“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 1:20 – 2:1
Verse 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 which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
The Apostle Paul starts this letter by introducing himself as an apostle or one who is sent forth to minister by Jesus Christ who is God manifested in the flesh and also God manifested in the Spirit. He was not sent forth by his own will or by the will of any other man. He then identifies that this epistle is not only from him personally, but from all the fellow Christian believers that are with him and that the content is directed to the various churches in Galatia which was an area located in what is today the country of Turkey.
Application: In the Apostolic Church there were no denominations like seen today. The individual churches did not have official names like Bethany Baptist Church. The churches were known by their locations. So this epistle from the Apostle Paul was for all the different churches established in the geographical region known as Galatia. One church would read it and then pass it on to another church until all the churches had received it and studied it. In this way, the churches were all one in their doctrine and in their faith. There was unity, unless of course they happened to stray from the Gospel and the doctrine they had been taught as these churches in Galatia were apparently doing. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6
Verses 3-5 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.
He then writes his signature greeting, “Grace be to you and peace from God the father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.” All the books of the New Testament including the book of Hebrews can be identified as being written by the Apostle Paul when they include a greeting about grace and peace from God. None of the other writers of the New Testament books include this introductory greeting. He then adds the reminder that Jesus Christ died for people’s sins so that they could be delivered from the evils of this world which includes sin, death, and eternity in Hell.
Verses 6-7 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.
The Galatian church was going astray and following others who were changing the teachings that they had received from the Apostle Paul who established these churches on his missionary journeys. These evil men were presenting a different gospel which was really merely false doctrine. The Greek word translated as “trouble” is “tarasso” and it means to agitate, trouble, cause inward commotion, to disquiet, or to perplex the mind of one by suggesting doubts. The Greek word translated as “pervert” is “metastrepho” and it means to turn around.
Application: Just as the Apostle Paul was harassed and attacked continually by evil spirits during his Earthly ministry, so every work for the Kingdom of God is going to be harassed and attacked by devils or evil spirits and by people in whom those evil spirits live or who work with those evil spirits. Not all of Satan’s men/women are possessed. Some just enjoy working for the Devil and the power that they get from doing his bidding. Ask any missionary today and they will tell you that opposition to their ministry and work is the normal. So it is not surprising that after the Apostle Paul brought the truth of the Gospel to the Galatian people and churches were established, evil came in quietly and subtly causing the Galatian Christians to be carried away with whatever this new doctrine was teaching them. The same thing has been happening for the entire history of the Christian Church and it continues today with false doctrines such as Scofieldism which is why it is so important for every Christian believer to be grounded in the Word of God so that they can recognize error when it comes along to steal their Faith and/or confuse their understanding of the Word.
Verses 8-9 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. 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.
When anything is repeated twice in Scripture it means that it is an indisputable fact that is settled in Heaven and it will not change. Here the Apostle Paul states twice that anyone perverting or turning around the Gospel so that it is no longer the truth from God are to be accursed. The Greek word translated as “accursed” is “anathema” and in the context of the verse above it means cursed or doomed to destruction.
Application: Anyone handling the Word of God as this writer is doing in this web site had better do so with care and with caution as God will not tolerate His Word being mistranslated, misapplied, misused for personal or evil purposes, or mis-communicated to others so as to cause their spiritual harm or demise. Pastors, teachers and evangelists are held to a higher standard than lay people trying to understand the Bible, and anyone using passages from fake bibles to further false doctrine will receive a curse and punishment if not in this world, in the one to come.
Verse 10 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.
The Apostle Paul states that he is not seeking approval by men but is seeking only to be approved by the LORD. Therefore the Gospel he delivered to them is from God and not man.
Verses 11-12 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.
He then emphasizes that the Gospel message was not taught to him by other men but was given to him by the revelation of Jesus Christ. So what he has preached to them came directly from God Almighty.
Verses 13-14 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.
The Apostle Paul them reminds them of his testimony of being a persecutor of the Church and that by so doing he gained much approval and promotion in the Pharisaical hierarchy of the Jewish religion. Why does he mention this? Because if he was trying to please men, he would have stayed a Pharisee and continued to be against the Faith as it was rewarding in terms of worldly success and popularity. He was going places and gaining prestige and power by trying to destroy God’s people at the bidding of the Jewish leadership. Therefore for him to have such a change in heart and to follow after the LORD Jesus Christ, he had to have received from God the Gospel message. Nothing else would have resulted in such a change from persecutor to persecuted.
Verses 15-19 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. 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.
Again, if the message the Apostle Paul preached had been from men, he would have spent time with the apostles in Jerusalem and learned from them what they knew about Jesus and the Faith. But he went and lived away from any apostles or disciples and learned what God wanted him to know directly by divine revelation.
Verses 20-23 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 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. (Galatians 1)
The Apostle Paul continues a defense of his authority that was from God only and not from men so that the Galatians would understand that he had the truth and to the truth they must return and be steadfast, not carried away by any other doctrine that sounds good but which will destroy their walk with the LORD. That very divine authority given to the Apostle Paul was accepted by the Church fathers, Peter and James, when he went to Jerusalem and by the other churches he visited in his missionary journeys.