Galatians Chapter 1 Study
Galatians, Chapter 1, Verses 1-9
“There Is No Other Gospel!”
[9-20-20]
This Week’s Lesson: “There Is No Other Gospel!”
Galatians 1:1-9) [KJV] Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
QUESTION: Who called Paul to be an apostle?
ANSWER: God! God, the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, called Paul to be an apostle.
2) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
QUESTION: Why does Paul mention “all the brethren which are with me”?
ANSWER: Paul mentions “Sosthenes [our] brother”in his greetings to the Corinthian church [1 Cor. 1:1], Timothy in his greetings to the Phillipian church [Phil. 1:1] and the church at Colosse [Col. 1:1], and Silas and Timothy in his greetings to the church at Thessalonica [1 Thess. 1:1].
QUESTION: Why?
ANSWER: Please note:
“Though Paul claimed to be inspired, yet it would do much to conciliate favor for what he advanced, if others also concurred with what he said, and especially if they were known to the churches to which the epistles were written” [Barnes].
NOTE: “Sosthenes is mentioned in Acts_18:17, as ‘the chief ruler of the synagogue’ at Corinth. He is there said to have been beaten by the Greeks before the judgment-seat of Gallio because he was a Jew, and because he had joined with the other Jews in arraigning Paul, and had thus produced disturbance in the city’ [Barnes]. He had either been converted to Christianity since then or this is a different Sosthenes.
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.
QUESTION: What is Paul doing here?
ANSWER: He’s doing what he always does in his letters, he’s offering them grace and peace from “God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.”
QUESTION: Then what?
ANSWER: He’s reminding them that this grace is only possible because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. His victory at Calvary delivered us from evil, and it was God’s will that it do so.
QUESTION: Then what?
ANSWER: He reminds his readers, which now include us, that Jesus deserves our worship forever.
6) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
NOTE: Paul now ends the pleasantries and gets on with the purpose of his writing this letter.
QUESTION: What absolutely amazes this apostle?
ANSWER: He is in the state of absolute amazement that the Christians in the province of Galatia have “so soon” left the solid teaching that he shared with them and had engaged in the false teaching of the Judaizers/legalists.
In regards to “another,”
“állos (G243), Another, numerically but of the same kind in contrast to héteros (G2087), another qualitatively, other, different one” [Word Study].
NOTE: Paul uses héteros (G2087) in verse 6, but uses állos (G243) in verse 7.
QUESTION: What does that mean?
ANSWER: In verse 6 Paul is telling his readers that they have been removed to “another gospel,” meaning a different kind of gospel altogether. In verse 7 he tells them that it isn’t “another” at all, meaning it’s not another of the same kind.
John 14:16) [KJV] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
NOTE: In the above verse “another” is “allos,” meaning another of the same kind.
*ANOTHER NOTE: Paul is telling his readers that this so called gospel being preached to them is not another form of the same gospel, but rather it is something altogether different.
8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
“The word does not denote punishment intended as discipline but being given over or devoted to divine condemnation” [Word Study].
QUESTION: Is Paul suggesting that anyone who preaches legalism should go to Hell, without any chance of redemption?
ANSWER: He can’t be suggesting that because he once preached legalism. However, he didn’t suggest that his pre-conversion message of legalism was the gospel message, like these false teachers seem to be suggesting. Still, if a false teacher repents before he/she dies they can surely be saved because the Bible says, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
QUESTION: What is he saying then?
ANSWER: He’s telling his readers that any so called “gospel” message that teaches them, in any way, to put their trust in their own effort, rather then in the finished work of Christ, is a damnable doctrine. Some preachers who teach such doctrines will be lost; some won’t!
9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
NOTE: In verse 8 he states that if he, himself, or any of his co-workers, change their presentation of the gospel to some distorted message of self-reliance they should be cursed. Then, for extra weight, he says that if an angel would step out of glory and preach such a false gospel then that angel should be cursed. However, in verse 9 he’s getting to the real point of this holy tirade. He is now pointing his finger right at the false teachers themselves.
QUESTION: What is he, in essence, saying?
ANSWER: He is telling his readers that if he, or his co-workers, or an angel would deserve to be cursed for preaching a false gospel, then those false teachers that were among them deserve that same “anáthema.”
QUESTION: If Paul is this hard on those false purveyors of the gospel then shouldn’t we be as hard on legalistic teachers of the gospel in our city?
ANSWER: No!
QUESTION: Why not?
ANSWER: Please note the following passage:
1Corinthians 3:10-17) [KJV] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13) Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14) If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15) If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
QUESTION: Why shouldn’t we suggest that legalistic teachers of the “gospel” should be cursed?
ANSWER: The above passage talks about two kinds of teachers who teach error. The first kind are honest men/women who simply have a certain doctrine wrong. These men are saved, but they will not receive any reward for those particular messages they deliver that are wrong. That will include all of us preachers. However, there is another group. These teachers are heretics. They are deliberately teaching false doctrines because of an agenda. These men, unless they repent, will be eternally lost because they are not saved.
Galatians, Chapter 1, Verses 10-24
“Paul Argues For the Truth of His Gospel!”
