Gal.1:1-2 - Greetings and Blessings

1 From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead)
2 and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia.

Good Morning, Galatia!

Vs. 1: This letter opening is typical of the others in the New Testament. When we write letters, we usually start off with, "Dear ... ," and end with "Sincerely, ... "

"an apostle" - Think of this as a letterhead of a business document. It also establishes Paul's authority.

“Not from men” - Apostleship is not conferred by men or organizations. Apostles were those men chosen and called by Jesus to follow Him. Each one knew Jesus personally. The original eleven lived and learned from Jesus for several years. Saul was late to the party, but was called to serve Christ as an apostle. (See: Acts 9:1-20)

“by Jesus Christ and God the Father“ - Just as Peter or John were personally called by Jesus, so too was Paul.

vs. 2: These letters were hand delivered to the churches. There were probably no street names or house numbers - since mail service as we know it wasn't around until 1400-1500 years later. Personal communication was done by a courier.

“Galatia” is a region in the area we now call Turkey. Paul started several churches in this region.

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Letter to Galatians - Outline and Introduction

Galatians - Outline
This Letter by the Apostle Paul was written about 52-57 A.D. -
The key message is about legalism versus faith.
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OUTLINE

Chapter 1
vs. 1-2: Salutation
Vs. 3-5: Glory
vs. 6-9: Problem identified - a contrary gospel
vs. 10-12: Not needing Man's approval
vs. 13-21: Paul's personal history

Chapter 2
vs. 1-10: Paul's personal history, cont'd.
vs. 11-14: Conflict with Peter
vs. 15-21: Justified by Works, or by Faith?

Chapter 3
vs. 1-3: Foolish Galatians
vs. 4-14: Law versus Faith - Abraham
vs. 15-29: Law versus Faith

Chapter 4
vs. 1-8: Slaves vs. Children-Heirs
vs. 9-10: God knows You
vs. 11-20: I Am not Your Enemy
vs. 21-31: Allegory - Sarah & Hagar

Chapter 5
vs. 1-6: Circumcision or Faith
vs. 7-9: You were doing so well
vs. 10-12: Confidence In you
vs. 13-15: Called to Freedom
vs. 16-18: Walk by the Spirit
vs. 19-21: Deeds of Flesh
vs. 22-26: Fruit of the Spirit

Chapter 6
vs. 1-5: Bear one another’s burdens
vs. 6: Share with the teachers
vs. 7-10: Sowing and reaping
vs. 11: By my own hand
vs. 12-18: Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision

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Background & Summary

Written by: the Apostle Paul
Written to: Christian churches in Galatia region
Written for: to combat encroaching legalism

“Galatia” is a region in the area we now call Turkey, also known as “Asia Minor”. Turkey is about three times larger than the state of Oregon. It is a peninsula, with the Mediterranean Sea on the southwest edge, the Aegean Sea on the west, and the Black Sea with the Dardanelles and Straits of Bosporus on the north.

Paul covered most all of the larger area in his three missionary journeys. The first Journey started at Tarsus (a port city of Syria), on the NE corner of the Mediterranean Sea, travelled to the island of Cyprus, then north to Antioch located almost in the middle of Asia Minor. He retraces his ‘steps’ back to Tarsus. His second and third journeys go north overland and more inland than the first journey; they also take him all the way across this area to the Aegean Sea and to Greece. Paul referred to all of Turkey as Galatia, where were many of the first churches he started. Paul considered the Galatian churches as his ‘home church’.

Paul is writing to combat false gospel teachings which lean toward legalism. Particularly, new believers were taught they had to be Jews in order to be saved. Paul gets fired up and perhaps this is the reason this letter is intense - much more than his other letters. Paul is harsh in his opinions about these teachers. He strongly defends his authority as an apostle.
The points Paul makes are as follows:

• The Old Testament is the foundation for the New Testament gospel.
• Abraham’s sons are a picture of our relationship to God.
• The Law is a good thing; However, the Law cannot solve the problem of our sin and God’s perfect justice.
• The best the Law can do is prepare you to see Christ as the way to God.

