INTRODUCTION
Galatia was a province, occupying a central position in Asia Minor. It derived its name from the Gauls (tribes of Celts), who came thither from Europe. Jews resided there in large numbers, attracted by the opportunities for trade. Paul visited this region on his third missionary journey, Act_18:23. His converts, composed of Jews and proselytes, manifested great eagerness and affection at first; but soon after the Apostle had left them, they fell an easy prey to the Judaizers, who wished to make the Mosaic ritual binding upon the Christian Church. These followed Paul’s steps and made every effort to undermine his influence.
Their object in this was twofold: – first, to convince Jewish converts that Paul’s authority was inferior to that of Peter and others who represented the more conservative element in the Church; and second, to insist upon Gentiles submitting to the rites of the ceremonial law. On receiving information of this invasion of the young church that he had founded, Paul wrote this urgent letter to the Galatians from Ephesus in A.D. 54, to vindicate his authority and to insist upon the all-sufficiency of Christ’s redeeming work.
{e-Sword Note: The following material was presented at the end of Galatians in the printed edition}
OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS
Gospel Liberty and Legal Bondage
THE APOSTLE’S VINDICATION
His Commission God-given
2. How had Paul received the gospel which he preached?
PAUL CALLED BY GOD
For I want you to know, believers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel [it is not a human invention, patterned after any human concept].
For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a [direct] revelation of Jesus Christ.
You have heard of my career and former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to hunt down and persecute the church of God extensively and [with fanatical zeal] tried [my best] to destroy it.
And [you have heard how] I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my countrymen in [my advanced study of the laws of] Judaism, as I was extremely loyal to the traditions of my ancestors.
But when God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased [Isa_49:1; Jer_1:5]
to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news–the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me].
Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and stayed awhile, and afterward returned once more to Damascus.
Then three years later I did go up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and I stayed with him fifteen days.
But I did not see any other apostle except James, the [half] brother of the Lord.
(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you as if I were standing before God that I am not lying.)
Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
And I was still unknown by sight to the churches which were in Christ in Judea (Jerusalem and the surrounding region);
they only kept hearing, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the [good news of the] faith which he once was trying to destroy.”
And they were glorifying God [as the Author and Source of what had taken place and all that had been accomplished] in me.
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
On
Galatians 1:11-17
THE TRUE GOSPEL A REVELATION
When men belittle the Apostle’s teaching as being purely Pauline, we should recall these strong statements, which attribute his knowledge of the gospel to the direct revelation of the Lord. He received from Christ Himself that which he delivered to the Church. See also Act_1:2. It was this that made his message authoritative.
What intensity of interest must have gathered for him about Mount Sinai, which doubtless was the objective of his journey into Arabia! Moses and Elijah had been pupils before him in its majestic solitudes. As the Apostle dwelt there, with unlimited opportunity for communion with God, his mind was turned in the direction of that massive system of thought which at once distinguishes his Epistles and connects the New Testament with the Old. It is a profound discovery when God reveals His Son as resident in the believer’s soul. That Christ is in each of us, if we be truly regenerated, is indubitable. See 2Co_13:5. But it seems that, in many cases, a veil hides that blessed fact from our consciousness. We need a miracle of grace, similar to that which at the Crucifixion rent the veil in twain, from the top to the bottom, Mat_27:51.
By Pastor Jeff Arthur
Beware The Perverted Gospel
The Gospel Of Paul”
Seek to Please God Not Men
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