Lyric credit: David Crowder Band, 'We Won't Be Quiet'
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Galatians 1
During our Sunday night bible study, we've decided to go over Galatians. We've done this for a number of reasons. As a Torah-believing group, a lot of arguments about why we, as believers in Jesus, do no have to follow Torah any longer, come from Galatians. We want to study this book to see if, in fact, they're right, or if there is something else beneath the surface of the supposed Torah-forsaking verses. We have never studied Galatians too deeply, so we thought it would be a great book to go through together.
I have read through the book a few times, and I've decided to post short (heh...maybe) blogs about each chapter. I just can't help it, it is such an intriguing letter.
This letter was written by Paul. There is some debate about when exactly, where it was before or after the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. May people believe that the First Missionary Journey of Paul's was when the church of Galatia was started, somewhere during Acts 13-14. The date falls somewhere between 48-57 A.D. Galatians for the Practical Messianic by JK McKee goes into a lot of depth about the background of Galatians. It's only the introduction, unfortunately, but you can still learn a lot! (The actual introduction starts on page 7 of the PDF.)
Chapter One
Translations: Blue Letter Bible - KJV, Bible Gateway - NIV, Bible Gateway - ESV. I'll be quoting from David Stern's Complete Jewish Bible, but I'll refer to the original Greek text, since so much gets lost in translation.
In chapter one, Paul writes about two subjects. First, the Galatians are believing a different gospel than the one already presented by Paul and the Apostles. Second, he makes his claim that his gospel is from God, not from men, and his aim is to please God, not men.
"I am astounded that you are so quick to remove yourselves from me, the one who called you by the Messiah's grace, and turn to some other supposedly "Good News," which is not good news at all! What is really happening is that certain people are pestering you and trying to pervert the genuine Good News of the Messiah. But even if we - or, for that matter, an angel from heaven! - were to announce to you some so-called "Good News" contrary to the Good News we did announce to you, let him be under a curse forever!" ~Galatians 1:6-8
Someone - we're not sure yet - but someone other than Paul and the original Apostles are preaching a different gospel and turning the Galatians against Paul. This is the whole basis for the letter. In the next five chapters, Paul will argue in his own defense and against this 'new' gospel.
But what is the real Good News? What is this suspicious party fighting against? I know we have learned 'Jesus dies on the cross and rose from the dead for your sins' for a long time, but I'm going to look at the actual preachings of Paul and the Apostles from Acts. Here are some passages from Acts 13 and 14, Paul's first missionary journey.
After talking about the history of Israel, Paul proclaims that God has fulfilled his promises to Israel by sending his son: "In keeping with his proime, God has brought to Israel from this man's [David's] discendants a deliverer, Yeshua . . . It is to us that the message of this deliverance has been sent! . . . He was taken down from the stake and placed in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead! . . . As for us, we are bringing you the Good News that what God promised to the fathers, he has fulfilled for us the children in raising up Yeshua . . . Therefore, brothers, let is ne known to you that through this man is proclaimed forgiveness of sins! That is, God cleans everyone who puts his trust in this man, even in regard to all the things which you could not be cleared by the Torah of Moshe." ~Acts 13: 23, 26, 29-30, 32, 38-39
The bottom line? Jesus can clean a man from his sins. Following the commands of the Hebrew Scriptures could not save anyone or make him 'white as snow'. Having faith in Jesus would. Paul repeats this in Galatians 1:3-4.
Later, when Paul and Barnabas traveled to Lystra, they healed a crippled man. Amazed by their miracles, the people started calling them Zeus and Hermes and tried to sacrifice to them. In response, they tore their clothes and said, "Men! Why are you doing this? We're just men, human like you! We are announcing Good News to you - turn from these worthless things to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them! In times past, he allowed all peoples to walk in their own ways; yet he did not leave himself without evidence of his nature; because he does good things, giving you rain form heaven and crops in their seasons, filling you with food and your hearts with happiness!" ~Acts 14:15-17
The Good News here is God's sovereignty. He created all the world and he provides for all men. Acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God requires that you also ackowledge there is a God - and not just any god, but one god who is King of everything.
This is the gospel that Paul preached - and I think the first part is what the 'other gospel' is trying to refute. In later chapters, Paul argues against justification by works. He, and the other Apostles, have preached salvation by faith, nothing else.
Today, I think we have a relativistic society. We have many 'gospels.' Many people say, 'Whatever works for you' or 'My truth may not be true for you.' Even Christians buy into this. If we truly believe the word of God, we can't cling to these thoughts. There's one God, one truth, one way.
