Galatians 1

About Galatians.

Paul’s Letter to the Galatians

Purpose

To persuade the Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians in Galatia that it is unnecessary to be circumcised or adopt other practices from Jewish law to be part of God’s people. Paul was opposed by certain Jewish Christians who argued that circumcision was necessary for Gentiles

Author

Paul

Date

Likely AD 48 or 49, just prior to the Jerusalem council

Setting

Written after a group of Jewish Christians had infiltrated the Galatian church communities, teaching on the necessity of practicing circumcision (the removal of the foreskin of the male reproductive organ, which was a sign of Israel's special relationship with God)

Is a person saved by faith alone, or by faith together with good works? Paul’s letter to the Galatians teaches that God saves people through faith alone. It also teaches that believers are free in Christ. We live by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our relationship with God does not depend on their own good works. It depends on what Jesus Christ has fully done.

Because of this, believers are truly free. But this freedom is not a reason to follow sinful desires. It is freedom to love and serve the Lord and other people.

Setting

Paul and Barnabas left Antioch in Syria for their first missionary journey. They crossed the northeast part of the Mediterranean Sea and traveled through Cyprus. Then they traveled across the Taurus Mountains in Pamphylia and entered the southern part of the Roman province of Galatia.

There they started churches in Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 13:13–14:28). Many people believed the good news about Jesus. But others opposed the message and persecuted Paul and Barnabas.

Later, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch in Syria. They told the believers what God had done. They also told them that God had "opened the door of faith to the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27).

Paul’s work in Galatia showed that God offered salvation to Gentiles as well as Jews. Peter’s experience with Cornelius and his household in Caesarea showed the same thing (see Acts 10:1–48). God saves both Jews and Gentiles through faith in Jesus Christ. Gentiles did not have to become Jews to become full members of God’s family. They only had to put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Even so, before the council in Jerusalem, the disagreement about Jews and Gentiles in the church became stronger (Acts 15:1–41). This council happened around AD 49 or 50.

Peter had served among Gentiles in Caesarea in a new and important way. When he returned to Jerusalem, some Jewish believers criticized him at once. They did not think he should eat with Gentiles who were not circumcised. Peter answered by telling them how the Spirit had worked among the Gentiles. For a time, this stopped their criticism (Acts 11:1–18).

Some Jewish Christians still believed that Gentiles should follow Jewish religious practices in order to be Christians. These people are often called Judaizers. Judaizers were teachers who said Gentile believers must obey the law of Moses, including circumcision (the sign of God’s covenant with Israel).

Some Judaizers went to Galatia. They claimed that Paul’s teaching about the good news was not complete. They also spoke against Paul’s authority as an apostle, a person sent by Christ to teach and lead the church. They said Paul had learned the good news from the “real” apostles in Jerusalem. They also claimed that Paul had changed the message and that the apostles had never approved his version of the gospel.

The Judaizers argued that Paul’s gospel was incomplete because it did not require Gentiles to keep the law of Moses. They claimed that the true gospel required Gentiles to be circumcised and to obey other parts of the law.

Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians mainly in response to this challenge from the Judaizers.

Summary

Paul first identifies himself and greets his audience (Galatians 1:1–5). Then he states his main point: the good news he preaches is the only true good news (1:6–7). He also says that he is a true apostle of Christ (1:1, 10). He warns that his opponents will face God’s judgment because they teach a false message (1:8–9). The rest of the letter explains these main points.

Paul first shows that he is a true apostle of Christ, preaching the true good news (1:11–2:21). To do this, Paul reminds the Galatians what kind of person he used to be (1:13–14). He tells them about his conversion, when he turned to Christ. He also tells them how God called him to serve (1:15–16a).

Paul received the good news through a direct revelation from Christ (1:11–12). A revelation is something God makes known. Paul did not receive this message from the other apostles in Jerusalem (1:16–24).

Even so, the other apostles accepted Paul as an apostle along with his message (2:1–10). They had nothing to add or change. Paul also showed that he was faithful to the good news when Peter and some others acted against it, even though they knew the good news was true (2:11–21).

Paul then argues that his teaching about the good news comes from Scripture and is true (3:1–5:12). The Galatians had received the Spirit by faith, not by obeying the law (3:1–5). So they would receive the same blessing that Abraham received. This blessing belongs to all who have faith in Christ (3:e6–9).

In contrast, people who try to be made right with God by keeping the law come under a curse (3:10–12). But Christ rescued us from that curse. He made God’s blessing available to all who have faith in him (3:13–14).

