Letter to Galatians
On the way to Jerusalem to meet before the counsel regarding Gentiles and circumcision, Paul writes to the Galatian churches.
We are picking up another ‘dropped stitch’ today. Sometime after returning from their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas go to the Jerusalem counsel to argue against Gentiles having to be circumcised to be saved. Bible scholars tell us that, between these two events, Paul writes to the new believers in Galatia. It’s not been long since he has seen them, but he already has to address issues with them. That issue being subject to the Law of Moses. The very issue addressed at the Jerusalem Council.
As much as it pains me to do so, I’m going to bow to the scholar’s dating of this letter. I cannot prove otherwise. Even though the debate is cited in the letter, the council’s decision isn’t. To me, this makes the penning of Galatians after the meeting, maybe before a formal letter was drafted. But even that presents problems for me because Paul carried the letter back to Antioch. Scholars put it’s penning in Antioch or Corinth. Paul was in neither location as he waited for the letter from the council.
I’m going to go out on a limb with my placement and say that Paul wrote this letter while waiting on the conclusive decision, but had been wrestling with the issue shortly before leaving for Jerusalem to present the issue. About the time that the men came to Antioch from Jerusalem, telling the Gentiles that they are not saved unless they accept circumcision. Let’s pop back into that portion of our timeline and see Paul’s struggle and his heart for the Galatian churches.
Holy Spirit, You know how I am wrestling with placing the pieces of Your story in their proper places. I don’t know where to place this one definitively. I’m praying that I’m not creating conflict where one should not be. Help me tell the story without creating confusion or conflict. Help me to hear Your heart in the story and tell it through the eyes of those who lived it.
♥ ♦ ♥
Paul is struggling this morning as he rises. Not with physical ailments, but in his spirit. Word came to him yesterday regarding the churches he planted in the region of Galatia. He was certain that they were on solid footing when he made his way home, but this report is troubling. He is not completely surprised though.
There arrived in Antioch, at his home church, just days ago a group of men from the churches in Judea. And their words are troubling, to say the least.
“Hear me you who claim to be believers” they say. “Unless you are circumcised and follow the Law of Moses, you are NOT saved.”
Paul KNOWS the truth in his spirit. Jesus does NOT require circumcision for a person to receive salvation. It is through faith alone! Paul has been arguing with them since they first began preaching this nonsense. But he is making no headway and the church is confused.
“This cannot continue” Paul proclaims to Barnabas over the breakfast table.
“I agree, but what are we to do?”
“We will go and see the elders and apostles in Jerusalem. We will present the case of the Gentile believers before them. Let them hear of God’s work among the new believers. NONE can doubt after hearing the evidence of God’s hand in their lives.”
“What about the believers in Galatia? How do we address their issue?”
“I need a little time to think on it” answers Paul.
The two brothers hurry through their morning routine and set off for the other church elders in Antioch.
“Brothers, we cannot let this ‘new doctrine’ go unchallenged. We know ourselves how false this teaching is. But the people need more. They need to have a decision handed down that even the Jews can’t argue with. We need to go to Jerusalem and appear before the Council. There we must plead our case.”
“Agreed!” erupts from everyone in the room.
“It is settled then” Paul says. “Barnabas and I will leave right away.”
“Take some of the other brothers with you, Titus being among them. The appearance of Titus, whom we KNOW is a true believer, will bolster your argument tremendously.”
The group sets out within two hours. They don’t want to wait another day.
The whole time on this journey, Paul is planning out what to say. On the way the group stops at all the churches in Phoenicia and Samaria. This gives Paul time to practice and refine his argument. There isn’t much to refine, as it is simply the truth of what he and Barnabas witnessed while on their recent missionary journey.
Every church along the way greets them warmly and is encouraged by their report. They also stand behind them in their endeavor.
“We cannot go with you in person, brothers, but we will certainly be praying for you.”
Paul and his group welcome their prayers. They also add their names to the list of those who favor their position when they present it to the council.
Stopping along the way requires Paul to put the problem with the Galatian churches to the back of his mind. Yet, every night, they take center stage again. He is crafting a letter in his mind for them. He doesn’t have time or supplies to put it down on parchment, but he intends to do so at his earliest convenience.
“To the churches in Galatia, I, Paul greet you.” Paul shakes his head. “Not strong enough” he thinks. “This letter HAS to convey the authority by which I speak.” Paul begins again.
“Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:” (Galatians 1:1-2).
“That sounds better” Paul says to himself. “But I must correct them in love.”
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:3-5).
“This is a good start” Paul says to himself. “And enough for tonight.”
