Dr. Paul’s Contemporary History to the Galatians
Introduction:
Dr. Paul had been working in the Kingdom of Jesus for several years and advancing It (He was converted in about AD33.). A serious error was being taught by some traveling Jewish converts from Jerusalem. He and others traveled there from Antioch (Dr. Luke’s contemporary history of ‘Acts’ reports this problem and the meeting in Jerusalem to correct it.), to determine the source of this error. After a successful number of meetings, he and others returned to Antioch to report the results of the meeting. While he continued in Antioch for a while, he, there, received information about the Galatian congregations he and Barnabas had established about 2 years earlier. They, too, had some Jewish christians visit and were teaching the same errors and challenged Dr. Paul’s Apostleship. Dr. Paul, then, wrote this Letter to each of the Galatian congregations. It will sharply deal with these that have done so. Also, anyone that gives attention to these false prophets will fall from God’s Grace. Dr. Paul, shortly after sending this Letter (A.D. 47ish), travels to follow It up and takes Silas with him to confirm the Letter from Jerusalem (A.D. 46), which disavowed that the error was from them, but rather was from some erring brethren in the Jerusalem congregation (Acts 15:23-29). Dr. Paul left Antioch, then, in A.D.47; he and Silas traveled through Syria and Cilicia, among many of the congregations that Dr. Paul had established or worked with before he went to Antioch (He had earlier worked there about 6 or 7 years.) They left many copies of the Letter from Jerusalem in congregations in all three provinces (Acts 16:4-5), which Silas could confirm, because he was a Prophet from Jerusalem.
If one uses Dr. Luke’s historical work of ‘the early Acts of some of the early inspired workers in Jesus’ Kingdom’, Dr. Paul is an essential part of the Kingdom’s development (It covers a few different Evangelist, Prophets, and Apostles from AD30 until AD62ish). After his conversion, he states that he spent three years in the Arabian desert being taught again, but this time he was taught the Good News (Gal. 1:17-18). He worked in and out of Damascus and caused a serious problem among the Jews there {Actually, it was their [Jews] response to the Good News, which now Dr. Paul could properly teach: 1) He had personal contact with Jesus (as well as the Holy Spirit), and 2) had developed a complete use of the prophetic parts of the old Law [Moses] to assist them to understand that Jesus was the Messiah and what His Kingdom was prophesied to be like, and 3) He was taught Who Jesus was and what He did on Earth, and how to evangelize His Good News, 4) Also, he had a complete understanding of the New Covenant and how It was to be applied to the lives of each new convert, as well as, 5) What a local congregation was to be like to insure the “unity” as Jesus expected each of them to have (unity of Jews with all cultures of others in a single congregation, as well as, the Lord’s Supper, and Worship) and proper actions of it among themselves as His local Kingdom and among the lost in their city and area, 6) He had been trained in al teachings of Jesus concerning the Judgement and eternal Kingdom after Judgement. Dr. Paul in his 2nd Letter to the Corinthians (we in error refer to as 1st Corinthians) says five times that he taught the same things in all the communities of christians in which he worked or planted. Thus, all congregations were identical in the Standard Jesus wanted as His living, active Body. That Standard is the revealed new Way from His Throne-His New Covenant! Jesus says It is so perfect, He can use It to judge each of us on the last day! (John 12:48) 5) He was given Apostle status by Jesus and could receive special help from the Holy Spirit to both teach accurately and confirm what he taught as accurately from Jesus’ Throne by miracles only God could authorize. He also, could lay hands on folks, authorizing them to do various miraculous things, which only the Apostles could authorize.) So, the problem was really the Jew’s ugly response to Truth, and to the expected coming of the Messiah and the establishment of His Kingdom, just as they had in Jesus’ time on Earth.