God’s promise to Abraham shows that God gives the promise by faith, not by the law (3:15–18). Christ fulfilled God’s demand for righteousness, which means being right with God. People do not fulfill this demand by keeping the law. Those who have faith in Christ receive God’s promise to Abraham.

The purpose of the law is not to make people right with God. It is also not to make them receive God’s promises. Instead, the law shows people their sin. It also points them to Christ and to faith in him (3:19–22). Now Christ has come. All who have faith in him are God’s children. They also receive his promises as heirs, which means they belong to God’s family and share in what he has promised (3:23–4:7).

Because of this, the Galatians should not return to trusting in the law. That would be like returning to slavery (4:8–11). So Paul personally asks them to think again about what they are doing (4:12–20).

Paul then compares Hagar and Sarah with the old and new covenants. He shows that Christ brings freedom, not slavery (4:21–31). God's people must live in freedom (5:1). They must not depend on obeying the law for salvation (5:2–4). Instead, they must live by faith (5:5–6). A message that says people are saved through the law does not come from God (5:7–12).

Finally, Paul shows the Galatians that Christian freedom does not mean freedom to sin. Some people might claim this. Instead, Christian freedom is the only way to overcome sin. It is also the way to live in Christ’s love and experience the Spirit’s power (5:13–6:10). Freedom gives believers the chance to love others, not to sin against them (5:13–15). The only way to overcome sin is to live by the power of the Holy Spirit (5:16–18).

Human effort cannot overcome sin. Human tendency to sin leads to acts of sin (5:19–21). In contrast, life in the power of the Holy Spirit produces good fruit, which means good character and actions that please God (5:22–23). Paul then gives several examples of how the Spirit leads God’s children in daily life (5:24–6:10).

Paul ends his letter with a note written in his own handwriting (6:11–18). He again points to the cross of Christ. He repeats his main message and asks God to give mercy and peace to those who follow this teaching.

Paul also states again that he has authority as an apostle. He closes with a blessing. He asks that “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” be with the people who receive his letter.

Author

Christians have always recognized Galatians as a true letter from Paul. It agrees well with the account of Paul’s mission in Acts and with Paul’s other letters. It also shows Paul’s real conflict with Jewish Christians who said Gentiles must obey the Jewish law to have full Christian faith.

Galatians has a message like the message of Romans. But Galatians was written earlier. It helps us see the early stage of this serious and personal conflict. In this letter, we can feel Paul’s deep care for the church.

Recipients

Some biblical scholars believe Paul wrote to an ethnic group called the Galatians. They lived in north-central Asia Minor and were related to the Gauls and Celts.

Other scholars believe Paul wrote to groups of churches in the Roman province of Galatia. This province was much larger than ethnic Galatia. Its southern area included several cities Paul visited on his first missionary journey. These cities were Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.

Paul does not seem to have spent much time in ethnic Galatia in the north. Acts may refer to this area in two places (Acts 16:6; 18:23). But Acts gives a clear record of Paul’s long and repeated missionary work in the southern part of the Roman province of Galatia (Acts 13:13–14:25; 16:1–5). Because of this, the evidence suggests that Paul most likely wrote this letter to the Galatians he had shared the good news with during his first missionary journey.

Date

Paul wrote Galatians at one of two possible times. He may have written it shortly before the council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1–29). This council happened in AD 49 or 50. Or Paul may have written it sometime after the council, perhaps during his third missionary journey. That journey took place around AD 53–57.

Traditionally, scholars understood Galatians 2:1–10 as Paul’s description of the council in Jerusalem. But a close reading shows major differences between Galatians 2 and Acts 15:1–41. Paul says he had made two visits to Jerusalem (see 2:1). But the council in Acts 15:1–41 would have been his third visit. It would be hard to explain why Paul would leave out his second visit (Acts 11:30; 12:25). That visit matters because Paul is arguing that he had little contact with the apostles in Jerusalem.

Also, if Paul wrote Galatians after the council, we would expect him to mention the council’s decision. That decision speaks directly to the issue in Galatians. In fact, after the council, Paul gladly shared its decision with the churches he visited (Acts 16:4).

For these reasons, it is difficult to believe that Galatians 2:1–10 describes Acts 15:1–41. It is also difficult to believe that Paul wrote Galatians after the council in Jerusalem.

In contrast, Galatians 2:1–10 is easier to connect with the visits in Acts 11:30 and 12:25. This would suggest that Paul wrote Galatians shortly before the council in Jerusalem. He may have written it around AD 48 or 49. At that time, the disagreement about circumcision was becoming stronger in the church. Some Jewish Christians said Gentile believers also had to be circumcised (see Acts 15:1–2).

