Who wrote the book of Galatians?
Answer: The book of Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul.
Chapter 1 of the Book of Galatians.
Once called into ministry, we must not seek any other validation-
Paul opens this letter with some tough words, saying that he is an apostle appointed by Jesus Christ Himself, not by any group of men. Later in chapter 2, he says that he did not much difference in the individuals considered to be the leaders because God does not show favoritism. Paul is not being disrespectful but assertive. The mistake we often make is to try and have popular ministers validate and endorse as if to confirm God’s calling over our lives. Once God confirms His calling over your life, that’s it! Move on to what He’s called you into!
Christ is our atonement and savior–
After greeting the people and affirming his apostleship, Paul proves his knowledge of the gospel by reminding the people about Jesus. He says that Jesus gave Himself up to “atone for our sins and save and sanctify us, in order to rescue and deliver us” (v. 4, AMPC). Atonement is when something is given to make for an injury or offense done on another. Typically, an atonement’s ultimate purpose is to bridge gaps caused by an offense and unite or reconcile parties who could not work together previously. By paying the price for our sins with His life, Christ reconciled and united us with God. Paul emphasizes this reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Romans 5:8-11. Since Christ has already offered this atonement, it is safe to reaffirm the security of our salvation. If we can lose salvation due to sin, then Christ’s death was not sufficient! On the other hand, if we sin under the impression that God has no business punishing us, then we prove that we have not grasped the true purpose of Christ’s sacrifice.
A believer who grasps the price of salvation will always express gratitude and reverence–
In verse 5, Paul, after telling us how the Father planned for our salvation, says “To Him [be ascribed all] the glory through all the ages of the ages and the eternities of the eternities! Amen (so be it).”
Any preaching that undermines Christ’s work by promoting righteousness through work must be vehemently opposed–
Verses 6 through 9 show Paul expressing his dismay at the Galatians for accepting “another gospel.” When read in context (extending to chapter 3), it is clear that Paul is talking about the Law. Specifically, Paul is against any teaching that promotes and portrays the Mosaic law (especially the issue of circumcision) as sufficient to earn a right standing with God. Paul is so stern that he pronounces a curse on anyone who dares preach any such gospel. We can only understand Paul’s anger by going back to verse 3, where he talks about Jesus giving His life. Why would anyone disregard Christ’s sacrifice and try to replace or equate it with a law that could not atone for our sins?
Once called, we must be ready to defend the truth and submit to the Lord–
Paul says that he is not interested in pleasing men because he received the gospel from Christ Himself. When he heard Christ, Paul did not consult anyone (v.16). Paul is not dismissing the need for consultation when venturing into ministry. His point is that he did not need anyone to confirm his calling. After leaving Arabia, where he stayed for three years, Paul returned to the same Damascus he was known for persecuting believers.
Theological questions from this chapter
- Did God forgive our sins or punish them in Christ?
Struggling to hear God clearly? Learn how to hear God better here.
A Complete Study of the Book of Galatians Chapter 2
Uniformity of true doctrines prevents unnecessary conflicts-
Paul continues with stating his calling in this chapter, noting that he went to Jerusalem after 14 years to confirm if his doctrine matched that of the reputable leaders. It seems that Paul was somewhat unsure of the veracity of his message. The Lord must have seen this anxiety and revealed to him the need to confirm with the other leaders (v.2). Since both Paul and the other group had heard from the same Lord, the latter did not oppose the former or require Titus (a gentile) to be circumcised. That’s what happens when two people or groups learn the same thing from the Lord.
We must not contaminate the truth of the Good News with even the slightest blemish of the Law–
In verse 5, Paul says that some people who pretended to be Christians tried to force them into seeking a right standing with God through Jewish customs, specifically circumcision. He says that he and the rest of the group opposed the false brothers because “we wanted the truth of the Good News to continue for you” (Gal. 2;5, ERV).
We’re equal through God’s love, irrespective of our callings, position, or experience-
Paul says that he was not bothered (intimidated) by the reputation of the individuals considered great leaders because “God has no favorites” (v.6, NLT). While we should respect leaders, as Paul says elsewhere, we are not to perceive ourselves as inferior to anyone. Paul says that the same God who worked through Peter to touch the Jews worked through him (Paul) to save the Gentiles.