I love it when people say, 'Jesus was a really good man' and just leave it at that. Yes, Jesus was a really good man. But they ignore the parts where he claims that he's God (John 18:36-38), where he compares a Gentile woman to a dog (Mark 7:24-30), or where he asks people to drink his blood and eat his flesh (John 6:34-40). Jesus is an amazing person, but someone can't ignore the outrageous things he said! And if someone wants to say that the gospels aren't reliable sources, then how can they know that Jesus was this good person they say he is? There are 'gospels' today who say that Jesus is someone to be admired, but is dead now and doesn't need to be worshiped or served.
In the second subject of the first chapter, Paul talks about how he has gained knowledge of this gospel from God, not men. He met the Son of God personally (Galatians 1:11-12, Acts 9:3-9). He didn't speak with any of the Apostles about it, but immediately started preaching (Acts 9:18-22, Galatians 1:15-17). He waited three years before meeting Peter, but he claims that he did not meet many Messianic congregations or other emissares (Galatians 1:18-24).
Here, Paul is vouching for the integrity of his message. Some people who argue against the authenticity of the gospels use the argument that the disciples collaborated a huge story about Jesus' resurrection and his message. Paul claims he didn't meet any of the other forerunners of The Way movement until three years after his conversion. Whoever is speaking against him to the Galatians has said that he can't be trusted, but Paul argues that his message is straight from God.
He also say in Galatians 1:10 that he is not looking for man's approval, but God's. If he was preaching only to please men, one would think he would have said something to avoid being stoned in Acts 14:19-20. He also talks about the sufferings of the Apostles in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10. He wouldn't go through these things unless he knew they were for something worthwhile.
Unfortunately, many Christians today are seeking men's approval, not God's. They go to church for an hour on Sunday, then live the rest of their lives the way they want.
Many times, people aren't even aware of what God truly wants for them, they rely on pastors to tell them. We need to have a personal experience with God. I don't know how many people see the Son of God personally right before he blinds them, but we do have the bible - the inspired word of God that carries the heart of our Father in heaven. There is great power in community and studying scripture together, but are we gathering our understanding of God from our pastor, mentor, or youth leader, or from the very words of God? We can't rely on people around us to lead us to God. They can guide and help, but we have to be the ones to make that choice. We have to seek him out. And if we seek, we will find! (Matthew 7:7-11)
Oh, my, I love the bible. I'll post about chapter two sometime later.
I have read through the book a few times, and I've decided to post short (heh...maybe) blogs about each chapter. I just can't help it, it is such an intriguing letter.
This letter was written by Paul. There is some debate about when exactly, where it was before or after the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. May people believe that the First Missionary Journey of Paul's was when the church of Galatia was started, somewhere during Acts 13-14. The date falls somewhere between 48-57 A.D. Galatians for the Practical Messianic by JK McKee goes into a lot of depth about the background of Galatians. It's only the introduction, unfortunately, but you can still learn a lot! (The actual introduction starts on page 7 of the PDF.)
Chapter One
Translations: Blue Letter Bible - KJV, Bible Gateway - NIV, Bible Gateway - ESV. I'll be quoting from David Stern's Complete Jewish Bible, but I'll refer to the original Greek text, since so much gets lost in translation.
In chapter one, Paul writes about two subjects. First, the Galatians are believing a different gospel than the one already presented by Paul and the Apostles. Second, he makes his claim that his gospel is from God, not from men, and his aim is to please God, not men.
"I am astounded that you are so quick to remove yourselves from me, the one who called you by the Messiah's grace, and turn to some other supposedly "Good News," which is not good news at all! What is really happening is that certain people are pestering you and trying to pervert the genuine Good News of the Messiah. But even if we - or, for that matter, an angel from heaven! - were to announce to you some so-called "Good News" contrary to the Good News we did announce to you, let him be under a curse forever!" ~Galatians 1:6-8
Someone - we're not sure yet - but someone other than Paul and the original Apostles are preaching a different gospel and turning the Galatians against Paul. This is the whole basis for the letter. In the next five chapters, Paul will argue in his own defense and against this 'new' gospel.
But what is the real Good News? What is this suspicious party fighting against? I know we have learned 'Jesus dies on the cross and rose from the dead for your sins' for a long time, but I'm going to look at the actual preachings of Paul and the Apostles from Acts. Here are some passages from Acts 13 and 14, Paul's first missionary journey.