This may be one of the first letters Paul wrote to the new Christians. One of the early controversies to be resolved by the apostles was Judaism and Christianity. Did you have to be a Jew to be a Christian? Paul was in the middle of this discussion, and made a strong case for salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone - nothing else is required.

Note: My intent was to have each verse of the chapter included usually in italics, with discussion following. Significant phrases or words are discussed individually, and are highlighted by “quotes and underlined.”
Please forgive fractured grammar, and partial sentences. These were notes written as I thought and prayed during the study. The truncated written thought was fully developed in my mind, or so I like to believe.

1 Tim. 6:20-21 - Protect your calling

20 O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called "knowledge."
21 By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you all.

Stick to the Gospel. Don’t get Distracted

Vs. 20: - "O Timothy" - As Paul closes this letter to his friend, companion, and co-worker, he issues a tender warning.

“protect what has been entrusted to you” - Protect yourself from being pulled away from the gospel. We can get into debates about various hot-button issues - abortion, same-sex marriage, politics, to name a few.

“Avoid the profane chatter” - Paul is warning us also - don't get caught up in the profane chatter and absurdities. Bring the conversation back to Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). Steer people to answer the question, "Who is Jesus Christ, and what do you say about Him?"

“So-called ‘knowledge’” - A common novel and movie theme is there is a secret "knowledge" and the possession of it may change the world. Movies like "Raiders of the Lost Ark", or "Matrix", "The Da Vinci Code", or books like "Angels and Demons" are built around the theme of a secretive group (e.g., Illuminati) has hidden an object or information that in the wrong hands will destroy the world. The hero of the story must find and destroy that object to keep it out of evil hands.

Vs. 21: - "strayed from the faith" - All of this chatter and ‘secret knowledge’ distracts us from the main and only truth: "Salvation is found in no one else. There is no other name under heaven by which men may be saved." Acts 4:12.

Keep the faith.

“grace be with you all.” See: Num. 6:24, 25. Paul starts the letter with "grace, peace and mercy" to his reader, and ends with "grace to you all."

END OF CHAPTER
END OF LETTER

1 Tim. 6:17-19 - Teach the rich

17 Command those who are rich in this world's goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.
18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.
19 In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.

Remember Where Your True Life Lies

Vs. 17: - “Command those who are rich in this world's goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.”

"Command" - Instruct the materially rich to be humble and set their hopes on God. There are plenty of verses in the NT warning us to beware of putting our trust in our wealth. See: Matt. 19:23,24; Luke 6:24, 12:15, 21; 1 Tim. 6:9; Jam. 1:10, 2:1-4, 5:1-5. We are warned not to be swayed by other people's riches - to show favoritism towards the rich, which we do easily. We think, "They're rich. They must be smarter." (Maybe not in those exact words. Observe how people react around people they know have lots of money.)
Think on this: you may have money now, but when you are dead you are penniless (Luke 16:21-23). No amount of money will put your name into the Lamb's Book of Life. See: Phil 4:3; Rev. 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 15, 27. All creation lies open and exposed before God's eyes. Nothing can be hid, there are no secrets to the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings. There is only one way your name is in the Lamb's Book of Life - accept and believe that Jesus Christ was born, lived, and then died for your sins, and was raised from the dead as proof the price was paid in full. (1 Tim. 3:16)

“God who richly provides us with all things” - It is God who supplies our needs, and even our ‘wants’. We put too much emphasis on the ‘self-made man’. This is not to encourage you to lay back and let things happen. It is said, “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” God can reward hard work, Remember to be thankful to God in all things. (See: Luke 12:16-23) The farmer actually worked hard and reaped the bounty. He did not stop to thank God for the riches he received.

Vs. 18: - “Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.”

