The Book Of Galatians

Feature 1 – July-August 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

The Book Of Galatians
In The Context Of Acts,
With Lessons For Today

Several years after Saul’s conversion (Acts 9), he, then known as Paul, and Barnabas traveled to the southern parts of the Roman province Galatia, in present-day Turkey. There they preached the gospel of God’s grace, and many people turned to the Lord to be saved and follow Him. Several assemblies were established while the Lord in heaven directed His servants. However, Paul, Barnabas and the new believers experienced forceful opposition, in part by certain Jewish leaders (Acts 13–14).

After the apostles had left the area, the resistance continued in more subtle forms, notably by various Judaizing teachers trying to influence those who had accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior (Gal. 3:1, 4:10-11). These opponents – the false teachers – tried to win the Jewish believers back to Judaism or to corrupt their newfound faith. Others attempted to put the Gentile believers under the yoke of the Mosaic law. Some of the Judaizers were unbelievers (2:4) whereas others came from among the believers in Jerusalem.

Paul compared this opposition with leaven that affects all (4:9, 5:9). It extended to other regions as well and affected various doctrinal issues (Acts 15:1,5). James, the Lord’s half-brother, had a prominent role among the Jerusalem believers. He clearly denounced these erroneous teachings, even though he is sometimes wrongly seen as a defender of legalism. The adversaries traveled all the way to Galatia, falsely claiming to have the support of James and the apostles. These claims helped to promote their wrong agenda (Gal. 5:7-8).

To discredit Paul and Barnabas and their work, these enemies suggested Paul looked like the Twelve in Jerusalem but was an apostle of a lower order. The authority of the Twelve had been established by the risen Lord, and James with them. However,Paul’s apostleship was of a higher order, because it came directly from the Lord in heaven. It was not at all in conflict with the Twelve, for they closely worked with and accepted Paul. He was not a self-appointed apostle, as some said, whereas the Judaizers had appointed themselves (Acts 15:24).

Consider the arguments Paul used to unmask those who were making trouble among the new believers in Galatia:

• The apostle described God’s sovereign intervention in his conversion, formation and training in God’s school, as well as in his subsequent missionary work.
• After his heavenly call, Paul relied on God instead of man, and his activities proved that he was in real harmony with his calling and God (Gal. 1:6-23).
• His impressive personal account (Gal. 1–2) fully agrees with the doctrine God gave Paul to teach (Gal. 3–4), which led to very practical results for the benefit of the believers and for the glory of God (Gal. 5–6).

For your interest, an outline of Paul’s letter to the Galatians is on page 7.

Galatians Outline
I. Introduction (1:1-5)

II. The Problem (vv.6-10)

III. The Biographical Argument: An Independent Revelation (1:11–2:21) A. Independent Of Human Teaching (1:11-17)B. Independent Of Judean Assemblies (vv.18-24)C. Independent Of The Judaizers (2:1-10)D. Independent Of Apostolic Pressure (vv.11-18)E. Independent Of Selfish Interest (vv.19-21)
IV. The Doctrinal Argument: The Failure Of Legalism (3:1–4:31) A. From Personal Experiences (3:1-5)B. From The Old Testament Teaching (vv.6-14)C. From The Priority Of Promise Over Law (vv.15-22)D. From The Superiority Of Mature Faith (3:23–4:7)E. From Danger Of Reaction (vv.8-11)F. From Contrast Of Motives (vv.12-20)G. From Contrast Of Bondage (Hagar) And Liberty (Sarah) (vv.21-31)
V. The Practical Argument: The Effects Of Liberty (5:1–6:10) A. Introduction (5:1)B. The Consequences Of Liberty (5:2-12)C. Definition Of Freedom (vv.13-15)D. Individual Practice (vv.16-24)E. Social Practice (5:25–6:10)
VI. Conclusion (6:11-18) A. Motive Of Liberty (vv.11-16)B. Price Of Liberty (v.17)C. Benediction Of Liberty (v.18)