Dr. Paul was an Apostle assigned by Jesus for special assignment, just as capable as the other Apostles (he used his given miraculous gifts to confirm his Teachings of Jesus and for leaving in each congregation, men to be leaders of the correct Kingdom of Jesus), as he was schooled (three years in the Arabian desert), sent-out, and armed for the work of confronting everyone (Jew or Gentile), and organizing them into one joined Kingdom (or community congregation), not two or more in each city; He was not the only one that was inspired with that Teaching and training, but the one assigned with that specific goal. He taught, converted, trained, personally developed, and organized many communities into a single congregation of Jesus’ Kingdom with identical Truth in each of them to sustain unity as Jesus expected It to have. That unity was essential to continue to receive Grace from God. It also was a tremendous value for the continuation under duress or test. The look and actions in all of Jesus’ congregations of called-out citizens were identical in requirements and free of denominationalism (No division into multiple local congregation, but more so, one unified group working Jesus’ commanded Way.). Their unity was remarkable in its ability to stay genuinely unified but with all the various opinions within the local group of disciples you might find (There was a continuous input of new folks with all kinds of mistaken ideas of who God is, how to live, and authority, etc., which needed daily help to reform from, because evangelism was on-going by design of the Kingdom). The leaderships heard and saw the first Evangelist work in their communities. They were all, then, taught by them and they were, then, trained by them. Thus, leadership by design was of the same kind: genuinely discipled to be like Jesus in speech, actions, mind, and motive. Jesus’ motive was simple: His great love of all people was proven by His incredible sacrifice because He felt every individual was worth His greatest effort, whether they wanted His help or not. Or whether they seemed worthy of it by their actions against Him or His Kingdom. Though He died for every person that was ever conceived, He was hated or rejected by most. Even after the displaying of incredible powers, He was rejected and hated. Jesus did not waver, though He was aware of their thinking, feelings, and motives, as many did respond to Him and to the reward God promised for reforming their minds and lives to Jesus’ new Way, because they were motivated by His wonderful love: to love, adore, reverence, honor, and obey Him. His Wisdom of why, what, how, etc. are of such superior quality, His Kingdom obeys without question.
Thus, all could expect great patience, wisdom, knowledge, and constant involvement as a must, as some errors took time to overcome. Their treatment of such brethren was to be as Jesus’ was to a lost and dying world, who did not want Him, yet in the end, He became the source of reconciliation to many that turned to God. Dr. Paul was one of the many sources of correct leadership of that new Way. This, of course, is still expected by Jesus of those that accept His call to salvation, utilizing, now, His inspired New Covenant. Keep in mind that these Galatians were on the verge of losing God’s Grace, due to their giving in to false teaching.
Date: A.D. 46-47ish
Text:
(1st) Paul, an Apostle, not from men, neither by man, but more so, by Jesus Christ and God the Father, Who raised Him from the dead; and all the brothers with me to the congregations of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present wicked world, according to the Will of God our Father, to Whom is the glory forever and forever. Amen. {1:4}
(2nd) I am surprised that you are so soon forsaking the one who called you by Christ’s Grace and turning to a different Good News. It is not another, though certain ones are disturbing you, and wishing to distort Christ’s Good News. But more so, if we or a heavenly angel, ourselves, should evangelize with Good News contrary to the Good News which we ourselves evangelized, he must be accursed! As we have previously said, now I repeat: if anyone himself evangelizes with Good News contrary to That which you received, he must be accursed.
Do I seek the approval of men or God? Or do I seek to please men? If I were yet pleasing men, I would not be Christ’s slave. I am enlightening your understanding, brothers, that the Good News which has been evangelized by me is not through men. I neither received It from man, nor was I taught It, but more so, It came to me by the revelation of [from] Jesus Christ. {1:12}
(3rd) You have heard of my previous manner of life in Judaism, that beyond measure, I persecuted the called-out people of God, and I was trying to destroy them. I was advancing in Judaism more than many contemporaries among my people, since I was more intensely zealous for the traditions of the fathers. But, when the One (Who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me by His Grace) was pleased to reveal His Son in me (that I should evangelize Him among the Gentiles), I did not go immediately to flesh and blood for advice; neither did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia and returned again to Damascus, then, after three years. I went up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. I saw no other Apostle, but I did see James (the Lord’s brother). Behold! In the sight of God, I am not lying in the things which I am writing to you. Then, I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, but I was unknown by face to the Judean congregations in Christ. They were only hearing, “He who formerly was persecuting us is now evangelizing ‘the Faith’, which he once was trying to destroy,” and they were praising God in me. Then, after fourteen years, I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, also taking Titus along. I went up by revelation and placed before them the Good News which I am preaching among the Gentiles, but privately to those of reputation, for fear I am running or had run in vain. But more so, not even Titus who was with me was required to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. However, false brothers slipped in to spy on our liberty in Christ Jesus, that they might enslave us; yet we did not submit to them even momentarily, that the Truth of the Good News might continue with you. Those who were renowned (whatever they were does not matter to me, for God does not accept a man because of his reputation), contributed nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision (for He Who made Peter an Apostle of the circumcision, also made me an Apostle for the Gentiles), and when they recognized the Grace which had been given to me, James and Cephas and John (who seemed to be pillars) extended to Barnabas and me the right hands of fellowship, that we might go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision; only, that we should remember the poor, which very thing I was also eager to do. {2:10}
(4th) However, when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. Before certain ones came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles, but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews acted insincerely along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray in their hypocrisy. But when I saw they were not walking uprightly according to the Truth of the Good News, I said to Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, being a Jew, are living in the manner of Gentiles, and not in the manner of Jews, why do you compel the Gentiles to live in the manner of Jews? We are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles; and we know that a person is not made right by the works of the Law, but by faith from Jesus Christ. And we ourselves have believed unto Christ Jesus, in order that we might be made right by faith from Christ, and not by the works of the Law, because no flesh will be made right by the works of the Law. And if we ourselves also were found sinners while we were seeking to be made right in Christ, is Christ then a servant of sin? Indeed, there is no possibility! If I build again things which I destroyed, I demonstrate that I am a wrongdoer.”
