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CHAPTER 48 – Galatians: Approx. 58 A.D.

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians is the forty-eighth book of the Bible. The title of the book in Greek is Pros Galatas meaning “To the Galatians.” The title in the English Bible is “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians.”

Authorship

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, is the author of the book, The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians. It was probably written not later than 58 A.D.

Summary and Analysis

The book of Galatians is actually a letter (epistle) written by the apostle Paul to the Christian churches in the region of Galatia in ancient Asia Minor, in what is modern-day Turkey. It was probably written from the city of Corinth in what is modern-day Greece during Paul’s three-month stay there on his Third Missionary Journey.

The book opens with Paul introducing himself as someone who was chosen to be an apostle by Jesus Christ Himself. Paul then sends his blessings to the Galatian Christians.

Next, Paul expresses amazement that the Galatians have so soon turned away from the grace of Christ which he, Paul, had preached to them, to another gospel. But, Paul declares, this other gospel is a perversion of the gospel of Christ. He then pronounces a curse on those who have preached another gospel to them. Paul then assures the Galatians that the gospel which he preached to them, he received it by a direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

After this, Paul informs them that, in the past, he was zealous for the Jews’ religion and, therefore, he persecuted the Christian church and ravaged it. But when God called him to preach Christ among the non-Jews (Gentiles) he did not consult anyone. Neither did he go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before him, but he went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.

Paul then says that after three years he went to Jerusalem to see the apostle Peter, where he also saw James, the brother of Jesus Christ. Afterwards, he says, he came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia and when the churches of Judaea heard that their former persecutor now preached faith in Christ, these churches glorified God who was in him, Paul.

Next, Paul states that after another fourteen years he went up again to Jerusalem along with Barnabas and Titus, and communicated privately to the apostles the gospel which he had preached to the Gentiles. But neither was Titus compelled to be circumcised because of false brethren who had secretly come into the church intending to turn the church members away from their freedom in Christ, to bondage that is contrary to the truth of the gospel.

After this, Paul says that the apostles at Jerusalem approved of my gospel and decided that Barnabas and Paul would preach to the Gentiles, while they would preach to the Jews. Afterwards though, Paul says, I publicly rebuked Peter at Antioch when he refrained from eating with the Gentiles as was his custom, when certain church member came from James. For the other Jews and Barnabas were carried away by this pretence.

Paul then states that no one can be justified (declared righteous by God) by “the works of the law” (Galatians 2:16), but only by faith in Jesus Christ. If you will recall what was said in previous chapters of this book, “the works of the law” (Galatians 2:16) is a person’s self-sufficient attempt to keep God’s law of love. That is, an attempt to keep God’s law without receiving the gifts of repentance, faith, and love from God through the Holy Spirit. The Jews had the erroneous belief that the observance of the outward forms and ceremonies prescribed in the five books written by Moses (the Pentateuch), which they referred to as “the law”, was the way to salvation by God.

Paul continues by saying, “For I through [keeping] the law [through keeping God’s law of love] am dead to the [works of the] law, that I might live unto [according to the approval of] God.” Galatians 2:19. What does Paul mean? He explains by saying, “I 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. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20, 21.

In other words, Paul is saying that his own self-love which is self-idolatry was put to death by spiritual crucifixion just as Christ Himself was crucified. This death of self-idolatry is his own repentance which was effected by the Holy Spirit when he, Paul, turned away from his sins and submitted himself to God’s will. Having repented, Paul then received the gift of faith in Christ, the Son of God, from the Holy Spirit, which faith he willingly acknowledged and, hence, the Spirit poured the love of God in his, Paul’s, heart.

The gift of love which Paul received from the Holy Spirit is actually “the gift of [Christ’s] righteousness.” Romans 5:17. Therefore, Paul could say that he no longer lives, but Christ lives in him through the Spirit’s gift of Christ’s righteousness. So then, the life Paul now lives in the flesh as a human being, he now lives by constantly exercising faith in Christ to give him moral strength through the Spirit in order to overcome sin. That is, Paul is constantly trusting in Christ to give him the victory in his fight against sin.

In this way, Paul says he does not frustrate the grace of God which is God’s unmerited favour and which is intended to set people free from sin. So, Paul uses the word “law” in Galatians 2:19 to mean two different things. In other words, God’s law of love which the Holy Spirit has enabled Paul to obey through the gift of love has turned Paul away from any attempt to keep God’s law of love through “the works of the law.” Galatians 2:16.

That is, Paul through the Spirit has been turned away from the “dead works” (Hebrews 6:1) produced by “the works of the law” (Galatians 2:16) to instead do the “good works” (Ephesians 2:10) produced by obedience to God’s law of love. Paul own words may be amplified as follows: “For I through the [obedience to God’s] law [of love] am dead to the [works of the] law, that I might live [a holy life] unto [in the sight of] God.” Galatians 2:19.

Therefore, Paul says, “I do not frustrate the grace of God” (Galatians 2:21) because it has worked effectively in me to make me holy, that is, to make me obedient to God’s law of love. In light of this, Paul exclaims that “if righteousness come by the [works of the] law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21. For this would mean that “the gift of [Christ’s] righteousness” (Romans 5:17), which is the righteousness of Christ’s sinless life on earth, is not necessary to make an individual holy. In other words, if righteousness could come by a person’s self-sufficient attempt to keep God’s law of love, then the death of Christ for the sins of the whole world was unnecessary and in vain.

