Galatians
1:9 "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."
“As we said before”: This refers to what Paul taught during
an earlier visit to these churches, not a previous comment in this epistle.
“Any man”: Paul turns from the hypothetical case of verse 8
(the apostle or heavenly angels preaching a false gospel) to the real situation
faced by the Galatians. The Judaizers were doing just that, and were to be
devoted to destruction because of their damning heresy.
This is so important that Paul has mentioned it the second
time. This should be a lesson to all of us, about how important it is to not
look for another doctrine after we have been saved. If the message we receive
is good enough to save us, it is, also, good enough to keep us.
In our time frame, there are many false doctrines being
proclaimed as the truth. We must examine the things that we hear and make sure
they line up with the Word of God. False doctrine is usually pretty close to
the truth. There will be just minor variations here and there. It will sound
very near the truth. We are told to try the spirits and see whether they are of
God or not.
1 John 4:1-3 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but
try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone
out into the world." Look, with me, at how you can tell if they be of God
or not. "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:" "And every spirit
that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and
this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come;
and even now already is it in the world."
Verses 10-12: Because the false teachers sought to undermine
Paul’s spiritual credentials, he set out to defend his apostleship, explaining
once again (verse 1) that he was appointed by God and not by men.
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."
“I yet pleased men”: Paul’s previous motivation when he used
to persecute Christians on behalf of his fellow Jews.
“The servant of Christ”: Paul had become a willing slave of
Christ, which cost him a great deal of suffering from others (6:17). Such
personal sacrifice is exactly opposite the goal of pleasing men (6:12).
“For” explains the harsh language of verses 3-9: If Paul
were to “persuade men” (i.e., court their favor) or “seek to please” them by
preaching a false gospel they want to hear, he “should not be the servant of
Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 2:4 "But as we were allowed of God to
be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but
God, which trieth our hearts."
You see that Paul is fully aware of the obligation to speak
exactly what God has given him to say. Choose now whom you will serve, God or
man. We must make the same decision that Paul faced. Paul had been a Pharisee;
he knew exactly what they taught. He also knew that the teaching of Judaism was
another doctrine. Grace and law were not the same.
The natural thing for Paul to do would have been to side in
with these Jews, of whom he had been one, but he found out better when he met
Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul knew better than anyone else, the bondage
that the law brought. He, also, had experienced first-hand the freedom of grace
through Jesus Christ. Man is a free agent. We may choose God, or man.
It is our choice. The way of the law is very similar to what
we see in many countries today. The law burdens people down with a heavy load
to bear. Grace lifts that load.
Verses 11-12: In verses 6-9 Paul implied that his gospel was
the only true one; the message he preaches is the yardstick by which all others
are to be measured. The reason for this is that his gospel is human neither in
nature (“not after man,” verse 11) nor in origin (“I neither received it of
man, verse 12). The apostle’s gospel is genuine; because he received it
directly from the risen Lord (“was I taught it … by the revelation of Jesus
Christ”).
Galatians
1:11 "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of
me is not after man."
“But I certify you”: The strong Greek verb Paul used here
often introduced an important and emphatic statement (1 Cor. 12:3; 2 cor. 8:1).
“The gospel … not after man”: The gospel Paul preached was
not human in origin or it would have been like all other human religion,
permeated with works righteousness born of man’s pride and Satan’s deception
(Rom. 1:16).
Paul had been taught the law in the school of Gamaliel in
Jerusalem, but God the Holy Spirit had taught Paul the lesson in grace. His
teaching of man had made him a Pharisee, not a Christian. The gospel that Paul
had brought these Galatians was not what he had learned as a Pharisee, but was
a direct revelation of Christ to Paul through the Holy Spirit.
Paul's learning of the gospel of Christ, then, was not of
man, or by man, but of God. Jesus Christ is the Truth. This is what Paul
taught. Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Galatians
1:12 "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by
the revelation of Jesus Christ."
