Jul. 17, 2024

Dear Friends,

Tonight we embark upon a study of the book of Galatians. I hope you can join us as the journey begins. The Scripture is Galatians 1:1-12. Notes are attached.

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL

JULY 17, 2024

Galatians 1:1-12

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who

raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins

to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the

glory forever and ever. Amen.

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are

turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and

want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a

gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I

say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still

trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.

12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus

Christ.

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v 1 – “Paul, an apostle…”

“not from men nor through man”

Paul often was defending his apostleship

“not from men” – he was not sent out by men and his message was not from men

“not through man”—his power, his giftedness, was not through man, i.e. was not human

in origin

“but through Jesus Christ and God the Father”

No “if, ands, or buts” about it!

Paul had direct empowerment and authority through “Jesus Christ and God the Father”

“who raised him from the dead”

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ

Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things…that I may know

him and the power of his resurrection…”—Philippians 3:8,10

Paul never failed to preach the resurrection of Christ. Nor should we.

v 2 – “and all the brothers…”

“brothers” – ESV footnote: Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the

context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers

or to brothers and sisters; also verse 11

Galatia – region in central Asia Minor

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v 3 – “Grace to you…”

A blessing in the salutation—also some theology, and a foreshadowing of the letter

“God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”—the preeminence of Christ

“who gave himself for our sins” – the new covenant, fulfilling the law

“to deliver us from the present evil age”—the only person who can, the only way we can be

delivered; lit. “out of the age the existing one being evil" (Robertson), a way of adding

emphasis

“according to the will of our God and Father”—all of this, the fulfilling of the law in Christ, is

according to God’s will

“to whom be the glory…”—unto God’s glory forever

v 6 – “I am astonished…”

Right out of the gate…

This is a letter driven by a pressing need to address and refute the legalism that had been

introduced into the church by Judaizers

Paul’s description: that you are so quickly “deserting him”!

This theology is false teaching, incompatible with the gospel, and to embrace it is to

desert the calling of God!

“who called you in the grace of Christ”—as opposed to the law

turning to a “different gospel”

This is a major theme of the letter

“different” – heteros

There is only one gospel

“…contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”—Jude 1:3

The gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be added to or modified in any way—because the

gospel is an explanation—a proclamation—of what God has done in Christ. And

what he has done cannot and will not be changed. It is an established act of God,

planned from all eternity.

v 7 – “not that there is another one…”

But there are some who make the claim, disturbing the minds and lives of believers, and leading

some astray

want to “distort”— metastrephó, to turn about to an opposite (cf. Acts 2:20)

v 8 – “But even if we…”

This is quite a statement…. and it is intentionally absolute, to make clear with no doubting, that

the gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be changed

“Even if we”—obviously, Paul and his fellows are not going to preach a different gospel, but if

they were to do so, “let him be accursed”

Also obviously, an angel from heaven is not going to preach a different gospel—but even if one

did so… “let him be accursed”

gospel “contrary to” – para, closely alongside, as in paramedics, parachurch ministries, etc. This

is worth noting.

“accursed” – anathema

v 9 – “As we have said before…”

As Paul sometimes done, even though he has made the case in the strongest of terms, to leave

absolutely no doubt about what he is saying, he gives an emphatic, repetitive summary.

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This has many applications. An important one is the message for any cults claiming to be Christian (and

those tempted to follow them).

v 10—“For am I now…”

If this seems defensive, it is! Paul was responding to critics who sought to discredit him and his

apostleship.

Paul was accused of being a men-pleaser, which seems an unlikely charge on the face of it, but

apparently Paul’s writing was more confrontational than he tended to be in person.

“I Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble

when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!”—2 Corinthians

10:1

“And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my

message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit

and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power

of God.”—1 Corinthians 2:3-5

Thesis advisor

vv 11-12 – “For I would have you know…”

Paul’s defense continues… and this is a profound one

This would probably be Paul’s answer to modern-day scholars who write about a “Pauline”

theology

I “would have you know”—gnórizó, make known, so I make known to you, brothers

The gospel preached by me

more lit. “is not according to man,” including himself!

[to elaborate] “for neither did I receive it from man”—no one passed it along to him

“nor was I taught it”—this is very important. Paul does mean that he was not taught it by

man, but beyond that, he means that the gospel was not something that could have

been “taught.” It had to be revealed. It could not have been discovered from study—

although once revealed, studies are thereby enlightened.

“but by revelation of Jesus Christ”

Direct revelation of Jesus Christ

This is the basis of Paul’s apostolic authority