Concise Bible Commentary:
Galatians
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Explanation: In Galatians 1:1-5, the Apostle Paul greets the Galatians by affirming his apostleship as independent of human mediation and received directly from Jesus Christ and God the Father. Paul also outlines the gospel by describing the nature of Christ’s death (a sacrifice for sin), the purpose of Christ’s death (a rescue from the present evil age), the origin of Christ’s death (the will of the Father) and the result of Christ’s death (the reception of grace and peace). These themes will be the focus of Paul's letter to the Galatians as Paul defends accusations made against his gospel message and mandate.
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Application: The Apostle Paul's focus at the beginning of his letter to the Galatians is to emphasise that salvation is something that God does for humanity and not something that humanity does for themselves. This is seen in Paul’s fourfold statement that salvation is accomplished through Christ’s sacrificial death for sin, that salvation is God’s rescue of humanity from the present evil age, that salvation is according to the will of God the Father and that salvation is God’s offer of grace and peace. In short, human salvation is the initiative and accomplishment of God that humanity receives in gratitude through faith. As will be seen, the Galatians were abandoning this understanding of salvation by placing human effort (obedience to the Law of Moses) as the means through which salvation and acceptance with God are attained.
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We must always remember that salvation is downward and not upward. Jesus came down from heaven to be the saviour of humanity and the curtain of the Temple (the barrier that divided the sinfulness of humanity from the holiness of God within the Temple) was torn from top to bottom. Salvation is not that humanity ascended to God after falling into sin. Salvation is that God descended to humanity to rescue and restore humanity from sin. To reverse these roles by insisting on human effort and accomplishment (rather than on faith) as the way of salvation is to deny the work and glory of God in Christ.
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Explanation: In Galatians 1:6-10, the Apostle Paul expresses amazement that the Galatians are abandoning the gospel that saves for a ‘gospel’ that does not save. The gospel that saves relies on the finished and completed work of Christ received in faith rather than on human effort and achievement. Paul further states that those who embrace and preach a false gospel are under God’s curse and opposed to God, meaning they are still in their sins (they have not received God’s forgiveness in Christ). In addition, the gospel that the Galatians initially received (the apostolic preaching) is the measuring stick or standard to judge truth and falsehood. Today, this is the New Testament. The controversy that Paul is addressing was likely caused by the 'Judaizers' described in Acts 15:1-35 and their insistence that circumcision as well as obedience to the Law of Moses was a requirement for salvation in Christ. They had infiltrated the Galatian churches after Paul's departure (Acts 13-14) and corrupted the gospel of grace, hence Paul's letter of correction to the Galatians. Paul concludes this section by stating that his focus is to please God (rather than people) by being a servant of Christ.
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Application: The Apostle Paul equates or defines the ‘grace of Christ’ as the ‘gospel of Christ’, and states that some individuals and groups within the church will attempt to throw people into confusion by perverting the gospel. Sometimes they will even claim divine authority (an angel from heaven) for their actions. These individuals should be avoided and (at times) openly opposed. As Paul states, Christians are to please God and serve Christ both within the church and outside it.​
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What would your life look like if you were a God-pleaser rather than a people-pleaser, if you focused on pleasing God and not people? This must be the focus of your life as a Christian. You are to represent Jesus by serving Jesus. The Apostle Paul interpreted this commission as receiving, preaching and defending the gospel of Christ - the free gift of God’s grace given to humanity (Jews and Gentiles) through faith alone in Christ alone. Also, never abandon the gospel that saves (what Jesus has done) for a gospel that does not save (what you must do). This gospel is your measuring stick for determining truth and falsehood.
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Explanation: In Galatians 1:11-24, the Apostle Paul outlines the source or origin of the gospel that the Galatians received through his apostolic preaching. According to Paul, both his gospel and apostleship came directly from Jesus Christ, which means that the Galatians were in danger of rejecting Jesus by rejecting the gospel that Jesus had commissioned Paul to preach. Paul emphasises this by briefly chronicling his life before conversion (a rejector of the gospel and persecutor of the church), the reason for his conversion (a revelation of Jesus according to the will of God) and his ministry after conversion (an apostle of Jesus and preacher of the gospel). Paul’s point is that only a direct revelation of Jesus and the gospel of grace (hence Paul’s apostolic preaching among the Galatians) could have turned a fanatical Jew who was persecuting Christ into a passionate apostle who was now preaching Christ.​
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Application: The Apostle Paul used his story to tell the story of Jesus. In other words, Paul's previous life of sin testified to God's willingness to show grace. Paul wrote the following in 2 Timothy 1:12-17:
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“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
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The story of sinful humanity is the story of Jesus because Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. In this case, Jesus made an example of Paul not by punishing Paul for his sins but by saving Paul from his sins. In short, Jesus purposefully saved the worst of sinners (a blasphemer, a persecutor and a violent man) so that the least of sinners (and all between) may know that there is salvation in Jesus.