Meaning and Message

The problem in Galatia was common in the first-century church. It is still a problem in the church today. Are people truly saved by what Jesus Christ did on the cross? Or must people do something more to be saved?

Paul's letter to the Galatians teaches that the gospel is complete. God offers salvation to all people through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. People are not saved by obeying the law.

Galatians also teaches that God’s people are one. There is no division between Jews and Gentiles, or between other groups of people. We all come to God in the same way. We receive new life through faith in Christ.

Galatians also teaches that believers have freedom in Christ. We do not fulfill Christ’s law by human effort. We fulfill it by living in faith and love through the Holy Spirit.

Finally, Galatians teaches that we need God’s grace. Grace is God’s kind gift that we do not earn. God’s grace rescues us from the curse of sin. It gives us new life and the promised Holy Spirit. It also makes us God’s children and gives us power to obey Christ’s law of love.

Galatians 1:1-2:21

Some people were against Paul and questioned whether he was a true apostle. They did not believe he was honest and did not think he had the right to be a leader in the church. So Paul begins his letter by explaining that he really was an apostle with authority from God.

Galatians 1:1-5

In all his letters, Paul introduces himself and greets the recipients. This greeting stands out because:

1. Paul strongly asserts his authority as an apostle (1:1).

2. Instead of offering thanks, prayer, or praise, he gives a rebuke (1:6–10).

Galatians 1:1

• Paul, an apostle: Apostles were representatives with authority given by a church or council (for example, 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25). However, the Jerusalem church did not appoint Paul as an apostle. Instead, Jesus Christ himself chose Paul, giving him Christ’s authority (Acts 9:1–15; 26:12–20; see also Romans 1:5). This authority was equal to that of other apostles.

• Paul said that God the Father gave him his authority as an apostle. This happened because God raised Jesus from the dead. The fact that Jesus rose from death made it possible for Paul to receive his special work from God.

Galatians 1:2

• all the brothers with me: Paul likely wrote from Antioch of Syria. Antioch was the center of Paul’s ministry and the first hub of Gentile Christianity (see Acts 11:20–26). Paul was not alone, although his opponents in Galatia might have suggested that, but he was in fellowship with an important New Testament church.

• Paul probably founded the churches of Galatia during his first missionary journey (Acts 13:4–14:26; see Galatians Book Introduction, “Recipients”).

Galatians 1:3-5

Paul followed the common style for first-century letters. He included a greeting, wished for well-being, and introduced the main topic, the good news about Jesus.

Galatians 1:3

Grace and peace to you from God: This is a common greeting by Paul (see also study note on 1 Corinthians 1:3). It combines Greek and Hebrew greetings. "Grace" (Greek charis) is similar to "greetings" (Greek chairein). "Peace" reflects Hebrew shalom. Paul included both Jewish and non-Jewish Christians (compare Galatians 3:28). The Galatians risked losing God's grace and peace (3:1–4; 5:1–4).

Galatians 1:4-5

This summary of the good news about Jesus is the basis for the following criticism (1:6–10). It might be a creed or statement of faith that Paul used to remind the Galatians of the message they had accepted before.

Galatians 1:4

• Since Jesus fully rescued us from our sins, we do not need to try to save ourselves.

• Christian faith rescues us from the evil world we live in (see 4:8–12; 5:13–26).

Galatians 1:5

We should thank God alone for salvation because it is his work alone.

Galatians 1:6-10

I am amazed: In most of his letters, Paul usually expressed gratitude and prayed for those who received his letters after his greeting (for example, Romans 1:8–10; 1 Corinthians 1:4–5; Philippians 1:3–6; Colossians 1:3–5; 2 Thessalonians 1:3–12). But he had nothing positive to say about the Galatian church.

Galatians 1:6

• The Galatians were deserting (or abandoning) God by rejecting the good news about Jesus that Paul shared. Instead, they were depending on the law. God called them to himself through Christ's loving mercy, not through the law (2:16).

• the One who called you: See 1:15; Romans 8:30; 9:24; 11:29.

• a different gospel: Some people taught that non-Jewish Christians had to be circumcised to join God's family. Paul rejected any requirement other than faith in Jesus (see Galatians 5:2–4).

Galatians 1:7

• The "different gospel" (1:6) was a distortion and not the true message of salvation. The only way to be saved is through faith in Christ. Adding any extra requirements changes the message and it is no longer the good news.

• some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ: The Judaizers (a group insisting on Jewish customs) knew they were altering the good news about Jesus to match their beliefs.

Galatians 1:8-9

• let him be under a curse! (literally Let that person be anathema): The Greek word anathema often translates the Hebrew kherem, which in the Old Testament means something dedicated to God for complete destruction (see Leviticus 27:28–29; compare Romans 9:3; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 16:22). Paul called for God's strongest wrath on those who distort the good news about Jesus (Galatians 1:7).