After talking about the history of Israel, Paul proclaims that God has fulfilled his promises to Israel by sending his son: "In keeping with his proime, God has brought to Israel from this man's [David's] discendants a deliverer, Yeshua . . . It is to us that the message of this deliverance has been sent! . . . He was taken down from the stake and placed in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead! . . . As for us, we are bringing you the Good News that what God promised to the fathers, he has fulfilled for us the children in raising up Yeshua . . . Therefore, brothers, let is ne known to you that through this man is proclaimed forgiveness of sins! That is, God cleans everyone who puts his trust in this man, even in regard to all the things which you could not be cleared by the Torah of Moshe." ~Acts 13: 23, 26, 29-30, 32, 38-39
The bottom line? Jesus can clean a man from his sins. Following the commands of the Hebrew Scriptures could not save anyone or make him 'white as snow'. Having faith in Jesus would. Paul repeats this in Galatians 1:3-4.
Later, when Paul and Barnabas traveled to Lystra, they healed a crippled man. Amazed by their miracles, the people started calling them Zeus and Hermes and tried to sacrifice to them. In response, they tore their clothes and said, "Men! Why are you doing this? We're just men, human like you! We are announcing Good News to you - turn from these worthless things to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them! In times past, he allowed all peoples to walk in their own ways; yet he did not leave himself without evidence of his nature; because he does good things, giving you rain form heaven and crops in their seasons, filling you with food and your hearts with happiness!" ~Acts 14:15-17
The Good News here is God's sovereignty. He created all the world and he provides for all men. Acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God requires that you also ackowledge there is a God - and not just any god, but one god who is King of everything.
This is the gospel that Paul preached - and I think the first part is what the 'other gospel' is trying to refute. In later chapters, Paul argues against justification by works. He, and the other Apostles, have preached salvation by faith, nothing else.
Today, I think we have a relativistic society. We have many 'gospels.' Many people say, 'Whatever works for you' or 'My truth may not be true for you.' Even Christians buy into this. If we truly believe the word of God, we can't cling to these thoughts. There's one God, one truth, one way.
I love it when people say, 'Jesus was a really good man' and just leave it at that. Yes, Jesus was a really good man. But they ignore the parts where he claims that he's God (John 18:36-38), where he compares a Gentile woman to a dog (Mark 7:24-30), or where he asks people to drink his blood and eat his flesh (John 6:34-40). Jesus is an amazing person, but someone can't ignore the outrageous things he said! And if someone wants to say that the gospels aren't reliable sources, then how can they know that Jesus was this good person they say he is? There are 'gospels' today who say that Jesus is someone to be admired, but is dead now and doesn't need to be worshiped or served.
In the second subject of the first chapter, Paul talks about how he has gained knowledge of this gospel from God, not men. He met the Son of God personally (Galatians 1:11-12, Acts 9:3-9). He didn't speak with any of the Apostles about it, but immediately started preaching (Acts 9:18-22, Galatians 1:15-17). He waited three years before meeting Peter, but he claims that he did not meet many Messianic congregations or other emissares (Galatians 1:18-24).
Here, Paul is vouching for the integrity of his message. Some people who argue against the authenticity of the gospels use the argument that the disciples collaborated a huge story about Jesus' resurrection and his message. Paul claims he didn't meet any of the other forerunners of The Way movement until three years after his conversion. Whoever is speaking against him to the Galatians has said that he can't be trusted, but Paul argues that his message is straight from God.
He also say in Galatians 1:10 that he is not looking for man's approval, but God's. If he was preaching only to please men, one would think he would have said something to avoid being stoned in Acts 14:19-20. He also talks about the sufferings of the Apostles in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10. He wouldn't go through these things unless he knew they were for something worthwhile.
Unfortunately, many Christians today are seeking men's approval, not God's. They go to church for an hour on Sunday, then live the rest of their lives the way they want.
Many times, people aren't even aware of what God truly wants for them, they rely on pastors to tell them. We need to have a personal experience with God. I don't know how many people see the Son of God personally right before he blinds them, but we do have the bible - the inspired word of God that carries the heart of our Father in heaven. There is great power in community and studying scripture together, but are we gathering our understanding of God from our pastor, mentor, or youth leader, or from the very words of God? We can't rely on people around us to lead us to God. They can guide and help, but we have to be the ones to make that choice. We have to seek him out. And if we seek, we will find! (Matthew 7:7-11)
Oh, my, I love the bible. I'll post about chapter two sometime later.
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