More Work To Be Done In Galatia
During Paul’s first journey, many in Galatia were saved and became disciples of the Lord – not of Paul. The new believers required urgent care as they faced many challenges while serving the glorified Lord (Acts 14:20-23). The apostle was a good shepherd to these new believers: he paid close attention to this flock (20:28). For this reason, before starting their return journey, Paul and Barnabas provided appropriate care, “strengthening1 the souls of the disciples” (14:22 NKJV). It implied a ministry of exhortation, encouragement and comfort2 – something that all believers need. The apostles put themselves alongside the believers, helping them to continue in the right path. Their ministry provided teaching and exhortation, encouraging the believers to go on in faith until the very end. That is why they challenged the believers to persevere on the path that leads to the kingdom of God, which the Lord will publicly establish. This does not contradict the many passages saying that we are in the kingdom of God already, are to honor His rights over our lives and submit to the authority of our Lord Jesus. We are to do so now, even though He is rejected in and by this world.3

Approximately 20 years after his journey with Barnabas through parts of Galatia and other areas, Paul wrote about his experiences at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra (2 Tim. 3). The second journey led the apostle, with Silas, back to Galatia to strengthen the disciples (Acts 15:40–16:6).

Paul took young Timothy along, who learned much from him and kept following his example despite the opposition both experienced. The apostle listed several qualities he had displayed as a true disciple, which example Timothy was to follow: my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith (faithfulness), longsuffering (endurance), love, patience (steadfastness or perseverance), persecutions and sufferings (2 Tim. 3:10-11). These features are like the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) – much needed in view of a work for the Lord while facing opposition. Paul had demonstrated those virtues in his life and service, despite fierce persecutions, as a good example for all believers (1 Cor. 11:1; Phil. 3:17).

Persecution was an additional reason for Paul to give all the credit to the Lord in heaven, saying, “Out of them all the Lord delivered me” (2 Tim. 3:11). The Lord had been doing all the work, but He likes to get His people involved, so they can work with Him and learn and enjoy His fellowship even during persecutions. All believers who are living piously, in true devotion to Christ Jesus, will suffer persecution (see v.12), while His care of them will continue until His return (consider 4:17-18).

What About Us Today?
How do we reach the intended goal and get to the coming kingdom? We will reach our ultimate destination “through many tribulations” 4 – afflictions, distresses, troubles and straits, with no way out. These trials are not welcomed, yet through such experiences the Lord leads us to glory (Rom. 5:3-4; 2 Cor. 4:17). “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22) – an exhortation Paul and Barnabas gave to all the believers in Galatia.

Later, Paul confirmed this point to the believers in Thessalonica, “No one should be shaken by these afflictions; for YOU5 yourselves know that we are appointed to this” (1 Th. 3:3), which is equal to saying, “We must endure them.” There is no other way, since this is God’s program for us, whether we like it or not. It indicates the necessity to be conformed to the Lord Jesus, to become as He is and reflect Him (see 1 Jn. 3:1-3).

Furthermore, the Lord did not leave His disciples as orphans when He left this scene, because He gave them another Helper, or Comforter (KJV): the Holy Spirit (read Jn. 14–16). It was to their advantage that the Lord Jesus was leaving them, for they would have this new Comforter with them on earth while He would be their Comforter in heaven. Likewise today we are able to carry on by relying on the care of these two Comforters.

The Matter Of Elders In Galatia
Divine wisdom was seen in the additional provision Paul and Barnabas made for the local assemblies in Galatia. On behalf of the great Comforter in heaven and led by the Comforter on earth, using the apostolic authority He had given them, they chose elders (note the plural) in and for every local assembly or church (Acts 14:23). We cannot conclude that Paul was doing this in every church and on his subsequent missionary journeys. In fact, we do not find this at all, except that he instructed his delegate Titus on Crete to do so, and he wrote Timothy to uphold God’s standards – still valid today – for the elders in Ephesus (1 Tim. 3:1-6).