"Tell them" - If God has blessed you with riches, share them with others, especially those who are in need. Riches are not evil. Being rich is not a sin. In Luke 18:20-25, the rich man was sad because he was commanded to give up his riches to follow Jesus. That was 'a bridge too far'. He loved his money and all that it brings, more than he figured he could love and follow Jesus. (The old joke: Money does not make you happy, but it will buy you stuff that makes you happy.) Don't let the quest for comfort, or retirement, or possessions stand between you and eternity with true riches! The command is: Rich people - do good, be generous, share - most of us in America are rich compared to the rest of the world.

Vs. 19: - “In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.”

"save up a treasure for themselves" - Money means nothing in Heaven. The riches of God so far outstrip our imagination. We can imagine streets paved with gold - gold no more valuable than macadam! Gates made of pearl - again, pearls as cheap as pine! We focus on the material value of items. The true riches of Heaven are being in the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Peace. Glory. Love. Especially, Love.

1 Tim. 6:13-16 - Jesus is the One

13 I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14 to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ
15 - whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time.
16 He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.

Obey This Command

Vs. 13: - “I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate,”

"charge you before God" - This is the second time Paul has used this exhortation in this letter. (See: 1 Tim. 5:21). The charge is similar to "As God is my witness..." or, “ Your mission, should you choose to accept it... “ However, this instruction does not self-destruct; it is always with us. You do not answer to your pastor or the elders or the missions committee. No, you are being sent by God. God, who spoke the universe into existence. God who gave Himself to save you from your sin. Jesus Christ, who stood before the most powerful ruling authority on earth and did not back down, stating plainly His mission here on earth.

"Christ Jesus... good confession" - See: Mark 15:2 Pilate questioned Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered him, "It is as you say." And: Luke 23:3; Matt. 27:11; John 18:37 "Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Vs. 14: - “to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ”

"obey this command" - The basic sentence in verses 13 and 14 is as follows: "I charge you to obey this command until Christ returns." All the rest is window dressing. Important window dressing, but still descriptive phrases that only add to the main thought.

Okay, which command is Timothy exhorted to keep? 1 Tim. 6:12, or 11?
There are commands throughout this letter, see: 1 Tim. 2:8; 4:7, 14, 16; 5:11, 19, 22.
I am confident the command to be kept is: fight the good fight and lay hold of the faith. (Yup. That's two commands. In one sentence.)

Vs. 15: - “whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time.”

"whose appearing... the King... will reveal at the right time." - Grab and hold onto your faith in Jesus until He returns. No, we don't know when that will happen. Only One knows. He will make it happen when He decides the time is right. Just as the first appearing happened when it was appropriate. Gal. 4:4. See Matt. 24:36; Mark 13:32 "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone", and Luke 10:22. Since we don't know, we must always be prepared to meet the Lord. See Matt. 24:44 "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." Also: Luke 12:40.

Vs. 16: - “He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.”

"He alone" - This verse is really a stand-alone verse - a hymn of praise to Jesus our Lord. "Worthy art thou our Lord and our God to receive glory, honor and power. For Thou have created all things, and by thy will they did exist and were created." Rev. 4:11. See also 1 Tim. 1:17; 1 Cor. 15:53-54; 2 Tim. 1:10.

“Light” - See: Col. 1:13; John 1:4-5, 8:12, 2 Cor. 4:6; 2 Tim.1:10; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 John 1:5; Jam. 1:17.

“unapproachable light, whom no man has seen” - No one (human) has seen God in all his glory. See: John 1:8; 1 John 4:12. Remember, Moses asked God to look upon His glory. Moses spent more time with God than almost any other human, before or sense. He wanted to see who he was talking with. God denies the request in order to spare Moses. Exo. 33:17-23. But, we will! We will see God face to face. See: 1 John 3:2-3; Rev. 7:17, 21:4, 22;4-5.

1 Tim. 6:11-12 - A charge to Timothy

11 But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.
12 Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses.

Pursue Righteousness

Vs. 11: - But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.