Paul continues working on his message in his heart the whole way to Jerusalem. He is so convinced that the council will side with him that he doesn’t even entertain any other outcome.
The group reaches Jerusalem and, after a detour to the home of Mary, John Mark’s Ima, they arrive at the home of Peter.
As the group approaches, a watchman announces their presence. Peter goes out to meet them.
“Shalom brothers! It is wonderful to see you. Please come in and rest a while.”
“Thank you, Brother Peter. We have rested already from our journey, but would love to share with you the tales of our travels. The hand of God was surely on our journey! Is it possible for you to assemble all the elders and apostles, that we may make a full report, ensuring that all hear the same words from our mouths?”
“That can be arranged, but it will take a day. Stay with us the night and we will begin sharing tomorrow, once all have assembled.”
Runners are dispatched to the homes and hiding places of the others in leadership. It is not safe for them to remain together all the time.
The evening meal is filled with stories of the church in Antioch and Jerusalem. Paul reserves the stories of the missionary journey for tomorrow, and the debate regarding circumcision.
Morning brings the elders to the home of Peter. It is a bit crowded once everyone is assembled, but no one complains.
“Brothers, our esteemed brother, Paul and Barnabas, have come to share the news of their first missionary journey.” Peter turns to Paul and motions for him to begin.
“Shalom brothers, honored leaders. Barnabas and I returned not too long ago from a trip through Cyprus and into the heart of Galatia. The outpouring of the Lord was present everywhere we preached. Gentiles and Jews received the news of the gospel with gladness. There were of course those who opposed the message, but that did nothing to stop the growth of the body of Christ.”
Paul shares the story of the whole town turning out in Antioch Pisidia, the conversion of the proconsul, and the churches that were planted. He holds the story of his own stoning and the peoples’ reaction in Lystra until the end.
“The Jews who opposed us in Antioch and Iconium came seeking us in Lystra. They convinced many of the people in Lystra to join their cause. A great mob developed and they came seeking me.”
Paul looks around at his audience thinking: They are not going to believe what comes next.
“They found me and they stoned me. Afterwards, they dragged me from the city and threw my body into the road.”
Shock ripples through the room, then skepticism. “How can you stand before us and say that you were stoned?”
Paul holds up a hand. “The brothers gathered around me, weeping. The Lord was apparently not through with me, and I rose up before their very eyes.”
Heads turn and look at Barnabas. He does an emphatic head nod to corroborate Paul’s story.
“Praise be to God” resounds around the room.
When the excitement dies down Paul continues with his story. “I need to share something else that happened earlier in Lystra, before sharing what happened after I stood up again.”
Every man is on the edge of his seat, hanging on Paul’s every word.
“When we first entered the city, we went to the Temple of Zeus, as there was no synagogue to preach in. We began sharing the word with the people. There was a lame beggar who was listening intently and I could actually see faith rising up within him. The Spirit urged me, and I called out to him to stand up. He immediately jumped to his feet and began walking around.”
Smiles and praises flow through the room again until Paul holds up his hand.
“After he was healed, the people began saying that their gods had come in the form of people. They called Barnabas Zeus, and me Hermes.”
Shock and anger replace the smiles of a moment ago. Paul speaks over the noise developing.
“We told them to stop. We had to actually flee from them, proclaiming all the time that we ARE NOT gods and that there is only one true God.”
Nods fill the room.
“Now, let’s get back to my stoning.” Paul pauses to make sure everyone is with him. “After rising back up, we went BACK into town.” Paul waits for this to sink in. “The same people who stoned me, and those who called us gods, saw the hand of the Lord as I walked among them and proclaimed the gospel.”
Cheers break out as well as praise to the Lord.
“I don’t know if I would have given them a second chance at me” calls James.
“We made sure to visit Iconium and Antioch as well. Those responsible for my stoning received living proof of God’s hand as well. We were able to plant churches in every city we came to, in spite of the opposition.”
The opening into the matter of why Paul and his group made the journey presents itself.
“It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5) some call from a group of believers who favor the Pharisees teachings.
Paul looks towards the men and holds his hand out, palm up. “This my brothers is another reason we asked to see all of you together.”
Paul looks about the whole room. “When we returned from our journey, men came from Jerusalem, saying this very same thing. That the Gentiles were NOT saved unless they accepted the mark of circumcision.”
Some heads nod while others shake.
“We have witnessed first-hand the Lord working in and through the Gentile believers. We have also witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gentile believers. We implore you to consider this matter prayerfully and return with an answer that will settle this matter for all time. I personally do NOT hold with this teaching. NONE of the Gentiles we observed the Lord working through are circumcised.”