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Like the Apostle Paul, you can use your story to tell the story of Jesus. What has Jesus done for you and how has Jesus done it? What would your life and future be like without Jesus? Think and reflect carefully on these questions and use them to promote and defend the gospel of grace. Remember too that Jesus came to save the one as well as the many. Jesus came to save the individual as well as the collective. This means that your story of salvation is unique and belongs to Jesus. Use it and be an example to others that there is salvation in Jesus.
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Explanation: In Galatians 2:1-10, the Apostle Paul describes his second visit to Jerusalem. Paul says that this visit took place fourteen years after his conversion, that he was accompanied by Barnabas and Titus (an uncircumcised Gentile) and that he met with the leaders of the Jerusalem Church and presented to them the gospel that he was preaching among the Gentiles. This visit was a success for two reasons. First, Titus was not compelled to be circumcised, which means that obedience to the Law of Moses was not a requirement for salvation in Christ or obedience to Christ. Second, those esteemed as pillars within the church (James, Cephas and John) gave Paul (and Barnabas) the right hand of fellowship, which means that they acknowledged the authenticity of Paul’s apostleship and the accuracy of Paul’s gospel. Paul further notes that a distinction was made between himself and Peter (Paul had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles whereas Peter to the Jews) and that Paul should continue to remember and support the poor (a likely reference to the impoverished believers in Judea). The purpose of Paul recollecting this visit to Jerusalem was to combat the false accusations of the Judaizers and further assure the Galatians that his gospel and apostleship were genuine. Simply put, Titus was not compelled to be circumcised when visiting Jerusalem (showing that Paul had not corrupted or altered the gospel by excluding circumcision), and Paul was given the right hand of fellowship by the leaders of the Jerusalem Church (showing that Paul was not working independently or in opposition to those esteemed as pillars). The claims made against Paul by the Judaizers were therefore false.
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Application: The Apostle Paul’s second visit to Jerusalem was successful in preserving the truth of the gospel against the false claims of the Judaizers. This was that Gentiles (as well as Jews) must obey the Law of Moses and be circumcised to receive salvation in Christ. In making this claim, Paul accuses the Judaizers of taking away the freedom that has been given in Christ. Jesus secured for every believer a place within the Kingdom of God by dying as an atoning sacrifice for human sin. However, if salvation is received through obedience to the Law, then this security is withdrawn and salvation is uncertain. It also means that Jesus died for nothing (as Paul will later say).
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Have faith that Jesus did everything needed for your salvation on the cross by dying as an atoning sacrifice for your sins. Do not let anyone corrupt the gospel in your life and do not allow anyone to take away the freedom you have in Christ. Remember too that freedom in Christ is freedom from earning your salvation through obedience to the Law. However, the Law still describes the holiness of God and what pleases God in human conduct. Strive to obey the Law of Christ and please God but know that your salvation is through the assurance of Christ’s death and not the uncertainty of your obedience to God's Law. In short, you have a place within the Kingdom of God because Jesus died as an atoning sacrifice for your sins.
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Explanation: In Galatians 2:11-21, the Apostle Paul recalls publicly opposing Peter (Cephas) in Antioch because Peter was abandoning the Gentile Christians. Peter had been freely mixing and eating with the Gentile Christians in Antioch until some Jewish Christians (who were keeping the Law and expected the Gentiles to do likewise) arrived from Jerusalem and pressured Peter to stop. It should be noted that Jews would refuse to eat or associate with Gentiles because Gentiles were ritually unclean according to the Law of Moses. However, this distinction (clean and unclean) had been removed in Jesus. This means that despite knowing and teaching that Jews and Gentiles had been accepted (justified and made righteous) by God through faith in Jesus and without obeying the Law of Moses, Peter eventually acquiesced to the Jerusalem Jews and began withdrawing from the Gentiles. In summary, Peter was denying the gospel by rejecting those whom God had accepted and requiring of others what God did not require. Paul therefore opposed Peter publicly in Antioch (Peter's actions were public) in defence of the gospel - the free gift of God's grace given to humanity (Jews and Gentiles) through faith alone in Christ alone. The situation that caused the confrontation between Paul and Peter (two of the leading apostles) was a close parallel to what was currently happening among the Galatians (the corruption of the gospel by Jewish Christians), hence Paul's inclusion of these events when addressing the Galatians. In commenting on his defence of the gospel in Antioch, Paul also outlines the three principles of salvation in Christ. First, salvation is not by works. Second, salvation is accomplished by Christ. Third, salvation is received by faith.​
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Application: The accusation of the Apostle Paul against Peter was that Peter was acting hypocritically by denying the gospel. This is because Peter was teaching that Jews and Gentiles were equal in Christ through faith but living as if obedience to the Law of Moses still determined clean and unclean before God. In other words, Peter was preaching the New Covenant in Christ while modelling the Old Covenant in Moses. Paul's point is that salvation in Christ makes Jews and Gentiles equal before God because it is based on what Christ has done rather than on what we must do. Faith in Christ for salvation is therefore the great equaliser of humanity (Jews and Gentiles).​​​​​​​​​​​