“Neither received it of man, neither was I taught it”: In
contrast to the Judaizers, who received their religious instruction from
rabbinic tradition. Most Jews did not study the actual Scriptures; instead they
used human interpretations of Scripture as their religious authority and guide.
Many of their traditions not only were not taught in Scripture but also
contradicted it (Mark 7:13).
“By the revelation of Jesus Christ”: This refers to the
unveiling of something previously kept secret – in this case, Jesus Christ.
While he knew about Christ, Paul subsequently met Him personally on the road to
Damascus and received the truth of the gospel from Him. (Acts 9:1-16).
Actually, Paul was 3 years in the desert, and the Holy
Spirit of God taught him during that time. Paul's first encounter with the Lord
on the road to Damascus was a revealing in itself. When the Light of Jesus
shines upon you, you are never the same as you were before. Immediately, Paul
was transformed from a doubter to a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Before, he believed that a trouble maker called Jesus
existed. Now his eyes have been opened, and he realizes that this Jesus, whom
he persecuted, was, in fact, God manifest in the flesh. He even immediately
called Him Lord.
His eyes of understanding were opened at this time, and he
was prepared to receive the real truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul had
been taught of man, but it was the Jewish traditions that he had been taught,
not the gospel of Christ. The Truth was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.
Verses 13-24: “For” begins to confirm his assertion of receiving
the gospel straight from God and not from men (verse 12). Neither before
(verses 13-14) nor after (verses 15-22) conversion did Paul obtain a knowledge
of salvation from any human source. Prior to conversion he was an enemy of the
gospel, interested not in learning it but only in destroying it.
During the 14 years following his conversion he was not with
the apostles long enough to have been adequately instructed by them in the
gospel. The point is that he received the message of salvation from Christ, not
from man (verse 12).
Verses 1:13 to 2:21 Paul offers a brief biographical sketch
of important events in his life to further defend his apostleship and prove the
authenticity of the gospel of grace he proclaimed.
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:"
“Jews’ religion”: The Jewish religious system of works
righteousness, based not primarily on the Old Testament text, but on rabbinic
interpretations and traditions. In fact, Paul will argue that a proper
understanding of the Old Testament can lead only to Christ and His gospel of
grace through faith (3:6-29).
“Persecuted”: The tense of this Greek verb emphasizes Paul’s
persistent and continual effort to hurt and ultimately exterminate Christians.
See notes on Acts 8:1-3; 9:1; 1 Tim. 1:12-14.
“My conversation in time past” means my former conduct.
Paul is speaking of the law that had been given to the Jews.
Paul was educated by Gamaliel in this law, that they called the Law of Moses.
Paul believed that he was doing God's will, when he persecuted the Christians.
He was very anxious to be rid of these Christians and their gospel.
Paul was a Pharisee of the Pharisees, as we said before. As
we have said before, Paul was on a journey to persecute Christians, when he
first met Jesus. It is easier for Paul to witness to someone that is in the
same position he had been in.
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."
“Profited … above”: The Greek word means “to chop ahead,”
much like one would blaze a trail through a forest. Paul blazed his path in
Judaism (Phil. 3:5-6), and because he saw Jewish Christians as obstacles to its
advancement, he worked to cut them down.
“Exceedingly zealous”: Paul demonstrated this by the extent
to which he pursued and persecuted Christians (Acts 8:1-3); 26:11).
“Traditions of my fathers”: The oral teaching about Old
Testament law commonly known as the “Halakah.” This collection of
interpretations of the law eventually carried the same authority as, or even
greater that, the law (Torah) itself. Its regulations were so hopelessly
complex and burdensome that even the most astute rabbinical scholars could not
master it by either interpretation or conduct.
This verse could be translated, “I was progressing in
Judaism ahead of many contemporaries in my nation, because I was far more
zealous for my ancestral traditions.”
Let's look at a few of the Scriptures pertaining to the very
thing Paul is saying here.