"keep away from all that" - Look back at verses 6-10 where we are warned of the danger of wanting more and more. A person of God does not serve Him in order to get lots of money. Treasures in heaven, that is to be our long range investment goal. See Matt. 6:20. It might be said (this may not be theologically sound) that a preacher, teacher, or evangelist that gets rich while serving the Lord may not be serving Jesus. If the money comes in due to the preaching and teaching it must immediately be put to work in the church community. There will always be people who need help with food, clothing, jobs, and housing. If the means are there, the needs must be met. See James 2:15-17.
In Acts 2:42-47 the church that sprung up during the Pentecost became a commune, where each member sold their goods, and pooled their earnings to share with all the believers. This does not mean each church body is to become a commune. The message of the gospel so attracted the poor, the downtrodden, the widows and orphans, that the church determined it could demonstrate the love for one another by serving their needs.

"pursue" - The list resembles the fruit of the Spirit (See Gal. 5:22, 23).

• "righteousness" - Matt. 5:6, 10; 6:33.
• "godliness" - 2 Pet. 1:5-8, Titus 1:1.
• "faithfulness" - compare to Matt. 23:23, (there were problems there).
• "love" - Mark 12:30,31, John 14:21, 23-24; 15:9-13.
• "endurance" - Luk. 21:19; 2 Cor. 6:4; Heb. 10:36; Heb. 12:1; Jam. 1:3.
• "gentleness" - Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12.

Vs. 12: - Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses.

"Compete well for the faith" - Other translations say, "fight the good fight". 'Compete well' is too weak. Think of the Olympic Games. Athletes train their whole lives for a few minutes or seconds of competition. They lay it all out there, holding nothing back. It is close to going into battle. This is the sense of 'compete well' - spiritual battle. See Eph. 6:12.

"lay hold of that eternal life" - Grasp with both hands! Don't let go! Hold on for dear life - it is your life! God, through the Holy Spirit has called you, beckoned you. He does not coerce.

“In the presence of many witnesses“ Oh, by the way, you've told a lot of people that your life is now Jesus'. The question is asked “Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” In public, or at least to another person, you said, “I do.” They know what you professed. They are watching you live out your Christian life. Plus, there is a great cloud of witnesses looking down from heaven. (Heb. 12:1)

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1 Tim. 6:6-10 - The love of money...

6 Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.
7 For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either.
8 But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that.
9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.

If I Were a Rich Man...

Vs. 6: - Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.

"godliness combined with contentment" - Today's devotional in "Jesus Calling" was about living victoriously as you live in deep dependence on Jesus - about not worrying or fretting about what is to come. It struck me as I read and pondered: it is about being content in Jesus. Sometimes life seems like a hard scrabble, or maybe bumper cars. As circumstances blow by us, we are buffeted - heads snapping right or left, abrupt stops with our chest slammed against the steering wheel. Jesus invites us to 'live life abundantly'. (John 10:10) He was very clear that this does not mean having lots of money and stuff. (Luke 12:15-21)

My son listened to some pretty 'interesting' music when he was a teenager. One group, ‘Sisters of Mercy’, did a song named "More". It is in the 'Techno/Industrial' genre, so it is a hard driving beat, and goes on for 8-1/2 minutes. (It's a great running song!) However, the lyrics show someone who is not content:

Some people get by - with a little understanding. Some people get by - with a whole lot more. I don't know why you have to be so undemanding. This one thing I know. I WANT MORE. Chorus: I need all the love I can get. I need all the love I can't get, too.

The verses are sung fairly quietly, but with intensity. The last line of the verse is a scream. The chorus is done by a choir, repeated multiple times like a worship song. One of the verses tells us you are not what you live with, but what you take. Not an uplifting spiritual song, it is someone who is not content with what they have. Being content with what you have gives you more time to focus on Jesus. Compare "I want more" with "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Phil. 4:6-9)

Where would you rather be: screaming "I want more", or in the peace of God that is beyond understanding? It's your choice.

Vs. 7: - For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either.

