Galatians #2
Notes
Transcript
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 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.
17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Paul arguing for the heart and essentials of the gospel… and in these first two chapters, he is doing that Autobiographically.
*Paul recounting his conversion — Acts 9
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
The challenge of a “deserting/different/distorted” gospel in Galatia came when agitators emerged to say that Paul’s gospel was different from the gospel being offered by the leaders in the Jerusalem Church — namely Peter, James, John.
The challenge of a “deserting/different/distorted” gospel in Galatia came when agitators emerged to say that Paul’s gospel was different from the gospel being offered by the leaders in the Jerusalem Church — namely Peter, James, John.
So Paul wants to clarify where he received the gospel he taught to the Galatians: by the revelation of Jesus Christ to Him.
So Paul wants to clarify where he received the gospel he taught to the Galatians: by the revelation of Jesus Christ to Him.
He did not consult anyone
Went to Arabia for 3 years… then to Damascus
Jesus doesn’t leave anyone out on their own for overly long… but there are times where you He does not have books, studies, sermons, sessions, conferences to tell you what he wants to tell you.
Summer Missionary… 4-5 times in my life
Paul then spends 14 years (17 total) before he finally goes to Jerusalem.
Paul then spends 14 years (17 total) before he finally goes to Jerusalem.
Sees Peter for 15 days… James a little… no mention of seeing John at all.
There is collaboration to make sure that the message Paul was preaching and was being preached from Jerusalem shared a unity of substance, focus, and the Spirit.
Titus was with Paul… was not circumcised… and did not become circumcised.
On this point of FAITH and FAITH in Jesus alone is one made right in our standing before God — unity of Peter and Paul and James and John
Paul leaves that meeting to reach out to the Gentile… Peter, James, and John to the Jew — and all of them caring for the poor.
Paul leaves that meeting to reach out to the Gentile… Peter, James, and John to the Jew — and all of them caring for the poor.
Then, at some point, Peter comes to Antioch and debate over food laws emerge.
Then, at some point, Peter comes to Antioch and debate over food laws emerge.
Peter’s hypocrisy… he leads the Jews… and even Barnabas! away from the gospel.
Paul opposes them — not with the gospel he had received from them but with the one — thankfully — he had received from Jesus Himself!
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 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.
2.16 is where we really here Paul stating succinctly the gospel he confronted Peter, Barnabas, and their Jewish friends with… that he preached to the Galatians… and that he is confronting the Galatians with as they have been “bewitched” with a Jesus Plus __________ gospel.
2.16 is where we really here Paul stating succinctly the gospel he confronted Peter, Barnabas, and their Jewish friends with… that he preached to the Galatians… and that he is confronting the Galatians with as they have been “bewitched” with a Jesus Plus __________ gospel.
Works
Faith
Justify
All 3 come from the same Greek word — dikaios word group.
This is legal language that in God’s divine court those who place their faith in Jesus are declared innocent by God the Judge and that person has been put to rights with God on the basis of what Jesus Christ has done for us.
Standing in line to be judged
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.