If we’re not convinced about the accuracy and completeness of the gospel, we’ll be tempted to keep parts of the Law–
Paul rebukes Peter for his apparent hypocrisy. Apparently, Peter befriended the Gentiles when in the absence of his fellow Jews, but segregated them when Jews, who insisted on the necessity of circumcision, appeared. For this reason, Paul rebuked Peter harshly. It seems that Peter took a long time to abandon his Jewish convictions despite the earlier encounter with the Lord in Acts 10. The Lord has instructed Peter not to perceive anyone (the Gentiles specifically) as impure again. Peter himself confesses that “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism” (Acts 10:34). It’s interesting, therefore, to see him still grappling with the reality that God has accepted the Gentiles the same as the Jews. Peter’s actions exposes the long time he took to grow spiritually and grasp the true meaning of Christ’s work despite the time and wonderful moments he enjoyed with the Savior. Judging by the fact that Paul had been in ministry for more than 14 years, it means that Peter was yet to undergo transformation.
Our faith in Christ makes us all equal; no one enjoys some advantages due to their backgrounds-
Paul clarifies that even though he and Peter are Jews, they, too, have to believe in Jesus to enjoy the right standing with God. Paul’s rebuke was necessary for Peter and the other group. By rebuking Peter publicly, Paul challenged even the other Jewish group that Peter feared.
It is futile to seek justification through the Law–
Paul continues with his rebuke by stating categorically that “we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law” (v. 16, NLT). Paul goes even deeper to state that “no one can be made right with God by following the law” (ERV). This declaration should challenge us to evangelize more to people who still see the Law as necessary for their justification.
The truth of the gospel must supersede everyone and everything else-
It would have been easy for Paul to ignore Peter’s actions and dismiss them as insignificant and inconsequential, but he knew the damage they would have on the gospel. If ignored, Peter’s behavior would have inspired other leaders and young followers to discriminate against the Gentiles. My argument is based on verse 9, where Paul says that Peter, James, and John were considered the “pillars of the church.” Peter was more “experienced” in ministry than Paul but the latter did not allow this assumption to cause a serious error. Today, the church is writing in pain due to wrong doctrines perpetuated by preachers whose influence intimidates “upcoming” teachers. We believe that famous and experienced pastors should not be corrected.
The Law is not sufficient to reconcile us back to God or enable us please Him–
Paul tells us that no one can ever be justified through the Law. In verses 19 through 21, he says that he tried keeping rules to please God but could not. He died to the Law and became “God’s man.” Consequently, Christ’s life showed and enabled him to please the Lord. In Christ, we can now please the Lord without struggles or the pressure to do it since our relationship is not dependent on us impressing the Father.
Seeking justification through the Law denies us the freedom we have in Christ, despises Christ’s work, and does not even help us achieve what we try to get–
Paul says that going back to rule-keeping and peer-pleasing religion “would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God” (v. 21, MSG). He says that doing that would amount to rejecting or treating God’s grace as meaningless. In the end, we’d not even achieve the approval and righteousness we seek because “when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me” (v. 19, NLT).
True freedom in Christ can only be enjoyed through deliberate and complete abandonment and replacement of the Law with the grace availed to us when we believe—
It is interesting that Paul’s rebuke covers almost half of this chapter! Peter had not even asked the Gentiles to get circumcised; he’d only refused to associate with them to impress his fellow men who believed in circumcision as part of the justification process. Even with such a seemingly minor mistake, Paul dwells on this matter. In the end, Paul proves that the liberty we have in Christ (meaning we have no obligation to obey the Law) cannot be mixed even with the slightest act of the Law.
It is foolish to rely on the Law to do what Grace is expected to do–
Paul says that he does not nullify or invalidate the grace of God. We repudiate (reject), invalidate, and treat grace as meaningless every time we toil with the Law to achieve the very things grace gives freely. There is nothing more religiously appealing than observing the Law, yet it is foolishness in God’s eyes. It is akin to pursuing a noble cause but using a flawed and weak process; the outcome is frustration.