"brought nothing... " - We can't take it with us, either. Lack of contentment, at least in this case, is lusting for more money and possessions. Jesus warns us about greed. See Luk. 12:15-21. The parable shows a man who is not interested in godliness. One of the political themes in the last few years was to question the wealth of rich people. The conclusion of this theme is the government should take more taxes because the rich have 'more than enough'. The rich aren't paying their 'fair share'. That's not exactly what Jesus is saying in this parable. Note there is no mention of tithing by the rich man. There is no acknowledgement that his good fortune is the result of God's grace. It is not clear that God is anti-rich, anti-wealth. He opposes the proud. See: Jam. 4:6; Deut. 8:14. He expects the rich to help those in need. It is to be a personal commitment, not leaving it to the government. I call the latter attitude Vicarious Altruism. You don’t actually have to do anything, but yet you get to feel good about yourself.

Is it possible the rich man would have survived the night if he had thanked and glorified the Lord for his successful farming? Is it likely the judgment would have been mitigated had the man given thanks for the largess and decided to give to the Lord to care for those who needed? That is for us to speculate based on our understanding of God's love for the widow, the orphan, the needy, the stranger and the poor. (See: Exo. 22:22; Deut. 16:11; Zech. 7:9-10)
It would be better for the rich man to use his riches to benefit others. Not through the government, but personally, as a witness to the grace of God. Is God glorified when a person says, "God has blessed me. I am sharing that with you."? Most likely, yes. Is God glorified if a person does it in secret? (The caveat is beware of the pride of the Pharisees, "See what good I am doing, because I am so good, so much better than others.") Again, probably, yes. See: Matt. 6:19-21, 24.

Vs. 8: - But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that.

"food and shelter" - We want too much. We expect too much. You were born with your soul and spirit as your only possessions of value. When you die, that is all you'll take with you. God wants to focus on what is important, necessary, (Luke 10:38-42) and not to fret about collecting things. See: Matt. 6:25, 31-34

Vs. 9: - But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

"long to be rich" - These are people whose main desire is to be rich. This is more than earning a lot because they provide a better product or service. You have heard the presumptuous saying, “You can never be too rich, or too thin” used to justify excessive pride. Think of the movie "Wolf of Wall Street" , or crime lords, drug gangs, Ponzi scheme perpetrators, etc. (Okay, crime gangs are also after power and control. They are not in it for the good of others.) When the goal is money alone, God warns us that temptation, traps, senseless and harmful desires will drag us to destruction.
In the movie "The Great Gatsby" (latest version) - the wild and mindless parties with booze and sex flowing equally, harmed many lives. Our own lustful nature draws us away to death (lust is not just about sex!). "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death." Jam. 1:13-15. It is too easy for us to rationalize wrong behaviors because we want something enough to turn our backs on God.

Vs.10: - For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.

"the love of money is the root of all evils" - Having money, being rich, is not evil, nor a sin. Avarice is more than wanting money. It is an overweening desire to get money, no matter how much you have now. Some commentaries have asked, "There is no sin that won't be committed for monetary gain." That is almost beside the point. Some people will commit sins because their hearts are as hard as stone, and money-for-sin is a perk. Some will commit crimes out of desperation, thinking they no other choice.
The 'love of money' shows a decision to turn away from a dependence on God. That is the 'root'. The declaration of independence from God puts your self on the throne of your life. "Sin is active rebellion or passive indifference to God" (See note 1) Self on the throne is deciding to do what you will in defiance of Jesus. That defiance is the source of all sin, beginning with Satan, then Adam. It is of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting that is base, wrong, and wicked. It leads to behaviors that are troublesome, injurious, pernicious, and destructive.

"strayed from the faith" - No where in the Gospels, or any of the letters is there an encouragement to take care of yourself first. In grasping for money we can forget the commands to love one another. (1 Cor. 12:25; Gal. 5:15; John 13:34; Rom. 12:10, 13:8) This not about earning because you provide a good product or a good service (remember the old saying: if you invent a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door). This is falling prey to 'lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life.' (1 John 2:15, 16)

"stabbed themselves" - Basically, committing spiritual suicide. (Gal. 5:7; Col. 2:8)

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Note 1: (Campus Crusade for Christ - 'Four Spiritual Laws'.)
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