Galatians Commentary by Pastor Andrew Farhat 2008 Historical Background
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Galatians Commentary By Pastor Andrew Farhat 2008 Historical Background Author The author identifies himself as the Apostle Paul in the opening verse. Apart from liberal scholars that emerged in the 19th century, no one has questioned Pauline authorship. Date and Destination Galatians was written to churches in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe in 49 AD. Paul founded these churches on his first missionary journey. This is recorded by the historian Luke in Acts 13:13-14:20. Occasion and Purpose After the Apostle Paul planted churches in southern Galatia a group of Jewish Christians, today known as the “Judaizers,” came with a different message. They insisted that Gentile Christians observe the rite of circumcision and keep the Mosaic Law in addition to believing in Christ. They could not understand the concept of a law-free gospel. This new way of life seemed too easy. They needed to add something to simply believing in Christ’s finished work on the cross. They said faith is good but you also need to be circumcised, observe the Jewish calendar, and observe the Mosaic Law. Faith alone is not enough. They accused the Apostle Paul of being an apostle who made salvation too easy in order to gain converts. They claimed that he derived his apostleship from the Jerusalem apostles: Peter, James, and John. They accused Paul of defying the Jerusalem apostles as if their message was in agreement with the Jerusalem apostles and Paul’s was not. Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians to protect the Galatians from the Judaizers. Early in his letter, Paul defends His apostleship (Gal. 1:11-2:14) and then proceeds to defend his law-free gospel (Gal. 2:15-5:12). These are the two most significant features of the letter. In addition, he shows that while Christ has freed believers from legalism (Gal. 5:1), this does not mean they can live autonomous from God and gratify their sinful nature (Gal. 5:16). Instead they are called to love their neighbor (Gal. 5:6, 13-14), walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), and do good to all (Gal. 5:13-6:10). The letter concludes with Paul saying: “Neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (Gal. 6:15). The question of circumcision and the Mosaic Law was settled at the Council of Jerusalem in 50 AD (see Acts 15:1-35). Paul’s position was affirmed, although the Judaizers continued to teach what they wanted and attempted to gain converts in Philippi eleven years later (Philippians 3:2-11). Significance This letter clearly puts forth the doctrine of forensic justification by faith alone apart from any works whatsoever. The Judaizers were claiming that faith in Christ was not enough. Paul responded by teaching that faith in Christ alone was sufficient for a person’s salvation. Paul uses the term “justification” in Galatians and Romans because he is dealing with the Jewish Law. All who try to keep the Jewish Law are under a curse because it condemns them and shows them their guilt. No one will be justified in God’s sight by observing the law. Thankfully, due to the person and work of Jesus Christ, through his perfect life, death, and resurrection we can be justified by faith in Christ apart from trying to earn our salvation by works. Christ fulfilled the law on our behalf. He died as our substitute and took our guilt and punishment. He rose from the dead conquering death and currently experiences new and everlasting life at the right hand of God the Father. Through Jesus Christ believers are justified, or declared not guilty for all their sins. Therefore, the term “justification” is courtroom language and is a legal declaration by God. This freedom and acquittal we receive by God immediately results in a new and transformed life. Paul says: “If justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Gal. 2:21). If we could earn our salvation by good deeds and be good moral people, then why did Christ have to die? He died because we are depraved and sinful and someone had to die to appease the wrath of God towards our sin. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ! During the 16th century, the Roman Catholic Church was teaching that a person was saved by works. The priest, monk, and professor, Martin Luther, used Galatians frequently to show that a person was not justified by works but by faith alone. Luther did not mean a dead faith, but rather a saving faith that expressed itself through love (Gal. 5:6). Luther taught on the basis of Paul that a believer is declared not guilty of his sins by faith alone, and remains in a right standing with God as long as he continues in the faith. Those who agreed with Luther’s teachings were called “Lutherans.” This title was given to Lutherans by a Roman Catholic named Johann Eck in 1522. Lutherans were unable to inherit a better name for their movement since the Roman Catholic Church considers Luther and his follower’s heretics who have broken off from the one true church. Further, they did not consider themselves a new sect that needed a name but saw themselves in faithful continuity with the one true faith. Martin Luther was excommunicated with a papal a bull on January 3, 1521. At the Council of Trent (1545-1563) after Luther’s death, the Roman Catholic Church condemned the Lutheran position and affirmed that justification was gradual by faith and works. Today, there are 70 million Lutherans in the world making them the largest Reformation movement today. Luther’s commentary on Galatians also influenced reformers such as John Calvin (1509-1564) and John Wesley (1703-1791). Calvin’s adherents are called Calvinists and are found in the Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Evangelical movements. Wesley’s adherents are called Wesleyans and are found in the Methodist, Church of the Nazarene, and Pentecostal movements. There are now 800 million Protestants worldwide who have been influenced by Luther’s reformation of the church. Greeting (Galatians 1:1-5) Read Galatians 1:1-5 a) The first thing we notice in Paul’s greeting to the Galatians is that there is no thanksgiving. Usually Paul includes a thanksgiving to the Christians he is writing to (see Rom. 1:8; 1 Cor. 1:4; Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:4-5; Col. 1:3-4; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:3-4; Philemon 1:4-7). Even when Paul wrote to the Corinthians who were engaging in sectarianism, sexual immorality, drunkenness, lawsuits, and favoritism at the Lord’s Supper, he gave thanks to God for them. b) Turn to Gal. 6:11-18. Paul usually writes a final farewell with his own hand at the end of his letters (Rom. 16; 1 Cor. 16:19-24; 2 Cor. 13:11-14; Eph. 5:21-24; Phil. 4:21-23; Col. 4:7-18; 1 Thess. 5:12-28; 2 Thess. 3:16-17; 2 Tim. 4:19-22; Titus 3:12-15; Philemon 1:23-25). The main bodies of his letters were transcribed while Paul spoke aloud (see Rom. 16:22). Paul sometimes would remind his recipients of his large handwriting which served as a signature for the end of his letters (1 Cor. 16:21; Col. 4:18; 2 Thess. 3:17-18). In Galatians, he does not write his usual final farewell. He writes a final warning that takes up seven verses! This would be the equivalent of someone writing a letter with a concluding paragraph that was in boldface. The combination of the final warning and the absence of the customary thanksgiving causes Galatians to stand out among Paul’s epistles. The gospel was on the line. Paul wanted to make sure that his recipients believed it. c) In 1:1, Paul makes it clear that he is a true apostle, not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father. The phrase, “not from men nor through man” is unique to Galatians and the Greek manifests that Paul is somewhat agitated. Paul makes it clear where his apostleship comes from because the Judaizers were questioning his apostleship. An apostle was one who witnessed the resurrection of Christ and was commissioned by Christ to preach the gospel. Paul’s conversion is recorded in Acts 9:1-19. Paul also told his personal testimony to Agrippa in Acts 26:12-18. Popular usage of the term apostle in that day included boats that were “sent” for the purpose of naval expeditions. Paul will defend his apostleship in 1:11-2:14. d) What is the Gospel? And what does it mean for your life? In 1:3-4 Paul makes a confession of the Christian gospel. Jesus Christ died as a substitute for our sins. He died to atone for our sins because we cannot become right with God by our works. Paul will defend the gospel in 2:15-5:12. Paul’s apostleship and Paul’s gospel are the two main themes of Galatians. Denunciation (Galatians 1:6-10) Read Galatians 1:6-10 a) What is Paul trying to emphasize by saying: “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” (1:8)? Answer: No matter who it is, if they preach a gospel contrary to the one you received, let them go to hell.