(Galatians Part 1): Authored by the Apostle Paul and written to several churches in Asia Minor in the region of Galatia. The theme of Galatians is Salvation by Grace through faith alone. Whereas Romans is considered by many to be the Constitution of the Christian Faith, Galatians is considered to be the Declaration of Independence of the Christian Faith.
Galatians 1:3 - Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul prayed that grace would be with them and peace. In fact, the word "be" is in italics because there is no verb in the Greek text. But according to Greek structure, it is to be received as an "is." It is a fact. It's not a wish or a prayer.
Grace is to you, and peace, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace, CHARIS, is a form of greeting for Greek and is the greeting for Gentiles. Then he says, and peace. And that's the greeting for the Jews, SHALOM.
Galatians 1:4 - 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:
In speaking of Jesus Christ, it says, who gave himself for our sins. The purpose: that he might deliver us from this present evil world. The plan: according to the will of God and our Father:
It is God's will that all of those that respond to Christ, all of those who are born of the Spirit of God, will be delivered from this present evil world. The word "present" is a Perfect Participle. The world that stands in a condition of being evil. And God has delivered us, and it's all according to His will and plan.
Galatians 3:1 - O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
It says, O foolish Galatians, and the word foolish, normally in the New Testament comes from the word moron, MOROS in Greek. That word is not used here. This is the word senseless, or more specifically, without perception. They have lost their spiritual perception to the truth.
He says, who has bewitched you. The word bewitched is actually brought over from the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, it is known as the "evil eye," because if someone has the evil eye, they can hypnotize you. They can bring you under their spell. So, it's called the evil eye.
It had to do with hypnotizing someone, putting a mental spell on someone. Notice that I didn't say spiritual. This is a mental spell. A believer can be brought under a mental spell. And that mental spell comes from being persuaded.
Galatians 3:3 - Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Are ye so foolish? And again, this is the word senseless. Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect, or complete, or mature by the flesh?
What a fantastic question that every believer and every church needs to wrestle with! If you began in the Spirit by faith, are you now made complete, or mature, by the works of the flesh? There isn't anything that I can do in the human. In fact, the more I do in the human when it comes to the things of Christ, the more I take away from His finished work. I can't add to it. I can only receive and believe!
Galatians 3:4 - Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
He says, have ye suffered so many things in vain, or for nothing? He taught them that it is through suffering. In fact, he used the word THLIPSIS.
Galatians 2:8 - (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
(For he that wrought effectually (that is, energized) in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same energized, and was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
Galatians 2:13 - And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
And not only that, but it says, and the other Jews dissembled. The word dissembled means hypocrisy. They committed hypocrisy with him. And the word for hypocrisy is the Greek word for an actor. Hypocrisy literally means to answer according to the script.
So other Jews played the role of the hypocrite with Peter. They were acting like something they really weren't. They did this likewise with him; insomuch that even Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation, again the word hypocrisy.
Galatians 2:17 - But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
God forbid, or as it reads in Greek, the strongest negation, may it never happen!
Galatians2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Paul says, (I have been) crucified with Christ: That word "am," it's a Perfect Tense verb. There's a moment and time in the past when he received Christ. From that time on he has been crucified, all this time, with Christ.
Galatians 1:8 - 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 for accursed is the word ANATHEMA. And its basic meaning is to consecrate or dedicate a sacrifice for destruction. Very strong language!
Galatians 1:11 - But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
But I certify, or literally I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after, or according to man.
Galatians 1:13 - 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:
He says for you have heard of my conversation, or lifestyle, in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure, and there are three Imperfect Tenses coming up, two here and one in Verse 14. Imperfect Tense means continuous action in the past. And I will read it that way.
That beyond measure, (I was persecuting) the church of God. And (I was destroying) it continuously.
Thirdly, in Verse 14:
Galatians 1:14 - And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
And profited, or more literally, (was advancing). And those are the three Imperfect Tenses (continuous action in the past). And I was advancing in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Galatians 1:16 - To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
That last little phrase, "conferred not with flesh and blood" is a Hebraism that means human. After his conversion on the road to Damascus, he did not look up people to find out what do I do next.
Galatians 1:6 - I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
He says I marvel, and the word marvel means surprised. And it's in the Present Tense, which means he says that I am continually surprised. He's in a state of shock! That you are so soon removed. If I may break this down, the word "so" is called the adverb of manner, or way in which something is done.
That you are in this way, soon, adverb of time. The word soon means quickly. And the word removed actually means to be off in the opposite direction in which you were going. So, I am surprised that you are in this way, that is these false teachings, and so quickly, after being established in the gospel, removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ.
He says you were called. God called you, and the grace of Christ called you. And now you're going in the opposite direction, and that you are removed unto another gospel:
There are two words for the word another in the Greek language. One means another of a different kind, and one means another of the same kind. This one is another of a different kind. You are so soon removed unto another, a different gospel. That's his concern for them!
Galatians 1:7 - Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
He says, which is not another;
That's another of the same kind, different Greek word. So, you've been removed to a different gospel, which is really not another gospel. A false gospel is not another one. It's different. But there be some that trouble you, and the word trouble is in the Present Participle, and it means to agitate.