Paul then asks the Galatians if they are so foolish, when having begun their Christian life through the gift of faith received from the Holy Spirit, do they now seek to be made holy by the works of the law, according to what was being taught by their new teachers. For Abraham had faith in God’s promises and, therefore, God credited him with the forgiveness of his sins and the gift of righteousness, that is, the gift of love.

It is important to note here that, while both repentance and faith in God’s promises are necessary for an individual’s justification, oftentimes the Bible simply refers to faith as necessary for justification. This does not mean that repentance is unnecessary, but simply that faith is the crowning act which leads to justification. For if a person stops at repentance and does not go on to faith, they will fail to be justified. Why? Faith, a belief and trust in God’s remedy for sin, means that you have accepted this remedy and, therefore, you have given God permission to work in you to make you holy. Otherwise, not believing in God’s remedy for sin means that you are resisting God’s will to make you holy, and God will not, by any means, force anyone to be holy.

Paul then declares that God had preached the gospel to Abraham, saying, that through Abraham all nations would be blessed because Christ would be born as a descendant of Abraham. Thus, Abraham believed the gospel and all who like Abraham also believe the gospel will be blessed as Abraham was with the gift of righteousness from God. Paul then reiterates that no one can be justified by the works of the law. Also, God’s giving of “the ten commandments” (Exodus 34:28) as a codified form of God’s law of love for the universe that was designed to meet humanity in their sinful condition, some 430 years after God preached the gospel to Abraham, could not make void God’s promise to Abraham.

Why then was the law, the ten commandments, given? It was given as a schoolmaster (tutor) to point out the sins in a person’s life, so that such a person might recognise their need for salvation from sin through the gospel of Christ. But when a person has been justified by faith, they are no longer under a schoolmaster for they have received Christ’s righteousness through the Holy Spirit and, hence, they have put away their sins.

Paul then asks the Galatians how is it that they desire to once again be in bondage to sin just as when they followed the ways of the world. He then says that he is afraid he has bestowed his spiritual labour on them in vain. Paul then reminds them that they had received him as an angel of God, and even as Christ Himself. For, if it had been possible, they would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him. Paul next asks them if he has become their enemy because he tells them the truth. He then exclaims that he is in the labour of childbirth for them again until Christ is formed in them, and also he, Paul, desires to see them.

Next, Paul likens the desire of the Galatians to live by the works of the law to the story of Abraham’s two sons. The son by a slave woman Paul likens to seeking salvation by the works of the law which is really bondage to sin. The son by a free woman Paul likens to the gospel of Christ which leads to freedom from sin. That is, if they become circumcised according to the law written by Moses thinking that this is a means of salvation, then Christ is of no profit to them.

After this, Paul states that the Galatians had begun their Christian life well and asks them who has hindered them from obeying the truth of the gospel. He then asks them that if he were preaching circumcision, why does he, Paul, suffer persecution? For then the offence caused by the preaching of the cross of Christ would have ceased. He then declares that he wishes that the new teachers who trouble the Galatians would be cut off from them.

Next, Paul explains that God’s law of love expressed as the ten commandments and all that is contained in the five books written by Moses, is fulfilled in one thing—that you love your neighbour (God and your fellow human being) as yourself. He encourages the Galatians to live according to God’s ways through the working of the Holy Spirit. In this way they would not display the dead works of the sinful nature, but would instead display good works as the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Next, Paul charges the Galatians to restore to faith in Christ anyone who has been overcome by sin, with a spirit of meekness, and considering themselves in the event that they also be tempted to sin. Also, they are to bear each other’s burdens and so fulfill God’s law of love. Nevertheless, everyone is responsible for bearing their own burden. He cautions them not to be weary in well-doing for they that sow (act according) to the sinful nature will reap eternal death (annihilation), but they that sow (act) according to God’s ways through the Holy Spirit will reap everlasting life.

Paul then mentions that he has written to them in large letters with his own hand, apparently due to his poor eyesight. He declares that the new teachers of the Galatians desire them to be circumcised only because they wished to escape persecution for preaching the cross of Christ. Also, these new teachers who are themselves circumcised, do not keep God’s law of love. Paul declares that he himself glories in the cross of Christ, for the cross has made him dead to the world’s influence on his thinking and conduct, and he is himself also dead to any desire for the world.

Paul next cautions the Galatians that the issue is not whether one becomes circumcised or not, but whether one is a new person because they have been transformed by the Holy Spirit. He then pronounces a blessing on those who live according to God’s law of love. Next, Paul says that no one should trouble him anymore about the matter for he, Paul, bears in his body the marks (scars) received because of his preaching of Christ. He then ends his letter with the prayer that the grace of God (God’s unmerited favour) will be upon the Galatians.

Themes

• The conversion of a persecutor of the church to Christianity.
• The call by God to be an apostle who is taught the gospel by God Himself.
• False teachers who preach contrary to the gospel of Christ.
• The error of salvation by works and the truth of salvation by faith.
• A spiritual father’s concern for his children who have been led into error.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God calls people to be Christians and appoints them their work for Christ.
• God has preached the gospel to humanity from the earliest of times.
• God gave to the world the ten commandments and the laws written by Moses.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

“The Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore [why]? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone [Christ].” Romans 9:30-32.

“For I bear them record that they [Israel] have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end [goal] of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:2-4.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Beware of the error of salvation by works.
• Do the work which God has appointed you as a Christian.
• Be a spiritual father or mother for those living in sin.
• Beware of those who teach a perverted gospel.
• Trust in God’s power to save you through your faith in Christ.

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