[9-27-20]
Review: “There Is No Other Gospel!”
Galatians 1:6-9) [KJV] I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
NOTE: Paul is in the state of absolute amazement that the Christians in the province of Galatia have “so soon” left the solid teaching that he shared with them and had engaged in the false teaching of the Judaizers/legalists.
NOTE: In verse 6 Paul is telling his readers that they have been removed to “another gospel,” meaning a different kind of gospel altogether. In verse 7 he tells them that it isn’t “another” at all, meaning it’s not another of the same kind.
*ANOTHER NOTE: Paul is telling his readers that this so called gospel being preached to them is not another form of the same gospel, but rather it is something altogether different.
8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
NOTE: Paul’s telling his readers that any so called “gospel” message that teaches them, in any way, to put their trust in their own effort, rather then in the finished work of Christ, is a damnable doctrine. Some preachers who teach such doctrines will be lost; some won’t!
9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
NOTE: In verse 8 he states that if he, himself, or any of his co-workers, change their presentation of the gospel to some distorted message of self-reliance they should be cursed. Then, for extra weight, he says that if an angel would step out of glory and preach such a false gospel then that angel should be cursed. However, in verse 9 he’s getting to the real point of this holy tirade. He is now pointing his finger right at the false teachers themselves.
This Week’s Lesson: “Paul Argues For the Truth of His Gospel!”
Galatians 1:10-24) [KJV] For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
QUESTION: What tiny tidbit of information to we get from this verse?
ANSWER: Paul, in essence, admits that when he was a Pharisee he was seeking “to please men.”
QUESTION: What else do we learn from this verse?
ANSWER: We can’t truly serve Christ if we are doing what we are doing to seek the approval of men.
Paul’s 6 Arguments In Defense of His Message and Ministry:
{thanks to the Believer’s Bible Commentary}:
11) But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
FIRST ARGUMENT: His Gospel did not originate with man, but rather, was a revelation from God.
“Paul’s gospel makes everything of God and nothing of man. This is not the kind of salvation that men would devise” [BBC].
13) For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14) And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
SECOND ARGUMENT: His failure to include the Law in his Gospel was not a result of ignorance concerning the Law.
“By birth and training, he was steeped in the law. By personal choice, he became a notorious persecutor of the church. In passionate zeal for the traditions of his fathers, he surpassed many other Jews of his own age” [BBC].
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; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17) Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
THIRD ARGUMENT: Paul tells his readers that he was sharing this Gospel for three years [next verse] before he conferred with any other Gospel preachers. His point being, he didn’t receive his Gospel from other preachers.
“His determination to avoid Jerusalem was not out of disrespect for his fellow-apostles; it was rather because he had been commissioned by the risen Lord Himself and given a unique ministry to the Gentiles (Gal. 2:8)” [BBC].
18) Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19) But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
20) Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
FOURTH ARGUMENT: His first trip to Jerusalem lasted only fifteen days, and he only met with Peter and James, the Lord’s brother.
“His stay with Peter lasted only fifteen days—scarcely long enough for a training course” [BBC].
21) Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22) And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
23) But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24) And they glorified God in me.
NOTE: Paul spent his time in the regions of Syria and Cilicia after leaving Jerusalem. The Jewish Christian churches had never met him at that time. However, they had heard that the one who used to persecute them was now preaching the very faith he once tried to destroy. They glorified God for him.
Galatians 2:1-2, 11) [KJV] Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with [me] also.
2) And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
FIFTH ARGUMENT: During this visit to Jerusalem, either fourteen years after his conversion, or fourteen years after his first trip to Jerusalem, which would have made this trip seventeen years after his conversion, the Jerusalem apostles recognized that Paul’s Gospel was the authentic Word of God.
“It was a matter of common courtesy to speak to the leaders first. It was also desirable that the leaders should be thoroughly convinced as to the genuineness of Paul’s gospel. If they had any questions or difficulties, Paul wanted to answer them at the outset. Then he could go before the church with the full support of the other apostles” [BBC].
11) But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
SIXTH ARGUMENT: His sixth argument for the authenticity of his Gospel is the fact that he rebuked Peter “to the face” when “he was to be blamed.”
Peter was “considered by many Jewish Christians as the chief of the apostles. (This passage effectively refutes the notion that Peter was the infallible leader of the church.) [BBC].
A Summary of Paul’s 6 Arguments In Defense of His Message and Ministry:
- He received his Gospel directly from Jesus Christ.
- He was an expert in the Law, yet preaches a Gospel that trumps the Law.
- He preached the Gospel for three years before he ever met a single apostle.
- His visit with Peter, when he also met James, lasted only fifteen days.
- Years later he returned to Jerusalem and met with all the apostles, and they accepted his Gospel as genuine.
- He once, for the sake of the integrity of his Gospel, had to rebuke Peter to his face.
A CLOSING NOTE: Paul wants his readers to understand that he was commissioned by God, Himself, to preach the Gospel that he had received from the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s why he dared to say that any man, or any angel, who would dare to change the Gospel message could very well face the judgment of God Almighty.
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