Galatians 1: 1-10 Corps - 1983 - Part 1
Publication Date: 9-21-1983
Walter J. Cummins graduated from the Power for Abundant Class in 1962.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Ohio State University in 1968 and his Master of Education degree in Secondary School Administration in 1978 from Wright State University.
He was ordained to the Christian by The Way International in 1968. He has studied at The Way International under Victor Paul Wierwille and K.C.Pillai. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he was director of the Research department of the Way International and served as assistant to the president.
Galatians 1:1-10
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The author of Galatians is God. Paul is the writer. Paul named the Galatians himself.
Galatians 6:11 - He wrote the Epistle himself which was not typical of Paul (Rom. 16:22). He would have a secretary, he would dictate it. Paul would usually write the salutation at the end (II Thess. 3:17).
Epistle in Galatians corrects doctrinal error. The doctrinal epistle is Romans. Although Romans was not yet written at the time Galatians was, Paul had still taught that information when he traveled there.
John 16:13 - Galatians is one of the seven church epistles that reveal the “all truth”.
Pau1 made three itineraries to the Roman province of Galatia. His third itinerary is recorded in Acts 18 beginning in verse 23 and goes to 21:15.
He begins in Antioch of Syria and travels throughout Galatia; he strengthened the apostles there and then went to Ephesus. He was there for two years and three months (55-57 AD). During that time he wrote Galatians and I Corinthians in 57 AD. Then he went to Macedonia in the later part of 57 AD, he wrote II Corinthians. Then he went to Corinth and in the winter of 58 AD he wrote Romans. Galatians demonstrates how the Word can be hot in one area and cold in another. Paul’s first itinerary was in Antioch of Pisidian Galatia - Acts 13:49.
On the second itinerary, Timothy was traveling with him to the Province of Asia - Acts 16:6. The holy spirit had said not to go to Asia. His third itinerary (Acts 18:23) the spiritual situation had reversed and he passes through Galatia, gets to Ephesus (Acts 19:10) and all of Asia heard the word in two years and three months. He had to write to Galatia because they were screwed up (Gal. 1:6, 3:1, 4:11).
Practical error usually manifests itself in the abuse of freedom - three key sections in Corinthians show abuse of liberty and freedom.
Doctrinal error takes from the realm of the abuse of freedom into legalism - putting people back under the law as apposed to grace.
The abuse of freedom is where they used it as a stumbling block for others. You are free to eat meat, but if someone chooses not to, they do not have to. If someone wants to be circumcised they may, but we all do not have to, or since we are under grace no one should be circumcised or else. Then eventually that leads to legalism - nobody can be circumcised. You are not allowed to eat meat - it becomes law. Romans chapters 1-8 show the Doctrine.
The book of Galatians has the most extensive presentation of the credentials of the Apostle Paul in the entire seven church epistles. They, Galatia, turned away from Paul himself as well as his teachings. They were not walking in grace but returning to the weak and beggarly elements, namely the law. This was instigated by Judeans who came to Galatia and contradicted Paul and his teachings. When they question the integrity of the Word, they question the man himself.
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By the time the epistle was written they did not believe that Paul was an apostle or his teachings of Grace. So the Epistle spends a lot of time establishing both of these points. Chapters 1-2 establish Paul’s credentials; 3-5 deals with four major questions to bring the Galatians back to right believing and to the doctrine of Grace.
Structure
A. Gal. 1:1-5 Salutations with Paul’s credentials.
B. Gal. 1:6-10 Statement of Doctrinal Problems.
C. Gal. 1:11-2:11 Paul’s credentials in handling Doctrinal issues.
D. Gal. 3:1 – 5:26 Doctrinal Error stated.
C. Gal. 6:1-10 Believers credentials in handling the Doctrinal error.
B. Gal. 6:11-16 Resolution of the Doctrinal Problem.
A. Gal. 6:17-18 Salutation with Paul’s credentials.
Key Concepts
Justification via works of law vs. Justification via faith of Christ
Law given to Moses vs. Promise given to Abraham
Lifestyle of bondage vs. Lifestyle of freedom
(walk of a servant) (son of God)
Paul’s words = man’s words vs. Paul’s words = God’s words
Literal Translation: (according to usage) reproduces the thought and meaning of the original based on the words in the original, in relation to the verses, context, remoter context and to whom it is written.
Expanded Translation: reproduces the original with more alternative meanings for the sake of clarity.
1:1-5 These verses are unique – there is more said in this opening verse of Paul’s apostleship and his credentials than any other epistle. (compare Eph. 1:1) A lack of accommodation is also present (not faithful or beloved or sanctify, etc). To the church of Galatia – also no thanksgiving section. He does not thank them for anything – reads like an apologia (an answer of truth in the face of accusation). They are accusing Paul of not speaking the truth or him being an apostle.
1:1 Apostle – Aramaic (salicha); Greek (apostolos) – is one who is sent – a sent one – one who is sent in the full power of attorney in the place of another. In the New Testament brings new light, he is sent to send others. It was used in other Greek literature as a commander of a navel force.
Paul was commissioned by God, not men or a man, BUT:
1. Roman government commissioned officials:
a. by the emperor (a man)
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b. by the senate (men)
2. Jewish religious system commissioned Saul:
a. by the High Priest (a man) – Acts 9:1 before conversion.
b. by the elders, the Sanhedrin (men) – Acts 22:4,5; 26:10,12 both the group as well as the High Priest.
