifices, as listed in the Law of Moses or their traditions, but belief in Jesus as their true Messiah, as was prophesied throughout the Old Covenant. They then were free to follow the rest of the Law as their heart dictated. While many Jews converted to Christ, others were appalled. As such, Paul, in time, received the "left-hand of fellowship" from many synagogues and escorted out the door. When Paul preached to the Gentiles, however, he did not present himself as a Jewish Pharisee, as he did to the Jews, but as an apostle and ambassador for Christ. He went into the market places or wherever he was led. He came against traditional Judaism for eternal salvation, claiming man’s salvation simply rested on belief in Jesus, and they did not need to follow the Law of Moses or its traditions – especially that of circumcision. It was to these Gentiles, that Saul, the Jewish Pharisee, instead, used his Greek name of Paul and became like them. To many, both Jew and Gentile alike, it seemed like he had a conflict of interest. Regardless, Paul’s doctrine remained strong in that it is through faith in Jesus Christ “alone” that righteousness and salvation are attained. He preached to all that mankind is immersed in a sinful world and cannot keep the Law, both the Law of Moses and the traditional Oral Law of the elders. Paul taught that the law exposes sin and mankinds’ only hope comes from Jesus Christ Who gave Himself to deliver everyone from the bondage of sin and the eternal separation from God. Salvation by faith in Christ Jesus then was always God’s plan, and God’s provision for mankind. [i]
The greeting
Gal 1:3-5 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. NIV
The Apostle Paul dispensed from his usual pleasant greeting of blessing and peace in the Book of Galatians, and replaced it with the words “grace” (Greek “charis,” meaning God’s unmerited favor) and “peace” (Greek – “eirene”), which was a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew word shalom, meaning all that stood for the highest good under God’s rule. This greeting was more Gentile in nature, and as such, the apostle was probably identifying himself with all believers - Jews and Gentiles alike.
No other Gospel
Gal 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! NIV
The Apostle Paul goes directly to his reproof in his letter with expressions of astonishment over what has occurred with those he had witnessed for Christ. When he had left them these new Christians had become believers in Christ Jesus and were growing in their faith. Now, everything he had established was being corrupted by these Judaizers.
A perverted gospel
The apostle refers to what the Judaizers were preaching as a perverted gospel - another gospel – a gospel which was destroying the grace of Christ, and one that proclaimed salvation by simple dependence on the merits of Christ Jesus. Their gospel , meaning the gospel of the Judaizers, included the practicing of the Jewish rites and ceremonies, according to the Mosaic system and the tradition of the elders, emphasizing circumcision, and was essential in order to obtain salvation. This was not the Gospel that Jesus Christ preached.
The Apostle Paul called the preaching of the Judaizers a perversion of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. He even stated that if an angel came down from heaven and declared a Gospel that differed from what he had preached, they should not listen. It should be a fixed and settle matter that his Gospel, which was the Gospel that Jesus preached, was the True Gospel. He went so far as to firmly declare “let those who preach a different gospel be accursed or condemned,” meaning they would be destined to destruction. He again repeated his declaration. [ii]
As is typical in Scripture, to repeat a declaration was to deepen the impression of its importance and truth.
Personal Application : Whether it was the Judaizers of the 1st century or any other proclamation of the gospel that would confront mankind then and even today that is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which proclaims salvation by simple dependence on the merits of Christ Jesus, it is fraudulent. There are numerous Christian cults and even denominations out today that want to add works to the plan of salvation. The Bible declares that it is what Jesus Christ did for us and our belief and trust in what He did that brings salvation to us. Nothing more - nothing less!