Grace is given to enable us do what the Law could not help us achieve–
Paul says that he has been crucified with Christ and the life he now lives in the flesh (Sarki in Greek, meaning body, not evil desires) is not his but that of Christ.
A Full Study of the Book of Galatians 3
Everything we have in God, including our spiritual growth, is to be accessed by faith and on the basis of grace–
Paul uses strong language when rebuking the Galatians for trying to substitute grace with the Law. He calls them foolish and bewitched.
Abraham was the first person to get saved–
When the bible says that Abraham was declared righteous or was justified, it actually means that he believed Jesus and was, therefore, justified. Verse 8 (AMPC) says, “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify (declare righteous, put in right standing with Himself) the Gentiles in consequence of faith, proclaimed the Gospel [foretelling the glad tidings of a Savior long beforehand] to Abraham in the promise, saying, In you shall all the nations [of the earth] be blessed.” Jesus also confirms that Abraham saw the day of salvation in John 8:56:” Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
God promised justification by faith and wants us to enjoy it as such, not in law-
Paul dedicates the remaining verses from verse 8 to show how God planned to have everyone, including the Gentiles, justified through faith alone. The law was not meant for justification, but to create an awareness of our sin (v.19)
The Law was inferior and incapable of giving a new life–
Verse 21 helps us understand Paul’s disappointment in the Galatian church for seeking justification and spiritual growth through the law. He says, “If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it.” Here, Paul exposes the law as insufficient to redeem or justify us. The statement is best understood in the next verse, which confirms that we’re prisoners of sin under the law.
Freedom from sin is only possible in Christ by faith, not the law–
Paul says that “we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.” (v.22). This means that we should not try to prove our victory from sin by generating a list of “Not-to-dos” or following the law of Moses. Instead, we’re to believe and accept our true position in Christ. Consulting the law to get or access what’s freely available in Christ is what Paul sees as foolishness.
Full Study of the Book Galatians 4:
What does Galatians 4 talk about?
Answer: Galatians 4 can be summed in one line: We’re no longer slaves to the law!
The law was never meant to have permanence in our lives–
Paul continues with his teaching on the law and grace. He uses the analogy of a guardian to explain it. In practical sense, it means that we should never try to win God’s favor through legalistic practices. This also explains why we never hear the story of Ishmael (who represents the law) again after Genesis 25:18).
We’re not just sons but also heirs-
By adopting us into His family, God made us heirs. An heir is someone who has the right to inherit something from another. In God, the greatest inheritance we have is Himself. I posit that the inheritance discussed in verse 7 is Christ Himself; we have inherited Christ and everything that comes with Him.
The Father never envisioned a works-based relationship due to its frustrating servitude–
Paul says that the law was given as a guardian to keep us until Christ came. In verse 12, he asks us to live in the freedom in which he lives. Freedom here means that we’re to live without trying to earn God’s favor through the letter of the law. Paul’s call to freedom is not an endorsement of a sinful or careless life; all he is saying here is that we are not to use the law as the basis of our relationship with the Father.
Christ is fully formed in us only when we embrace His realities-
In verse 19, Paul says that he is like a mother in labor pains and will continue to feel that way until “Christ is fully formed in you.” What does this “Christ is fully formed in you mean?” Based on the context, we can say that Christ is fully formed in us when our beliefs and actions conform to the realities of His work. Yet Christ can only be formed in us through the right doctrine. To be more specific, Christ can only develop in us when we grasp grace and shun the law in terms of trying to fit in our sonship through it.
Trying to relate with God on the basis of the law is slavery–
In verses 23 through 26, Paul contrasts Hagar with Sarah and Ishmael with Isaac. He reminds us that Ishmael was human’s effort trying to help God fulfill His promise, whereas Isaac was God’s promise fulfilled without requiring human input. He continues to say that the current Jews remain in bondage for trying to relate with God based on the law.
We cannot inherit Christ in or through the law–
Paul reminds us that God asked Abraham to chase Hagar (who was an Egyptian slave- Genesis 21:8-9) and her son Ishmael. In this chapter (v.10), Sarah tells Abraham to “get rid of that slave woman! Get rid of her son! That woman’s son will never have a share of the family’s property. All of it belongs to my son Isaac.” Considering the other verses, where Paul says that Sarah is our mother and that we’re like Isaac, it is evident that it is only grace, not the law, that we can inherit Christ.
