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| Chapter 1 |
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1 ¶ Paul, an apostle (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, Unto the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 6 ¶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him, that called you into the grace of Christ, for another gospel. 7 For this is not another; but there are some who trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. 8 But should we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again: If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which ye have received, let him be accursed! 10 ¶ For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet sought to please men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify to you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not according to man; 12 for I neither received it from man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For ye have heard of my participation in times past in the Jews’ religion, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and wasted it. 14 I profited in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen, I conferred not immediately with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles save James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.) 21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, 22 and was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23 but they had heard only that, "He who persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed." 24 And they glorified God in me. |
Paul starts his letter to the Galatians by showing his authority from the Lord. Paul has three sources for his authority. v1 "Paul, an apostle:" Paul had been called by God to be a special messenger for Him. The word apostle means "a person sent with a commission." Jesus had many followers and believers who became "disciples," or learners, while He was on earth. He chose twelve men who were His special chosen disciples and were later to become apostles. Mark 3:13-19 The church decided that an apostle must also have seen the Lord after His resurrection. Acts 1:21,22. Paul was neither a disciple or an apostle as a result of the earthly ministry of Jesus, some had said he was therefore not a true apostle, but he had seen the risen Lord and received a direct commission from Him as the other apostles. Acts 9:1-18; 1 Cor 9:1,2. Paul had also been the founder of the Galatian church Gal 4:12-19, he therefore had great love for them but this was obviously not being returned. v3-5 Paul restates the basic Gospel message, it was this message that the Judaizers were trying to change. The cross is often referred to by Paul in this letter Gal 2:19-21; Gal 3:1,13; Gal 4:5; Gal 5:11,24; Gal 6:12-14. The price was paid by Christ on the cross but now the Judaizers wanted to add to this act of grace. Freedom in Christ or back into slavery, bondage by the Judaizers. v5 Why did Paul do all this? To the glory of God. v6,7 "I am amazed you have turned away so quickly" Paul is very concerned for the Galatians leaving the grace of God for another ‘gospel,’ they were going from a life of grace back to law. They were leaving a gift of God, salvation through His grace. They had been called by God to salvation now they were rejecting it. Eph 2:8-10 Not only were they rejecting the Grace of God but the Judaizers were claiming that they were preaching "the Gospel," but their gospel was centered on ‘works,’ the death of Christ plus works through the Law was what was need for salvation, according to them. v8-10 Paul tells the Galatian that even if he or an angel comes with a different gospel to what he has preached, then he would be cursed by God. My message is to please God, not be popular with men. v11,12 The message given by Paul is from God, not man, I received it from Jesus Christ in heaven. 1 Cor 15:1-10. v13,14 Paul reminds them of his past attacks on the Christian faith. Acts 8:1; Acts 9:1,2. Paul thought that Jesus was a fake, an impostor and His message a lie. His persecution of the "Nazarene sect" was well known in the Jewish leadership. v15,16 Paul meets Jesus through the grace of God. Acts 9:1-9 Suddenly Paul’s life is changed, how can you explain this change, the Judaizers gospel would not cause it, only God because it was part of His plan. v16 Paul’s life was full of religion but salvation came from God through His Son Jesus for the salvation of others through the coming ministry of Paul. v16-23 Paul had very little contact with other believers following his conversion, God lead him into isolation so there was little contact with the Jewish church, as this would have been a problem in taking the gospel to the Gentiles. After a short period in Damascus God leads him into Arabia for what appears to be three years v18. Paul initially returns to Damascus Acts 9:23-25 but the Jewish leaders are after him. v18-20 He finally visits Jerusalem, but even then he had problems, with the church rejecting him at first.Acts 9:26-30. All for the glory of God. |
Easy English Translation
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