Through the Law I died to the Law, that I might be alive to God. I have been co-crucified [>|] with Christ, and it is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me. Now the life which I live in flesh in complete assurance, I live to the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside God’s Grace, for if righteousness is through the Law, then Christ died for nothing! {2:21}
(5th) Foolish Galatians, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been openly crucified, who has deceived you? I want to learn only this from you: did you receive the Spirit out of the works of the Law, or out of the Message of faith? Are you so foolish? Since you began in the Spirit, will you now be made complete in the flesh? Have you suffered so many things for nothing? (If indeed it is for nothing.) Therefore, He who supplies to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, is it out of the works of the Law, or out of the Message of faith?
As Abraham, “believed God, and it was accounted to him unto righteousness.” {Gen.15:6}, therefore, you ought to understand that those who are out of faith are Abraham’s children. The Scripture, seeing in advance that God would justify the nations out of faith, evangelized the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” {Gen.12:3,18:18} So, they who are out of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. {3:9}
Those who are out of the works of the Law are under a curse, as it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things written in the Book of the Law, to do them.” [Deut.27:26] Now it is clear that no one is justified with God in the Law, because “The righteous shall live out of faith.” {Hab.2:4} However, the Law is not out of faith, but “He who does them will live in them.”[Lv.18:5] Christ redeemed us out of the curse of the Law, becoming a curse in our behalf, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” [Deut.21:23], in order that Abraham’s blessing may be to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, in order that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through ‘the Faith’. {3:14}
(6th) Brothers, (I am speaking from a human standpoint): even in a man’s covenant, when it has been confirmed, no one annuls it or adds to it. The ‘Promises’ were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He did not say, “and to seeds,” as of many, but as of One, “and to your Seed,” {Gen.12:7}, Who is ‘Christ’! And I say this: the Law, which came after four hundred and thirty years, did not cancel the Covenant, which had been confirmed in advance by God, to the nullifying of the Promise. If the inheritance is out of the Law, it is no longer out of the Promise; but God has given it to Abraham through the Promise. {3:18}
What therefore is the Law? It was added because of transgressions, until the Seed should come, Who had been promised, and It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not of one, but God is one. Is the Law therefore contrary to God’s promises? No indeed! If a law had been given which could make alive, righteousness would truly have been out of law, but more so, the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, so that the Promise out of faith in Jesus Christ could be given to those who believe.
Now, before ‘the Faith’ came, we were held under custody by the Law, imprisoned until the coming of ‘the Faith’ about to be revealed. The Law therefore became our guide to Christ, so that we might be justified out of faith; but since ‘the Faith’ has come, we are no longer under a guide. All of you are God’s children through ‘the Faith’ in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were immersed [x] into Christ, clothed yourselves [put on] with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female, for you all are all united as one in Christ Jesus; so, if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the Promise. {3:29}
(7th) Also, I say, so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, though he is master of all; but he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. Likewise, when we were children, we were enslaved under worldly principles; but when “The Fullness of Time” came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem the ones under the Law, that we might receive sonship! Because you all are sons, God has sent His Son’s Spirit into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father.” You therefore are no longer a slave, but more so, a son; and if a son, then also an heir through God.
But more so, then, indeed! When you all did not know God, you were enslaved to those who by nature are not gods. And now, since you have understood God (rather, have come to be understood by God), how is it that you are turning back again to the weak, and impoverished principles, to which again you wish to be enslaved? You are observing days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid that I may have labored among you in vain. {4:11}
(8th) Brothers, I beg you, it is imperative that you all be as I am, that I also may be as you. You have not wronged me in anything; and you are still aware that with a bodily ailment I evangelized the Good News to you the first time. You did not treat me with contempt, neither did you disdain, what to you was a trial in my flesh, but more so! You received me as God’s angel, even as Christ Jesus. Where, now, is your happiness? I testify to you that, if possible, you would have dug out your eyes to give them to me. Have I therefore become your enemy by dealing truthfully with you? They are not seeking you in any good way, but more so, they want to exclude you, so that you might zealously seek them.