The law will always try to rear its ugly head against the “grace-people”-
In verses 28 and 29, Paul says that the Galatians are being persecuted by the Judaizers who want them to keep the law. He reminds them that the same happened between Isaac and Ishmael. In Genesis 21:9, Sarah sees Ishmael mocking Isaac. Paul wants us to realize that the law and grace can never co-exist.
The works of the law always lead to frustration because they are insufficient to fulfill God’s promise–
In Genesis 21:11, Abraham becomes very upset with Sarah’s demands to chase Ishmael, considering he’s his son. Paul, in this chapter, is trying to help us avoid the same feelings that Abraham experienced. If we try to attain God’s favor through works, frustration will be inevitable because we cannot fulfill all. In Galatians 3:10, Paul says that those who rely on the law to attain righteousness are under His curse. James 2:10 affirms Paul’s words, noting that anyone who keeps all laws but stumbles on one is still guilty of all!
Question to explore:
If divine health is guaranteed in Christ, why was Paul sick?
Possible answers (level of his knowledge, given that Paul talks of being sick in the past; divine healing happens through God’s sovereignty, not as a right in Christ).
A Complete Study of the Book of Galatians 5:
What is Galatians 5 all about?
In one answer, Galatians 5 tells us that: Freedom in Christ is meant to help us become like Him
God wants us to enjoy our freedom to the fullest–
Like in the previous chapter (remember chapters are “man-made”), Paul emphasizes the need for freedom. He cautions us against getting yoked with the law again. We must remember that Paul is telling us that we should not try to seek justification and acceptance from God through legalistic practices.
Those seeking a right standing with God through the law have “fallen away from Grace”-
In verses 2 through 4, Paul warns us against undertaking works to fulfill what Christ accomplished for us. If we do that, we are then separated from the grace of God. In essence, he who seeks acceptance by God through the law must embark on the impossible and futile exercise of satisfying all of its demands. The wise thing to do is to enjoy the freedom we have in Christ.
No doctrinal error regarding Christ’s work is harmless–
Paul says that the false teaching on the issue of the law is like yeast that spreads throughout the dough (v.9). He confirms that not even the slightest error regarding Christ’ sacrifice should be accepted.
Freedom from the law is not a license to sin-
Paul sees the danger of not explaining the purpose of the freedom we have in Christ. He warns that being freed from the law does not mean an open door to sin. This warning is consistent with the other verses, especially in the previous chapter where he teaches that we’re freed from sin when we put our faith in Christ.
Our freedom in Christ is only beneficial if we submit to the Holy Spirit–
In verses 13 through 15, Paul exhorts us to love one another but instructs us to let the Holy Spirit lead us. He confirms that we will not pursue sinful desires if the Spirit leads us. Paul uses the word “sinful nature,” which raises the question of whether we still have a sinful nature. In Colossians 2:11, the same author says we were circumcised and our sinful nature was cut off. Now, we do not have a sinful nature; in Galatians, Paul is talking about the unregenerate mind. I will expound further in an article titled: “Do we still have a sinful nature?”
A Spirit-led life results in a Christ-like character–
In verse 22, Paul lists the traits of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. He mentions love, joy, peace, kindness, self-control, gentleness, patience, and a few others, all of which match the character Christ displayed on Earth. Although Paul is not explicit here, he expects us to continue growing in the character of Christ.
Being led by the Spirit starts with our consciousness of His presence and is made possible through our submission–
In verse 16, Paul says “let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.” This is a statement that calls for a Selah moment. First, it suggests that the Holy Spirit is eagerly waiting for us to allow Him to do His work. We need to be conscious His presence. Second, it shows that ONLY We can choose whether to be led by the Spirit or not. It is like opening a door for someone to help you in your house or consenting to a doctor’s request to treat you. Without your consent, you will die with your sickness, no matter the doctor’s expertise. Unless we LET the Holy Spirit work in our lives, we will struggle with our unregenerate mind! How do we let Him? By responding to His promptings. The AMPC bible says “walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh.”