Paul sits down and a heated debate begins. Those speaking loudest for circumcision are those who hold to the beliefs of the Pharisees. Those speaking loudest against imposing such a requirement are those who have personally worked with Gentile believers.
Hours roll by with neither side willing to concede. Peter finally stands and addresses the whole group.
“Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will” (Acts 15:7-11).
The room falls silent. After a minute, Peter holds his hand out to Paul. “Share with us again the signs and wonders God did through you while you were among the Gentiles.”
Paul recounts the healings, the demons fleeing, and the evidence of the Holy Spirit among the Gentiles. After he finishes, James stands to address the room.
“Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’ Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues” (Acts 15:13-21).
After this decision, the meeting breaks up. It will take a little bit before the letter to the Gentile believers can be completed. While they wait, Paul takes his group to another home where they can address the churches in Galatia.
“It’s time to write to the believers in Galatia. They are struggling with this same issue. My spirit calls out to address them right away. As we traveled, I composed quite a bit of the letter I would like to send. I value your input to though.”
Paul begins laying out the letter he has composed. He begins with the introduction he crafted. He moves onto his heart’s cry:
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).
Paul is ready to explain how he got his start in preaching the gospel. It is important that the churches KNOW that he was given revelation knowledge by Jesus regarding what he now preaches. He did not receive his understanding of the gospel by listening to Jesus’ apostles or sitting at the feet of those they spoke to. There were no written accounts to study, or even partial letters that he could glean wisdom from. JESUS taught him personally through the Spirit.
“For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 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. But when he who had set me apart before I was born,[d] and who called me by his grace, 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; 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.
“Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!)” (Galatians 1:11-20).
Paul shares the recent events with them regarding arguing this same ‘doctrine’ they are struggling with.
“Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 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. But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 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— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 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. 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 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 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. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do” (Galatians 2:1-10).
Paul uses one more example of his adamant adherence to the belief that circumcision means NOTHING. He relates an encounter he had with Peter while he was in Antioch some time ago.
“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 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. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 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?’” (Galatians 2:11-14).
Paul hits the KEY to his argument:
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! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 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. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Galatians 2:17-21, emphasis added).
Paul crafts an argument of stern love, reminding the Galatians of the truth they learned and the evidence shown through the working of the Spirit in them. And that salvation is by FAITH and not WORKS. The Law never saves anyone.
“For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ But the law is not of faith, rather ‘The one who does them shall live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:10-14).
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
“Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love” (Galatians 5:1-6).
Paul wants to ensure that the church doesn’t go so far the other way, away from the law, that it grieves the Spirit.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:16-24).
“It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh” (Galatians 6:12-13).
Paul concludes his letter with love: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen” (Galatians 6:18).
Paul is exhausted by the end of this letter. He has poured out his heart to the church. He prays with all his might that they receive this with the love he intends it to be. Paul sends this letter off with Titus, while waiting for the letter from the council to be completed.
After the letter is carefully written and copied several times, relating the agreement proposed by James, Paul and his companions prepare to return to Antioch, stopping by the churches along the way. To ensure there is no misunderstanding or false teaching after this, several of the brothers from Jerusalem are sent with Paul and his group back to Antioch.
They carry the letter to the Gentiles stating: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell” (Acts 15:23-29).
The churches receive the letter with gladness, including the Galatians and their letter. “Hopefully, this business with circumcision is put to rest permanently” Paul says to his companions when they reach home. Their last delivery of the letter, for now, is to their own home church in Antioch.
(to be continued)
It was not easy picking and choosing among Paul’s argument what to include here. But I believe his biggest point comes across quite well. We are saved by FAITH not by WORKS. This is still as true today as it was the moment Jesus completed his work on the cross.
This letter is also where we learned of Paul’s time alone with Jesus, teaching him the gospel to bring to the Gentiles. Paul didn’t read the gospel accounts we have today. They were not even put down when he began teaching. The only way he could have received all the knowledge he shares with us is through the Spirit. That answers a LOT of questions as to why the gospels don’t address some of the issues raised in his letters. Praise God! That Jesus was willing to invest time in teaching Paul. We are the recipients of His investment.
Father God, thank You for sharing Your instructions and wisdom with me. I KNOW I don’t always get it all right, but I do try and please You. NOT for salvation, but because I LOVE You and want You to be proud of Your ‘little girl’. Help me to walk in Your will daily and live by the Spirit, as Paul called the Galatians to do.