Acts 22:3 "I am verily a man [which am] a Jew, born in
Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of
Gamaliel, [and] taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the
fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day."
Acts 26:5 "Which knew me from the beginning, if they
would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a
Pharisee."
Acts 26:9 "I verily thought with myself, that I ought
to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth."
We see from this and the next 2 verses, that Paul had been a
Jew, just like them. In fact, he had been a very strict Jew, a Pharisee.
Philippians 3:5-6 "Circumcised the eighth day, of the
stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as
touching the law, a Pharisee;" "Concerning zeal, persecuting the
church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."
Verses 15-16: Since Paul’s conversion to Christianity was
due to God and not man, and since he did not consult with men subsequent to his
conversion, then the apostle could not possibly have received the gospel from
any but the Lord. “To reveal his Son in” [to] “me:” the divine disclosure to
man of the person and work of Christ is the essence of the gospel.
Galatians
1:15 "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and
called [me] by his grace,"
“Separated me from my mother’s womb”: Paul is not talking
about being born, separated physically from his mother, but being separated or
set apart to God for service from the time of his birth. The phrase refers to
God’s election of Paul without regard for his personal merit or effort. (Isa.
49:1; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:13-17; Rom. 9:10-23).
“Called me by his grace”: This refers to God’s effectual
call (see note on Rom. 1:7). On the Damascus Road God actually brought Saul;
whom He had already chosen, to salvation.
God's foreknowledge was that Paul would be an apostle. God
called Paul even in his mother's womb. We are all saved by grace, but Paul's
calling was of grace. God knew the heart of Paul. He knew that Paul wanted to
do the will of God. Paul just did not know the will of God for his life, until
he was blinded by the Light of Jesus on the road to Damascus.
Paul's call was of God, and not man. Paul owed no
explanation to the others. It pleased God to make Paul an apostle.
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:"
“Reveal his Son in me”: Not only was Christ revealed to Paul
on the Damascus Road, but in him as God gave him the life, light, and faith to
believe in Him.
“Preach him among the heathen”: Paul’s specific call to
proclaim the gospel to non-Jews
“Conferred not with flesh and blood”: Paul did not look to
Ananias or other Christians at Damascus for clarification of or addition to the
revelation he received from Christ (Acts 9:19-20)
Paul did not run and get advice from his friends to make
sure God had called him. This is good advice for us, as well. We must not
question our call. We must do exactly what God has called us to do without
conferring with our friends first. God called you, not your friends. It would
be nice if they approved of your call, but that is highly unlikely.
Notice, what happened to Paul. Jesus was revealed inside of
Paul when the Light of God shined inside his understanding. This Light of Jesus
does away with all darkness and deception.
Notice, this was for a purpose. Paul was to bring the
message God had revealed to him, so that he would bring it to the Gentiles. God
does not idly call us to a job. Each job God gives is for a purpose. We do not
question God by getting confirmations from people.
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."
“Jerusalem … Arabia … Damascus”: Rather than immediately
traveling to Jerusalem to be instructed by the apostles, Paul instead went to
Nabatean Arabia, a wilderness desert that stretched east of Damascus down to
the Sinai peninsula. After being prepared for ministry by the Lord, he returned
to minister in nearby Damascus.
Following his Damascus road conversion Paul made no trip to
Jerusalem, where the apostles were, but spent approximately three years in
Arabia. It is implied that he conferred with God there. During these three
years he was not taught by men.
Not even the other apostles were to teach Paul. He was to be
taught of the Spirit of God. Paul was in the desert of Arabia 3 years in
training by the Holy Spirit. We will see this in the next verse.
Galatians
1:18 "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and
abode with him fifteen days."
“Three years”: The approximate time from Paul’s conversion
to his first journey to Jerusalem. During those years he made a visit to
Damascus and resided in Arabia, under the instruction of the Lord. This visit
is discussed in Acts 9:26-30.