Paul did not get his commissioning from a group of men or a single leader but from God.
Why both Ephesians 1:1 representing both of them, God called Paul but he represented Jesus Christ.
God, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Ephesians 4:8-11), gave the gift ministries after he was raised from the dead. Hebrews 3:1. The word “from” is “ek” in Greek which means “out from among the dead”.
(literal according to usage)
Paul, an apostle, sent not to represent a group of men nor commissioned by a single human being, but sent by Jesus Christ and by God the Father, Who raised him from the dead,
1:2 Who was with him? – he was at Ephesus – the hot spot of the world at that time where all of Asia was hearing the Word – so who was with him? All those in Asia that were responsible in moving the Word. Yet Galatia was cold. Why aren’t you with me?
Churches – home fellowships in the different communities. Every epistle is called an ENCYCLICAL, which is a letter that moves around after written, for distribution to move among the church wherever the need was.
(literal according to usage)
And all the brothers [who are here in Asia] with me, to the churches [home fellowships] of Galatia.
1:3 In spite of all the problems, he still greets them with grace and peace. Grace is the doctrinal issue – the result of walking in grace is peace – what better way to open the epistle. That is the goal he is after.
(literal according to usage)
Grace and peace to you from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ
1:4 Will of God our father (better reading), Aramaic omits “and”.
“For” – Greek (hupor) a preposition – for or on behalf of as a legal substitution for.
The second issue – the first issue was Paul’s credentials. The second issue was whether Christ did legally substitute for our sins, was it by grace or by works that we are saved.
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“deliver us” – to deliver is to rescue. When you work this word it is used a lot of people being delivered from bondage (prison, etc..). Jesus Christ was the “legal substitute” that he might deliver us from the evil present world.
“evil” – (Gr.) poneros (emphasizes the harassing aspect of evil). There are three different Greek words for evil and each emphasizes something different. First – the destructive aspect of evil. Second – the non productive or unrewarding aspect of evil. This word (the third instance) emphasizes the harassment aspect of evil; people calling you names down grading you.
“world” – means age (not the physical world).
“according to” – sets its standard for our deliverance; to the will of God our Father, not mans philosophy.
(literal according to usage)
Who gave himself [as a legal substitute] for our sins, in order to deliver us from the evil harassment of this age, in accordance with the will of God our Father.
1:5 This is a doxology (an ascription of praise) to God – Romans 9:5, 11:36, 16:27; Ephesians 3:21; I Timothy 1:7. It is always an inscription to God, not Jesus Christ.
“To whom” – To God, no exception.
(literal according to usage)
To God be glory for ever. Amen.
1:6 “I marvel” – shocked; this is a figure of speech “thaumasmos” meaning expression of feeling by way of wonder.
“so soon” – with such speed, hastily, with so little restraint (the Galatians were fickle!). II Corinthians 11:4 – you put up with it so easily.
“removed” – to turn, to change, to pervert, alter, to move philosophically from one school of thought to another.
“into” – can be translated “by”; “Grace” – divine favor; “of Christ” – omitted by some manuscripts
“another” – (Gr.) heteros – of a different kind. The issue is grace – Romans 3:24; 4:16; 5:2; 6:14. This whole section gets into grace – Romans 5:20, 21; 11:5 & 6. They were into works of the flesh. They wanted to cut everybody (circumcision).
(literal according to usage)
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I am shocked that you are being turned away from the One who called you by divine favor to a totally different gospel with so little resistance.
1:7 “which is not another” – it’s not anything except, or nothing more than, (the construction of).
“trouble” – agitate: throw you into confusion.
“gospel of Christ” – Gospel of God pertaining to Christ. This phrase occurs 12 times – only in the epistles (fig.) – a genitive of relations. Gospel of his Son (our Lord Christ), not the gospel of – but pertaining to.
(literal according to usage)
This is nothing more than agitators disturbing you and desiring to pervert [distort] the gospel pertaining to Christ.
1:8, 9 These verses are a figure of speech “epidiegesis” – a repetition, in order to restate it in full. It draws a real emphasis on any other Gospel, let him be accursed (well the hell with him) you don’t mean it literally.
“as we said before” – as I just said it up above, let me repeat what I just said, to make a point. “We, or an angel” – an angel is a messenger. (fig.) hyperbole, an exaggeration – absolute extreme. In Acts 14, Paul first came to Lystra and healed a man. The Lycaonian’s then called them gods (Barnabus “Jupiter” and Paul “Mercury”). Yet, look what Paul says about them in Galatians 4:14!
(literal according to usage)
But even if we ourselves or a messenger out of heaven should declare a gospel contrary to the gospel we declared to you, let him be accursed.
Let me repeat what I have just said. If anyone declares a gospel to you contrary to that which you have already received, let him be accursed!
1:10 “persuade” – to win ones favor
Two questions here which is a figure of speech “Erotesis” – a rhetorical question – used a lot throughout this epistle.
“servant” – (Gr.) doulos: bond slave
(literal according to usage)
So now do I win the favor of men or God? Do I seek to please men? If I were now seeking to please men, I would not be a bond slave of Christ.
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Verses 6-10 set the heart of the doctrinal problem in Galatia. Besides Paul’s credentials, grace verses works. Are you saved by grace or by the works of the law?