Intro & 1:1-10

Title & Author

Galatians 1:1–2 ESV

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

It is clear enough that the author is the Apostle Paul.

He mentions a group of his coworkers who had some role in sending the letter (v. 2), but the letter’s style and theology demonstrate that Paul was the immediate author.

The title is taken from the salutation in which the churches of Galatia are addressed as the recipients.

Date & Occasion

Galatians is a confrontational letter. Paul was addressing a problem. We get a sense of this in verses 6-7 of chapter 1.

Gal 1:6-7.

Galatians 1:6–7 ESV

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— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

deserting Him who called you

turning to a different gospel

distorting the gospel of Christ

After laboring among the Galatians to establish the churches in that region, Paul is surprised and distressed that the people of these churches would entertain teaching that contradicted his own.

What this exposed was a lack of rootedness in the gospel among the Galatians. They were vulnerable to false teaching and unable to discern that which contradicts the truth.

We learn more specifics in Gal. 3:1-3.

The problem is addressed with more detail in chapter 3.

Gal. 3:1-3.

Galatians 3:1–3 ESV

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

And in chapter 2

Gal 2:15-16.

Galatians 2:15–16 ESV

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

The Jerusalem Council dealt with the issue Paul addresses with the Galatians, and this probably occurred after Paul wrote his letter to the Galatian churches.

Acts 15:1-5.

Acts 15:1–5 ESV

But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

Now remember, we’re trying to get at the date of this letter. The issue at hand is whether or not Gentiles need to become Jews through circumcision in order to be justified (saved). Paul addresses this issue directly in Gal. 2.

Galatians 2:15–16 ESV

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

The reason it would make the most sense for Galatians to have been written prior to Paul’s meeting with the Jerusalem Council is that it would be surprising that Paul would make no mention of the Council’s decision since it would substantially support his case and discredit the Judaizers and their message that circumcision is required to be right with God.

If this is correct, that Paul wrote Galatians before his attendance of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, then the date of the writing of this epistle would be sometime between 46-48 AD.

Pau had a role in planting and strengthening these churches, and the foundation of His efforts was the Gospel. This is the message he preached to the people, and now that he is hearing that there are false teachers pushing a different gospel among them, and that some of the people are buying into this false message, Paul is concerned. He’s heart-broken and disappointed but did not give up on these churches… He wrote them to urge them to repent from messing with the gospel.

So again, why should we not mess with the gospel? Why should we not look for other messages, or create one of our own? Why is the gospel not in need of adjustment?

Theme: The Purity of the Gospel - Justification by Faith Alone

Galatians 2:16 ESV

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

The Message of the Gospel (1:1-5)

Galatians 1:1–5 ESV

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The gospel is authoritative (1)

Paul’s gospel ministry was not from man or through man (1:1). This same idea comes up again in verses 11-12 where Paul makes clear that the message he preached to the Galatians did not come from man but that he received it as a result of a revelation of Christ.

Galatians 1:11–12 ESV

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

The gospel centers on Christ (2-5)

What we have from God in the gospel is His grace and His peace. (1:3)

We have the redemptive work of Christ. (1:4)

The Clarity of the Gospel (6-7)

And we know that the gospel is from God because it can be understood. Look at verses 6-7.

Galatians 1:6–7 ESV

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— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Later, Paul refers to the some who trouble you as those who want to make a good showing in the flesh

Galatians 6:12–13 ESV

It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

The gospel can be understood (6)

Paul is telling the Galatians that they are being duped into believing a false gospel. Which means that they are able to understand the true gospel. Paul had assumed that they in fact did understand the true gospel. Now, it is only God who can bring about saving faith in the Gospel. Many people understand the gospel, but have not placed their faith in it. But what’s important here is to understand that God gave the gospel to people with the intent that we would be able to understand it. It is not beyond our ability to understand. Might we need some help to understand it? Sure. But ultimately, it is an understandable message.

Paul had an expectation that the Galatians should know better than to even consider what the false teachers were claiming. The Galatians knew what the gospel was, but despite their knowledge, they bought into a false gospel.

So the fact that the gospel came from God is what provides us with a certainty of its trustworthiness. It is important to have the distinction between the source of the gospel (God) and the preachers of the gospel. Why? Because if a preacher fails to proclaim God’s message, the preacher’s message must be thrown out.

The gospel is exclusive (7)

There is no other good news. The false teachers were teaching that the gospel Paul had preached to the Galatians was insufficient and incomplete.

These teachers were compelling and easy to listen to. They knew what people wanted to hear and they said it.

Paul refers to the false teachers. Their “gospel” required circumcision for justification. They insisted that the Galatians not only believe in Christ for their justification but also accept circumcision.

This was apparently being considered by some as believable and authoritative. Paul is saying that the message you are considering, even though it’s being presented as good news, it is not because there is only one good news and that’s the gospel he preached to them. The gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Purity of the Gospel (8-10)

The gospel cannot be altered (8-9)

Whether it is Paul himself, one of his team members or even an angel who proclaims a distortion of the gospel, the just response from God is condemnation.

This mean that our loyalties cannot be ultimately to a person, but to Christ. This goes a long way to help us understand the proper relationship to the spiritual leaders in our lives. We love them, respect them, honor them, but hold them accountable to the standard of the purity of the gospel.

The consequences for altering the gospel are severe: anathama.

The gospel cannot be substituted for the approval and applause of man (10)

seeking the approval of either God or man.

approval = acceptance

please = delight

we are either seeking to gain the approval of man by striving to please man or we are striving to gain the approval of God by seeking to please Him

but what’s clear here is that in our efforts to please God we will end up displeasing man. There will be times when, because of our devotion to Christ and His gospel, we will disappoint or anger people.

And those who are not rooted in the gospel will have a tendency to be more concerned about what man thinks… more concerned for people’s

approval

applause

affirmation

And even if obeying God could jeopardize those things, we’ll transplant to a man-centered gospel.... which is no gospel at all