It is always desirable to be sought in a good way, and not only when I am present with you. My children, whose birth pains I am again suffering, until Christ’s nature can, again, form in each of you all! I could almost wish to be with you now, and to change my voice, because I am in doubt about you. {4:20}
(9th) Tell me, those who desire to be under the Law, do you not listen to the Law? It is written that Abraham had two sons: one by the servant-girl, and one by the free woman. The one out of the servant-girl was indeed born according to flesh [Gen. 16]; and the other out of the free woman of the Promise [Gen. 21]. These things are an allegory, for these women are two Covenants, one from mount Sinai, bearing children into slavery, which is Hagar. This Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, (for she is enslaved with her children). But the Jerusalem who is above is free, (which is our mother). As it is written, “You must be glad, barren one who is not bearing; you must break forth and cry out [rejoice], the one not having birth pains, because the children of the desolate one are many more than of the one who has a husband.” [Is.54:1] And you brothers, as Isaac, are children of Promise. But, as the one who was born according to the flesh was then persecuting the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now. But more so, what does the Scripture say, “You must cast out the servant-girl and her son, for the son of the servant-girl shall by no means inherit with the son of the free woman.”? [Gen.21:10] Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the servant-girl, but more so, of the free woman. {4:31}
(10th) Christ liberated us for freedom. Therefore, you all must stand, and must not again be entangled with a yoke of slavery. Listen to me, carefully! I, Paul, assure you, that if you are circumcised, Christ will not profit you at all. I testify again to every man being circumcised, that he is a debtor to keep all the Law. You have been cut off from Christ. You who want to be made right by the Law, you have fallen from Grace. In spirit we await, out of faith, hope, from righteousness, because in Christ Jesus neither circumcision has any merit, nor uncircumcision, but more so, faith working through love. {5:6}
You were running well; who hindered you, that you should not obey the Truth? This persuasion is not from the One Who is calling you. A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough. I have confidence in you in the Lord, that you will think no other way. The one who is troubling you will bear his judgment, whoever he may be. And I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? Then the cross has ceased to be an obstacle. I wish that the ones troubling you would cut themselves off. {5:12}
(11th) Brothers, you were called for freedom; only do not exercise your freedom unto fleshly indulgence, but more so, you all must be enslaved to one another through love. The whole Law is fulfilled in one statement: “You will love your neighbor as yourself.” [Lv.19:18] But if you bite and devour one another, you must be careful not to be consumed by one another.
And I say you all ‘must’ walk by the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the desire of the flesh. The flesh rises in protest against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do the things that you wish. If you are being led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. The works of the flesh are very obvious, which are: fornication, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, wraths, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envies, instances of drunkenness, revelries, and such like; of which things I tell you beforehand, even as I told you previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. Now the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. There is no law against such as these. And they who are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the desires. If we live by the Spirit, should we also stay in step by the Spirit? {5:25}
(12th) We should not become boasters: provoking one another, envying one another. Brothers, if a person is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, you must restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, watching yourselves, lest you also be tempted. You all must bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill Christ’s Law. If anyone, being nothing, thinks he is something, he is deceiving himself. Each one must prove his own work, and then he will have a reason to boast only on his own account, and not unto the other, for each one will bear his own load.
And the one who is being taught in the Message must share with the one who teaches in all good things. You all must not be deceived: God is not mocked, for a person will reap whatever he sows. He who sows to his flesh will reap ruin out of the flesh; and he who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life out of the Spirit. We should not tire in doing what is good, because we will reap in due season, if we do not become weary. Therefore, as we have an opportunity, we should do what is good to everyone, especially to those who belong to the household of ‘the Faith’. {6:11}
(13th) You ought to have noticed how large are the letters I have written with my hand. As many as want to make a good showing in the flesh, these force you to be circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted because of the cross of Christ. Even the ones being circumcised themselves are not themselves keeping the Law, but they want you to be circumcised, in order that they may boast in your flesh.
May I not boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but more so, a new creation. As many as will walk by this Standard, peace be upon them, and mercy, and on the Israel of God.
In the future, no one ought to trouble me, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.