The Holy Spirit must have had special reasons to have Paul and Barnabas establish elders in the assemblies in Galatia. At this point in time the New Testament had not yet been written with detailed instructions for the functioning of local testimonies, but the enemy was attacking (Gal. 1:6, 3:1). Through this apostolic ministry of establishing elders, the Lord made a special provision for the well-being and administration of each assembly in that area at that time.

Today we do not have apostles to choose6 or appoint elders, but the Holy Spirit is still with the believers on earth and the Comforter in heaven also cares for us. Therefore, we are instructed to recognize elders given by both Comforters, acknowledging their moral authority in the work they do (1 Th. 5:12; 1 Cor. 16:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-13). Apart from the matter of elders, we all must be committed to the Lord, relying on Him through prayer and fasting (Acts 14:23).

Mission Accomplished – The Grace Of God
In a few words Luke described the apostles’ return journey, as they provided shepherd care (vv.20-23). Leaving Derbe they traveled through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, all the way through Pisidia and Pamphylia, with a stopover in Perga. When entering this territory, John Mark had left them to return to Jerusalem, while Paul and Barnabas continued their eventful journey. Now on their way back, they had to wait for a ship to take them from Attalia to Antioch in Syria. At this point Luke added these meaningful words: “Where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed” (v.26 NKJV).

The “grace of God” is characteristic of Luke’s writings (Acts 11:23, 13:43) and Paul’s ministry (20:24; 1 Cor. 3:10, 15:10; 2 Cor. 1:12; Eph. 3:2,7). The term also indicates the present period of grace (Ti. 2:11). Earlier, the grace of God had been manifested in the Lord’s public ministry as well as in the way He brought it to completion at Calvary, with wonderful results for us through His resurrection (Heb. 2:9-10). Today this grace is our spiritual food to sustain us (12:15). Peter confirmed that the grace of God characterizes the present time while it provides the necessary resources for our needs. Thus, Peter committed us to the God of all grace who strengthens us, so we may stand firm in the grace of God (1 Pet. 5:10,12).

The assembly in Antioch was marked by the grace of God from its very beginning (Acts 11:23). Later, Barnabas and Paul had been commended (literally: delivered)7 to the grace of God for their first journey (14:26), including the area of Galatia. Having returned, they gathered the assembly and reported all the things – all kinds of things, whatever these were – God had done with and through them. They did not seek attention for themselves but for the God of grace. Scripture shows that there is a work of God for and in us before He can start a work with us.

Continuing In Galatians
Paul exhorted, or encouraged, the believers in Galatia to stand firm in the freedom Christ had given them (Gal. 5:1), to walk by the Spirit (v.16) and produce the nine-fold “fruit of the Spirit [which] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (vv.22-23). Then Paul challenged them, “If we live in [by] the Spirit let us also walk in [by] the Spirit” (v.25). We are encouraged to walk in conformity with the Spirit by keeping our eyes fixed on the glorified Lord (Heb. 12:1-2) and walking together in God’s order (Gal. 5:25, 6:16).

Did the elders among the Jewish believers have this in mind when expressing their desire that all might see Paul was walking orderly (Acts 21:24)? In his instructions to the Galatians, possibly about ten years before he was arrested in Jerusalem, the apostle wrote: “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. As many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:15-16). The same verb is used for walking in conformity to a rule. According to the context, this rule is “the law8 of Christ” (v.2) which belongs to God’s new creation. Did the believing Jews appreciate this? Do we?

Judaism, as rejecting Christ, did not recognize God’s rights. His true disciples, therefore, had to free themselves from such a system, but this would take time, as the Lord announced in His parables (Lk. 5:36-39). Galatians teaches that Hagar represents a system of legality linked to man in the flesh and she could not be a real mother to the new believers. Instead, they needed to be brought under the influence of Sarah, representing God’s grace and true liberty (Gal. 4:22–5:1).