A Gospel by the revelation from Jesus Christ
Gal 1: 10-14 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. NIV
The Apostle Paul expressed here a contrast between his present and his former purpose in life. Before his conversion to Christ, his authority came from the Sanhedrin Council, and he sought theirs, and others of influence, approval. His actions were to please them and gain their good favor. He, however, had changed since coming to Christ. Now, as a servant of Jesus Christ, he had a much higher goal. His authority now came directly from God, and it was his goal to please and seek his Father God's favor. The apostle strongly emphasized that his knowledge of the Gospel did not come from any man, but that he received it by the revelation of Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul had been accused by others of receiving his knowledge of the Gospel from other people since he had not personally known Jesus or been one of His original apostles. His earlier years in training and education as a Pharisee under the Rabbi Gamaliel, a well-known rabbi of that day, did not give any knowledge to the Messiahship of Christ Jesus. He, as Saul, was instead taught the traditions of the elders - such doctrines and customs as was invented, conveyed and expanded down from one generation to another. As such, Paul had not only been a rejecter of the Christian religion, but was a persecutor of it, applying himself with the utmost violence and rage to destroy it. [iii] Before his Damascus Road conversation (Acts 9), Paul, known then as Saul the Pharisee, decidedly opposed Jesus and set out to imprison or kill those who followed after Christ. After his encounter with Jesus on that road, he completely turned to follow Christ.
Personal Application : The authority of every Christian comes directly from God. It must always be our goal to please and seek His favor, not the favor of man.
Set apart and called from birth
Gal 1:15-16 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. NIV
God designed Saul to be an important instrument in His hands from his birth. He was created and set apart to one day serve Him in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a Gentile people. He was given a personality with gifts and talents that would be conducive to the position that God would one day call him to perform. He was created as a child of strong zeal and purpose. As such, God placed him within a wealthy family of Jewish and Gentile roots to support his call. His mother was Jewish and his father was Roman citizen. His roots were both Jewish and Gentile. Because his mother was Jewish, and he lived in a family who could support his call from God, Saul was given the best Jewish education available. He was first trained as all Jewish boys were – in the Beit Safer and Talmud (refer to Article series “Who Will You Follow?”) to study Judaism. As a young man, his parents sent him to Jerusalem to study the Beit Midrash (higher Jewish education) to be a disciple under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel. After years of study, he became a Pharisee in the House of Hilliel, having been trained to know the Old Covenant well as well as the Oral traditions of the elders. He would have been one of those that Jesus would have come down on because of his persistence to the traditional Oral Law.
Saul’s training in Judaism would have been equivalent today to a PhD
By the time Saul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, his personality, education and training had been deeply established. He truly loved God, but he loved him according to the Laws of Judaism. By a revelatory encounter and a profound change of heart in Who Jesus was, Saul was ready to receive his call from God - set apart to be trained by Jesus to be His apostle to heathen nations of Gentile people who needed a Savior.
Being blinded by sight, Saul was escorted to Damascus by his soldier to the house of Ananias who had been pre-warned of his coming. There Saul was baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ, received his sight back and began preaching Jesus in the synagogues of Damascus. The time was about 33 A.D. Saul spent a brief time with the disciples of Jesus – the very ones he originally came to destroy. He was, however, feared among the disciples and hated by everyone else. After a short time, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him. They waited at the city gates to capture him. Instead, the disciples lowered him over the wall of the city in a basket during the night. He then went off into the Arabian Desert to be alone with Jesus. It was there where he received his true revelatory education straight from Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of the world.
Time alone with Jesus in Arabia
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.
Saul did not learn about Jesus from His disciples or apostles. Instead of going with the apostles back to Jerusalem, Saul departed and went off into the desert of Arabia to be alone with Jesus. By Saul’s own words, he stated that he did not confer with flesh and blood, nor consulted with the apostles in Jerusalem, but that it was God’s choice for him to go off to Arabia to be trained in the School of the Spirit in order that he might receive greater revelations concerning the mysteries of the Gospel of the glorified Christ. [iv] There he became acquainted with the nature of Christ, His rank, and claims. It becomes evident that God handpicked Saul as the one qualified to become an apostle to the Gentile world. His Jewish and Gentile background, knowledge of the Old Testament, and training in Judaism under the most prestigious rabbi, along with his conversion, time alone with Jesus to learn the True Gospel, and God’s commission upon him gave him the qualifications he needed to bring the Gospel to the world outside of Judaism. He had a depth of knowledge that far exceeded that of the original apostles of Jesus Christ.