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Sometimes, like Peter in Antioch, we fail to embrace our new life in Christ and revert to our old life before Christ. Sometimes, like in the case of Peter, this can confuse onlookers and lead others astray. It is also possible to deny the work of Christ and the gospel of grace by clinging to insecurities about our salvation and our righteousness before God. Jesus did everything needed for our salvation by dying as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, which is why the Apostle Paul states that he now lives by faith in the Son of God who lived and died for him. Paul rightly understands that salvation and righteousness are received through faith in Christ (his new life) and not through obedience to God's Law (his old life). Like Paul, we too must live according to this testimony and be consistent in our behaviour towards others. It is also important to recognise that salvation has been offered to humanity through faith in Christ because our obedience to God's Law will always be incomplete. This is why the Law cannot save and will only condemn those who attempt to establish their righteousness by it. Paul will discuss this further in the next section.​
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Explanation: In Galatians 3:1-14, the Apostle Paul appeals to experience (first) and scripture (second) to prove to the Galatians that salvation is through faith in Christ and not by obedience to the Law. First, Paul reminds the Galatians that they were forgiven in Christ (justified) and filled with the Holy Spirit (sanctified) before they had started obeying the Law of Moses, which shows that forgiveness and Spirit-filled living are not based on the works of the Law. Instead, it was by believing what they heard and by putting their trust in Christ for salvation that the Galatians had received the promise (and experienced the reality) of justification and sanctification. It is significant that all this occurred during Paul’s time among them and before the Judaizers (those who advocate for keeping the Law of Moses) had arrived. In addition to this, Paul adds that the Law curses (rather than blesses) those who establish their righteousness by it because human obedience to God’s Law will always be incomplete and deserving of God’s wrath (Leviticus 18:5 & Deuteronomy 27:26). This is what Paul describes as the curse of the Law that Christ removed by dying as an atoning sacrifice for sin (Deuteronomy 21:23). By depending on the Law, the Galatians were therefore denying the saving work of Christ and placing themselves under the curse that Christ died to remove. This is Paul’s argument from experience. Second, Paul references the faith of Abraham as described in Genesis. This example is significant because Abraham was declared righteous by God before he was circumcised and before the Law of Moses was given. In fact, Abraham was technically a Gentile (and not a Jew) when he received God’s promise and was made right with God through faith. Paul’s point is that having the faith of Abraham (rather than the mark of circumcision) is what brings Jews and Gentiles alike into Abraham's true family (children) and lineage (inheritance). This is Paul’s argument from scripture, and Paul will say more about Abraham later.
Application: The Apostle Paul provides a subtle and yet powerful definition of faith by citing the story of Abraham. Abraham was declared righteous by God because he believed God. Specifically, Abraham believed God’s promise of a son to continue Abraham’s line and bless all nations. Paul highlights that salvation in Christ is the same. God has promised that in Christ all sin has been forgiven and, like Abraham, a choice must be made to believe God or not. By taking God at His word and by relying on the death of Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for sin, guilty sinners are put right with God and given the Holy Spirit as the assurance of salvation. To try and earn salvation by the works of the Law is to reject the promise of God in Christ and call God’s truthfulness into question. The Galatians were beginning to do this very thing by listening to the Judaizers and by looking to the Law of Moses. Paul further highlights that the gospel did not originate in the New Testament but was announced beforehand in the Old Testament. To Abraham, this was the promise of a son who would bless all nations. Jesus Christ, the universal Saviour of humanity and promised ‘Son’ of Abraham, is the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham as Jesus blesses all nations (Jews and Gentiles) through his atoning death for sin. Paul therefore undermines the Judaizers and challenges the Galatians by showing that the gospel predates both circumcision and the Law of Moses.
It is important that we acknowledge the order of events that caused Abraham to be known as the man of faith. First, God made a promise to Abraham. Second, Abraham believed God’s promise. Third, Abraham was declared righteous by God. Our assurance of salvation follows this order precisely. First, God promises forgiveness in Christ. Second, we believe God’s promise of forgiveness in Christ. Third, we are declared righteous (forgiven) by God in Christ. The Apostle Paul therefore uses a brilliant illustration (the story of Abraham) to highlight what the gospel is (a promise), what the gospel offers (forgiveness) and what the gospel requires (faith). It is also important, as Paul mentions, that our beginning matches our end. This was the error of the Galatians. We are not forgiven in Christ through faith and then sanctified by obedience to the Law, and neither do we receive forgiveness as a gift and then maintain it through good works. From beginning to end, our righteous standing before God in Christ (justification and sanctification) is the work of Christ and can only be received and maintained through faith in Christ. To transition from faith in Christ to the works of the Law as the means of salvation (whatever we perceive those works to be), is to embrace the curse of the Law because our works will always be incomplete. This is why dependence on Christ is the only assurance of salvation, and why Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4 to show that “the righteous will live by faith”.
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