This means that all believers should follow Paul’s example and apply the lessons of the cross, which sets aside what is of the flesh (Gal. 2:19-20, 5:24, 6:14). Doing so we will be like the colt that was untied, or liberated, to carry the Lord (Mk. 11:2). In our lives there will be the proper public confession: “If anyone says to YOU, ‘Why are YOU doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it’” (v.3). The Lord’s rights were honored by those who freely let the colt go (vv.3-6), who led it to Jesus so He could sit on it, and who put clothes and branches on the way to honor Him (v.8). Some went before and others followed (v.9) – the ones living in those days went before, while today we come after, with the Lord as the true Center. The crowd confessed Jesus (v.9; see Rom. 10:8 as to believers); but did they realize their need for God’s help?

“Hosanna” means “give salvation.” “Hosanna in the highest” indicates glory and honor was to be given to Him (Mk. 11:10; see Heb. 2:9) even though He was rejected (Isa. 53:3). Real disciples identify with God’s true Servant (Mk. 10:45), who has all rights (11:1-11). Do we allow Christ to rightfully claim us for Himself during the time of His rejection?

The colt submitted to His leadership and carried Him. If we submit to His lordship we may carry Him in testimony just as the priests carried the ark of testimony on their shoulders (1 Chr. 15:15). In the present age of grace, Christ is rejected even though He has all authority (Mt. 28:18; 1 Pet. 3:22). However, He does not impose His rights. He is looking instead for willing hearts and a response of loving hearts, as Mary did when she anointed His head and feet (Mk. 14:3). A similar response came from Saul (Paul) once he saw who the rejected Messiah really was – just as blind Bartimaeus saw Jesus who had healed him (Mk. 10:51-52). From that moment on, Bartimaeus followed Him on the way as Paul did (see Phil. 3:8-14), giving Christ His rightful place and carrying Him in testimony to Jews and Gentiles. Acts’ major theme is that the rejected Messiah is exalted in heaven and is “carried” in testimony by His disciples on earth. Paul and Barnabas had done so in Galatia.

A Vessel Fit For The Master
Paul’s letter to the Galatians equips every believer in the day of grace to be a vessel fit for the Master’s use (see 2 Tim. 2:21). Israel as a nation will turn to Him (Mt. 23:39) and say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD” (Ps. 118:26). They will confess Him as their Savior and Messiah, whom they had rejected (Isa. 53:1-3; Zech. 12:10, 13:9).

Believers today, taken from among the Jews (Rom. 11:5; Gal. 6:15-16) and Gentiles, may honor Him as the Head of the Body (the Church). He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, “that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18). This verse highlights Christ’s greatness as Head of the Assembly and His relationship with it, since all true Christians are before God “accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6). Because of Christ’s accomplished work on the cross, His death and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:3-4), we are linked with Him who is the Head of the new creation. Our glorified and exalted Lord sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to form this one Body: “by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (12:13).

Speaking to his Jewish fellow believers about what had happened to Cornelius and his household, Peter showed the intimate connection between what had taken place in Acts 2 and the new believers from among the Gentiles incorporated in the Church. “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but YOU shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit’” (11:15-16). The doctrine of this baptism is in the Epistles (see Eph. 2:11-22; Col. 2:10-13).9 As they had entered the door of faith and of grace, the believers in Galatia were introduced into this one body. Praise God!

The Holy Spirit’s Role In The Formation Of The Churches In Galatia
“He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to YOU” (Jn. 16:14). Before He left this earth the Lord Jesus spoke about another Comforter and reviewed the mission and work of the Holy Spirit for the entire period of grace. This new order of things is related to a new Man, the Second Man, who is from heaven and is the Last Adam – our Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 15:45-48). Why? God has glorified Him up there after Christ had glorified God down here (Jn. 17:4-5).