Confusion or falling into sin should never be part of our lives–
There is a notion that Christians cannot be sinless. The idea is wrong because Paul says “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” (v.25). Falling into sin as believers is not necessarily inevitable but a sign that we still need to grow in our walk with the Holy Spirit.
We should not struggle to manifest the character of Christ-
Verse 17 should not be taken to mean that we’re still struggling with sin. When read using the AMPC Bible, verse 17 explains the flesh as “human nature without God.” This can be interpreted to mean that the tussle between doing right and wrong happens when we’re not yet in Christ. This assertion can be affirmed by second part of the same verse, which says “And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires” (NLT). Even if we assume that the tussle is inside us (the born again), we are given the solution, which is to allow the Holy Spirit guide us.
It is impossible to be in Christ and still walk in sin–
When we’re in Christ, the Holy Spirit leads us as long as we allow Him. He, being holy, cannot lead us to sin. Paul also reminds us of our new nature in verse 24, saying that “those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.” I believe this is why he says that those practicing idolatry, sexual immorality, and other sins shall not inherit the Kingdom of God (19-21).
The Holy Spirit is responsible for the process of our becoming like Christ–
Verse 22 in AMPC says “But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love…” We must, however, remember that the outcome depends on our cooperation. The Holy Spirit gives us the holy desires but we must cooperate with Him.
Questions to explore
- Do we still have a sinful nature?
- Does Paul suggest that believers can lose salvation in Galatians 5:19-21?
Full Study of the Book of Galatians 6
What does Galatians 6 say?
Galatians 6 has one message: We’re one family and our boasting is only in Christ.
No soldier is to be left behind–
After telling us that we will not gratify the flesh if we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in chapter 5, Paul acknowledges the possibility that a believer can sin. He challenges us to restore such a person gently. In a nutshell, verses 1-3 show us that we have a responsibility over each other as believers.
We fulfill the law of Christ when we love each other–
Paul says that by restoring such a person and bearing each other’s burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ. What’s this law of Christ? We can see it in the previous chapter verse 14, where Paul says “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This is the same command Jesus teaches in Mark 12:30-31. What are these burdens? I believe these are the needs of other believers.
The one not caught in sin should not think of himself as superior; we’re all beneficiaries of the cross–
After telling us to restore a sinning believer and carry their burdens, Paul warns us against thinking that we’re too important to do it. He says anyone thinking that way deludes and deceives himself.
Teachers deserve our support–
Paul says that those who are taught should share good things with their teachers. This is a call for believers to support (I believe financially) their pastors.
Investing in the flesh will never result in spiritual growth-
Verse 7 says that God is not mocked and that a person shall reap what he sows. What exactly is Paul saying here? The answer is in verses 8 through 10. First, if believers choose to pursue fleshly desires, they will “reap decay and ruin and destruction” (AMPC). When read in Greek, the verse suggests that investing in the flesh leads to corruption, which means a person’s character becomes corrupted. Second, refusing to invest in others denies us the chance to get the blessings associated with this gesture.
We should be willing to suffer to uphold our faith in the work of the Cross–
Paul says that the Judaizers are promoting circumcision to escape the persecution that comes with showing the death of Christ as sufficient for salvation. Paul suffered so much that he had marks (scars from beatings) on his body.
Important questions
- How much suffering are we willing to endure for our faith in Christ?
- Are we eager to fulfill the law of Christ or we’re still caught in selfish tendencies?
- What do you have as outward evidence to show that you have stood for Christ? In short, what can people see in you to confirm that your faith in Christ is firm? For Paul, it was the series of the scars on his backs due to beatings.
I found the following links to be very important. Please read them.
https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/article/tolkien-halloween-and-a-joyous-eucatastrophe/
https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts/simply-put/penal-substitutionary-atonement
https://misfitstheology.com/penal-substitutionary-atonement-theory-a-sad-substitute/
https://halchaffee.com/2018/10/06/jesus-didnt-pay-for-your-sins/
https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/why-should-god-forgive-your-sins
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/the-preparation-of-paul