• even if we or an angel from heaven: No one is allowed to change the good news (compare 2:6–10, 11–14).

Galatians 1:9

a gospel contrary to the one you received: the gospel (the good news about Jesus) the Galatians had received was exactly what Paul had preached to them (1:8; compare 2 Thessalonians 2:15).

Galatians 1:10

• The tone and content of this letter show that Paul did not seek to win people's approval. The Judaizers likely criticized Paul for trying to please people by focusing only on faith and grace, not including the law, which they saw as the whole message.

• Being Christ’s servant means staying true to Christ, no matter how others react (see Acts 5:29; Ephesians 6:5–6; 1 Thessalonians 2:3–6).

Galatians 1:11-2:21

The Judaizers (people who insisted on following Jewish customs) came to Galatia. They preached that both faith and circumcision were necessary. They questioned Paul's authority as an apostle and tried to discredit his message. Paul defended his authority by showing that past events proved his message was the true good news.

Galatians 1:11

the gospel I preached: Paul taught that people are made right with God by grace and through faith, not by following the law (see 2:16–17; Romans 10:9–13; Ephesians 2:8–9).

Galatians 1:12

• I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it: Jewish scholars mainly relied on teachers. The Judaizers claimed Paul received his special mission and message from the other apostles, but then had unfaithfully changed the message.

• I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ: See 1:17; Acts 9:3–15; 26:12–18. Paul's unique experience gave him special authority and insight. However, he learned many things about the life of Jesus from other people (for example, Galatians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; 15:3–11).

Galatians 1:13-14

To show that his message was not from human reasoning (devised by man, 1:11), Paul explains his life before meeting Jesus. He was a very successful Jew (see Acts 8:1–3; 22:1–5; 26:4–5; Philippians 3:4–7). His opposition to God's church and strict following of Judaism showed his belief in the law before Christ confronted him (Galatians 1:15–16).

Galatians 1:14

zealous for the traditions of my fathers: Paul was very passionate about following the Jewish religious traditions he learned from his ancestors (see Mark 7:6–13).

Galatians 1:15-16

• God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb: God chose Paul for special work even before he was born. This is like how God chose other leaders (see Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13–16; Isaiah 49:1–6; Romans 9:10–13).

• called me by His grace: For Paul's conversion story (how he became a follower of Jesus), see Acts 9:1–19; 22:1–21; 26:9–23.

• Paul was called to share the good news about Jesus with non-Jews (Galatians 2:7). He even taught other apostles what this meant (see Galatians 2:11–21).

• to reveal His Son in me: This might refer to Paul's meeting with Christ (Acts 9:1–19; see also 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:8). In me might also mean an inner revelation (see Galatians 2:20; 4:6–7) and suggests that Paul's changed heart showed Christ to others.

Galatians 1:16-20

Paul learned directly from the Lord and did not consult with any person, not even the other apostles. Paul was independent from the other apostles but still agreed with them (2:1–10).

Galatians 1:17

• Paul considered his role as an apostle equal to that of the original disciples (see 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:5–9; compare Acts 1:22; 10:41).

• Paul's journey to Arabia is not mentioned elsewhere. He likely developed his understanding of the good news about Jesus during that time. Paul was familiar with:

  • the Scriptures (see Acts 22:3),

  • the beliefs of the first Christians (see Acts 8:1), and

  • what others had shared with him since he became a follower of Jesus.

Galatians 1:18-20

Peter and James spent fifteen days discussing Paul's message, which matched theirs. Paul did not get his authority from the Jerusalem church. His role and authority as an apostle was independent of Jerusalem.

Galatians 1:18

• Only after three years (or in the third year): This could be three years after Paul became a follower of Jesus or three years after his return from Arabia. This event is likely the visit mentioned in Acts 9:26–30.

• to confer with Cephas (Peter): Peter had something Paul did not—personal experience with Jesus during his time on Earth.

• Paul spent fifteen days with Peter. This was not enough time for Peter to become Paul's teacher, but it gave them enough time to talk carefully about what they were teaching people about Jesus.

Galatians 1:20

I assure you before God: Paul swears before God to emphasize that his story about his trip to Jerusalem is true.

Galatians 1:21-22

Paul was not working under the guidance of the apostles in Jerusalem or the churches in Judea.

Galatians 1:23-24

The church in Jerusalem was very happy when Paul became a follower of Jesus. This change (compare 1:13–14) and his message were both God's work (compare Acts 9:31). The way Paul taught about Jesus matched what the Jerusalem church believed.

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