John 7:39 shows the link between Christ glorified and the coming of the Holy Spirit, whom God sent to glorify Christ before the wondering eyes of the believers who see Him through faith (Heb. 2:9). The Spirit of Christ, God’s anointed One, presents Christ’s glories to the believers, putting His virtues and qualities before them. He is also called the Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16:7 JND), for He reproduces in the believers the qualities of this humble Jesus of Nazareth. This work focuses on results in us:

• The Holy Spirit removes what is wrong in our lives, conforming us to God’s righteousness.
• He works in our lives to transform us to the image of Christ.

Both activities glorify Christ (Jn. 16:14), as He witnesses about the exalted One to us and is forming Christ in us.

Paul’s concern for the believers in Galatia was that Christ be formed in them (see Gal. 4:19), even while under the enemy’s attack. He encouraged them to grow and mature. All believers are to be a testimony, joined to each other as members, united with the Son of Man in heaven. This new work started on the day of Pentecost, through the anointing by the Holy Spirit, even though the believers did not yet realize what had happened. What about us? Are we in tune with the Spirit’s mission?

ENDNOTES
1. This verb (Greek: episterizo) means “to establish, confirm, cause to become strong” (Acts 14:22, 15:32,41, 18:23).
2. These words are translations of the verb parakaleo (literally: to call alongside) and its noun paraklesis. Verb and noun, together, occur 35 (or 5x7) times in Luke’s writings (the verb 29 times and the noun 6).
3. We are in the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3, 8:12, 19:8, 20:25, 28:23,31; Rom. 14:17; 1 Cor. 4:20; Eph. 5:5; Col. 1:13, 4:11; Rev. 1:9). While living in this world, we are not of it anymore (Jn. 17:14-18). The present and future aspects of the kingdom are sometimes blended together.
4. The word “affliction” (Greek: thlipsis) means “pressure, pressing together” and occurs 45 times in the Greek New Testament, of which five are in Acts (7:10-11, 11:19, 14:22, 20:23). It implies suffering brought on by afflicting circumstances, trouble (see Rom. 5:3) or distress (Mk. 13:19). The word is used of the future great tribulation (Mt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14).
5. “YOU” indicates the Greek text has the plural, which cannot be seen in English.
6. The verb “to choose” or “appoint” (Greek: cheirotoneo) occurs only in Acts 14:23 and 2 Corinthians 8:19. In the latter case the assemblies that contributed to the collection for the saints in Jerusalem chose brothers to accompany Paul. This was linked with the administration of funds, as with the seven deacons in Acts 6. We cannot use these examples to establish a principle that now, everywhere, the churches need to choose or appoint their own elders. The context is completely different. Authoritative teaching on this and other topics is given later, especially in the Epistles, but not in Acts, which simply reports.
7. This verb (Greek: paradidomi) often occurs in the New Testament. But in Galatians, it is only in 2:20: “... gave Himself up for me.”
8. Christ has set us free from bondage. We are now under a higher law, the law of Christ. “The law of the Spirit of life” has set us “free from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2). The law of Christ is a law that we want to obey, out of love for God (13:10). “Love from a pure heart, from a good conscience and from sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5) parallels “the royal law” (Jas. 2:8) and “the perfect law of liberty” (1:25). It not only gives us the desire to please the Lord but also the ability to do so. Christian liberty is never to please the flesh, instead it implies that “through love [we] serve one another (Gal. 5:13).
9. This baptism characterizes the day of grace: all believers in Christ from the days of Acts 2 until the rapture (1 Th. 4:15-17) are one body (Jn. 11:52, see 10:16), united with the glorified Christ (7:39). The Holy Spirit continues with them forever (14:16), and He sustains and refreshes them as members of the body (1 Cor. 12:13).

By Alfred Bouter

The Galatians had not forsaken the truth as to the person of Christ nor the faith which owns Him; but they had totally abandoned the ground of faith. They did not believe in the sufficiency of the work of Christ without adding to it the observance of the law of Moses. This corruption is in the Church, saying works are necessary for justification, and blessing is obtained through ordinances. The difference is a fundamental one.
—John N. Darby (adapted)