Nothing is known of the circumstances or the time frame of that journey into the desert of Arabia. Nothing is listed in the Book of Acts nor any of Paul’s writings. As to the reason of its omission, we do not know. After his time in the desert, however, he returned to Damascus to rejoin the disciples of Jesus.
Gospel confirmed by the Apostles Peter and James
Gal 1:18-24 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles-only James, the Lord's brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they praised God because of me. NIV
The timeframe of Saul’s Arabian Desert time, his return to Damascus, and his travels to Jerusalem was about three years. How much time he spent in each place before going to Jerusalem is unknown, but combined, Saul claimed it was three years. He then traveled with Barnabas to Jerusalem to get acquainted with the Apostles Peter and James. Saul tried to join himself with the disciples around the city, but was faced with their fear because of the lack of trust that his conversion was genuine and that his claim to be an apostle of Jesus was false. Barnabas, however, was able to convince many of them otherwise. Saul then moved about freely and preached the Gospel boldly in Jerusalem. When he talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, however, about Jesus, they tried to kill him. While in Jerusalem, he stayed in the home of the Apostle Peter. After 15 days, however, it became necessary for Saul to escape Jerusalem for fear of his life. Believers took him to Caesarea and sent him off by boat back to his hometown of Tarsus , located in the Roman province of Cilicia. When he landed ashore, he stopped off at different cities and visited certain brethren in Syria and then traveled back to his hometown. The time was approximately 36 A.D.
While Saul spent time in Tarsus (36 – 40 A.D.), the churches throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a brief period of peace and grew in numbers. Persecution, however, followed and many Christians fled to Antioch of Syria. Antioch had become an alternative center for Christians, and Barnabas took over the Church (or group of churches) as its elder (or pastor). In time, the Church in Antioch had grown too big for Barnabas to handle alone. As such, Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek help from Saul. Saul returned with him and remained a year to help build the Church.
The term Christian was first used in Antioch to those who believed in Jesus as the Messiah. It was a derogatory term by sneering unbelievers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/images/paulmap1.jpg
A prophet called Agabus came to the Church at Antioch from Jerusalem prophesying that a famine would soon occur in and around the Holy City. As such, Christians in Antioch began gathering food to relieve the brethren in Judea. Food and relief (money) were sent to the “mother church” at Jerusalem by the hands of Saul and Barnabas. Upon completing the assignment, Saul and Barnabas, along with John Mark, then returned back to Antioch.
Commissioned for the work of the ministry
In the Church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers of the Gospel. While in worship, and while fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them to separate Saul and Barnabas for the work of missionary work to the Gentiles. Hands were laid upon the two men and they were sent off to do the Lord’s work (Acts 13). Thus began Saul’s and Barnabas’s first missionary journey, of which the region of Southern Galatia was included.
It was during these missionary journeys that Saul used his Greek name of Paul to better identify himself with the Gentiles.
While the journey was tough, even to the point of Paul being stoned and left for dead by adversaries, many people were still brought to Christ. Elders (pastors) were appointed in each church and committed to the Lord. On their return trip through Southern Galatia, on route back home to Antioch, Paul and Barnabas encouraged these new believers in their faith. When the missionary trip was completed and the two apostles were back in Antioch, they rejoiced with the other brethren what God had done in Galatia.
It was shortly thereafter the Judaizers came through Southern Galatia specifically to tear down the teachings of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas and dispute Paul’s authority as an apostle of Christ. Because of that, this Letter to the Galatians was written.
The next article will cover chapter two of the Book of Galatians.
Click here for next article - Galatians - chapter 2
End Notes
[i] http://www.biblicaltheology.com/gal/gal_01_01.html
[ii] Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft
[iii] Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.
[iv] http://www.truthinhistory.org/tracing-the-steps-of-the-apostle-paul.html