“Up to Jerusalem”: Travelers in Israel always speak of going
up to Jerusalem because of its higher elevation (see note on Acts 18:22).
“Peter”: See notes on Matthew 10:2. The apostle Peter, who
was the personal companion of the Lord and the most powerful spokesman in the
early years of the Jerusalem church (read Acts chapters 1 – 12).
When Paul did first go to Jerusalem as a Christian, the
purpose of his visit was “to see Peter.” The verb “to see” means “to get to
know.” Paul’s purpose, then, was to become acquainted with Peter, not to be
instructed by him.
Peter was the head of the Christian movement at this time.
Paul was showing, that not even Peter taught him what to say. It was the Holy
Spirit. When Paul was ready to minister the gospel, it was understandable that
he would go tell Peter. Jesus had given the keys to Peter, as we read in the
following verses.
Matthew 16:18-19 "And I say also unto thee, That thou
art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it." "And I will give unto thee the keys of
the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven."
We can easily see why Paul would have gone to inform Peter
of his intentions to minister.
Galatians
1:19 "But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's
brother."
“James the Lord’s brother”: 2:9, 12; see note on Acts 15:13.
James was Mary's son, and would be the half-brother of
Jesus. James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. We remember that James
and Jesus' other brothers and sisters did not believe Jesus to be the Christ,
until He arose from the dead. Paul is going into detail about who he had been
with, so that all would know that he was not taught of the other disciples.
Galatians
1:20 "Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie
not."
The directness of this statement indicates that Paul had
been accused by the Jewish legalists of being a liar, who was shameless or
deluded.
We see an almost identical Scripture in Romans 9:1 "I
say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in
the Holy Ghost,"
Verses 21-23: From 2:1 Paul apparently spent about 14 years
in “the regions of Syria and Cilicia” (verse 21). During this period he
preached “the faith which once he destroyed” (verse 23). Because of his absence
from Jerusalem, he “was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea” (verse 22).
Throughout this lengthy evangelistic activity in the north,
Paul was too far removed from the apostles in Jerusalem to have received any
instruction from them. Had he been a student of theirs at this time, he would
have doubtlessly worked in, and been personally known by, the Judean churches.
Galatians
1:21 "Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;"
“Syria and Cilicia”: See note on Acts 15:23; Acts 9:30).
This area included his home town of Tarsus. He was preaching in that region for
several years. When word of revival in that area reached Jerusalem, they sent
Barnabas (see Acts 11:20-26).
Paul stayed on in that region as a pastor in the church at
Antioch. With Barnabas, they went from there on the first missionary journey
(Acts 13:1-3), and afterward returned to Antioch (Acts 14:26) from where they
were sent to the Jerusalem Council (Acts 14:26-15:4).
Most of Paul's ministry was done as a missionary. He did
minister in Jerusalem, but his primary ministry was in the out-lying area. Paul
established many churches on these journeys.
Galatians
1:22 "And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in
Christ:"
“Judea”: See note on Acts 1:8.
Paul did not go to churches that had already been established
by someone else. Paul was an evangelist. His ministry was in starting new
churches in areas where there was no Christian activity. He was one of the very
first missionaries. Jesus had started many churches in Judaea, Himself. They
were well cared for. They were not Paul's calling.
Galatians
1:23 "But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past
now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed."
“Over the 14 years before the Jerusalem Council, Paul had
come only twice to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-30; 11:30) so the Christians there only
knew him by reputation.
The word had gotten to these churches in Judea that Paul,
who had persecuted them in the past, had been saved and was preaching the
gospel to the lost. Some had a difficult time believing that Paul had changed.
Perhaps, this is one reason that Paul went to places that were not yet
committed to Christianity.
Galatians
1:24 "And they glorified God in me."
This had been such a drastic change in Paul that they knew
it had to be God who did it. Paul was not glorified by these people, but God.
To think that God would save someone who had been so terribly opposed to Him,
was almost unbelievable.