(Galatians Part 1): Authored by the Apostle Paul and written to several churches in Asia Minor in the region of Galatia. The theme of Galatians is Salvation by Grace through faith alone. Whereas Romans is considered by many to be the Constitution of the Christian Faith, Galatians is considered to be the Declaration of Independence of the Christian Faith.
Galatians 1:3 - Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul prayed that grace would be with them and peace. In fact, the word "be" is in italics because there is no verb in the Greek text. But according to Greek structure, it is to be received as an "is." It is a fact. It's not a wish or a prayer.
Grace is to you, and peace, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace, CHARIS, is a form of greeting for Greek and is the greeting for Gentiles. Then he says, and peace. And that's the greeting for the Jews, SHALOM.
Galatians 1:4 - 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:
In speaking of Jesus Christ, it says, who gave himself for our sins. The purpose: that he might deliver us from this present evil world. The plan: according to the will of God and our Father:
It is God's will that all of those that respond to Christ, all of those who are born of the Spirit of God, will be delivered from this present evil world. The word "present" is a Perfect Participle. The world that stands in a condition of being evil. And God has delivered us, and it's all according to His will and plan.
Galatians 3:1 - O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
It says, O foolish Galatians, and the word foolish, normally in the New Testament comes from the word moron, MOROS in Greek. That word is not used here. This is the word senseless, or more specifically, without perception. They have lost their spiritual perception to the truth.
He says, who has bewitched you. The word bewitched is actually brought over from the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, it is known as the "evil eye," because if someone has the evil eye, they can hypnotize you. They can bring you under their spell. So, it's called the evil eye.
It had to do with hypnotizing someone, putting a mental spell on someone. Notice that I didn't say spiritual. This is a mental spell. A believer can be brought under a mental spell. And that mental spell comes from being persuaded.
Galatians 3:3 - Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Are ye so foolish? And again, this is the word senseless. Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect, or complete, or mature by the flesh?
What a fantastic question that every believer and every church needs to wrestle with! If you began in the Spirit by faith, are you now made complete, or mature, by the works of the flesh? There isn't anything that I can do in the human. In fact, the more I do in the human when it comes to the things of Christ, the more I take away from His finished work. I can't add to it. I can only receive and believe!
Galatians 3:4 - Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
He says, have ye suffered so many things in vain, or for nothing? He taught them that it is through suffering. In fact, he used the word THLIPSIS.
Galatians 2:8 - (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
(For he that wrought effectually (that is, energized) in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same energized, and was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
Galatians 2:13 - And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
And not only that, but it says, and the other Jews dissembled. The word dissembled means hypocrisy. They committed hypocrisy with him. And the word for hypocrisy is the Greek word for an actor. Hypocrisy literally means to answer according to the script.
So other Jews played the role of the hypocrite with Peter. They were acting like something they really weren't. They did this likewise with him; insomuch that even Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation, again the word hypocrisy.
Galatians 2:17 - But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
God forbid, or as it reads in Greek, the strongest negation, may it never happen!
Galatians2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Paul says, (I have been) crucified with Christ: That word "am," it's a Perfect Tense verb. There's a moment and time in the past when he received Christ. From that time on he has been crucified, all this time, with Christ.
Galatians 1:8 - 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 for accursed is the word ANATHEMA. And its basic meaning is to consecrate or dedicate a sacrifice for destruction. Very strong language!
Galatians 1:11 - But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
But I certify, or literally I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after, or according to man.
Galatians 1:13 - 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:
He says for you have heard of my conversation, or lifestyle, in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure, and there are three Imperfect Tenses coming up, two here and one in Verse 14. Imperfect Tense means continuous action in the past. And I will read it that way.
That beyond measure, (I was persecuting) the church of God. And (I was destroying) it continuously.
Thirdly, in Verse 14:
Galatians 1:14 - And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
And profited, or more literally, (was advancing). And those are the three Imperfect Tenses (continuous action in the past). And I was advancing in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Galatians 1:16 - To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
That last little phrase, "conferred not with flesh and blood" is a Hebraism that means human. After his conversion on the road to Damascus, he did not look up people to find out what do I do next.
Galatians 1:6 - I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
He says I marvel, and the word marvel means surprised. And it's in the Present Tense, which means he says that I am continually surprised. He's in a state of shock! That you are so soon removed. If I may break this down, the word "so" is called the adverb of manner, or way in which something is done.
That you are in this way, soon, adverb of time. The word soon means quickly. And the word removed actually means to be off in the opposite direction in which you were going. So, I am surprised that you are in this way, that is these false teachings, and so quickly, after being established in the gospel, removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ.
He says you were called. God called you, and the grace of Christ called you. And now you're going in the opposite direction, and that you are removed unto another gospel:
There are two words for the word another in the Greek language. One means another of a different kind, and one means another of the same kind. This one is another of a different kind. You are so soon removed unto another, a different gospel. That's his concern for them!
Galatians 1:7 - Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
He says, which is not another;
That's another of the same kind, different Greek word. So, you've been removed to a different gospel, which is really not another gospel. A false gospel is not another one. It's different. But there be some that trouble you, and the word trouble is in the Present Participle, and it means to agitate.
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