Galatians 2:1-10

Galatians 2:1-10

-          V. 1-

o   Fourteen years after what?  Paul’s conversion?  His first visit to Jerusalem?  It is impossible to say with certainty. 

o   Possible that the construction “with Barnabus,” implies that Barnabas is still the senior partner in the mission

o   Titus gained experience on this journey that would make him very useful to Paul later, especially in Paul’s dealings with the Corinthian church

-          V.2-

o   Paul’s anxiety is over church-unity, he does not want a Jewish church and a Gentile church.

o   “His commission was not derived from Jerusalem, but it could not be executed effectively except in fellowship with Jerusalem.” – F.F. Bruce

o   If Paul meant the revelation of Christ on the road to Damascus, why does he not say “the revelation?”  Could this be a reference to Acts 11:27-30?

o   The gospel “I preach” (present tense), not that “I preached” (past tense).  Shows consistency in Paul’s message

-          V.3-

o   Paul is willing to circumcise Timothy because he is already Jewish, and doing so is not a system of salvation but rather a sign of ethnic identity.  He is NOT willing to circumcise Titus, because he is Greek.

o   Titus is a test-case, and if he indeed goes without being circumcised, other Gentiles can as well

-          V.4-

o   As the gospel liberates, so the law enslaves. 

o   “to themselves”, their motives seem to be motivated out of self-interest and selfishness, not the genuine well-bring of others

o   So ask where this happened?  They were probably “secretly brought in” to the meeting in Jerusalem, thus the language of secrecy.

-          V.5-

o   To yield on this issue would have radically changed the nature of the Gentile Christians faith, at least in practice

-          V.6-

o   The structure of Paul’s statement is not intended to argue that the pillars should not be held in high esteem, but rather that they should not be held in high esteem simply because they knew the historical Jesus.  Hence Paul’s statement that “what they were makes no difference to me.”  In essence, Paul would argue not they shouldn’t be esteemed, but that they are being esteemed for the wrong reasons

o   Furthermore, it would be closer to the actual meaning to say that “God does not accept face”, rather than “God shows no partiality”.  It would be similar to our modern day proverb that one shouldn’t “judge a book by its cover”. 

o   Also, by saying that “they added nothing to me”, Paul is refusing to tie his “honor rating” into his association with the pillars, while also showing that they in no way added to the gospel he was preaching as if it lacked something before their meeting.

-          V.7-

o   The Jerusalem leaders merely recognize what God has entrusted to Paul

o   Some argue that this implies a Petrine and a Pauline gospel.  On the contrary, in demonstrates that the gospel, while being uniform in its message, is preached in different ways to different groups.  Think of the four gospels as an example of how the same message can be presented in different ways.

o   “Entrusted” is in the perfect sense, which means that it began in the past (before the Jerusalem meeting), but continued on in time.  It shows both the prior act of Jesus’ revelation/entrusting of the gospel to Paul, and also the fact that Paul’s mission is on-going 

-          V.8-

o   Paul and the pillars are acknowledging ex post facto what God has already done

-          V.9-

o   The “right hand of fellowship”- the Greek word koinonia, or “fellowship”, implies more than a covered dish luncheon or potluck.  It means the sharing in common of all things, as will be reflected by Paul’s collection mentioned in v. 10.  An example would be the church as described in Acts 2

o   “Agreement between Paul’s gospel and that preached by the primitive community is confirmed, and not just established.” – Ronald Y. K. Fung

o   Cf. “pillars” with Rev. 3:12

-          V.10-

o   This underlines that the gospel, which was shared by Paul and the Jerusalem apostles, had a similar outgrowth in their respective actions.  Paul was already doing the only thing the Jerusalem apostles requested of him specifically. 

o   If this meeting as in 48/49 AD, then the collection is probably motivated by a famine that struck Judea around that time according to Josephus

Summarizing Thoughts:

-          Jurgen Moltmann refers to the unity of the church as an “evangelical unity”, not an ethnic, social, or legal one.  In other words, the unity of the gospel is found not in us, but in the grace we find through Christ.  The church should bow to neither conformity nor pluralism if either seeks to compromise the grace found in the gospel.

Galatians 1:11-24

Galatians 1:11-24

I.                   The Origins of Paul’s Gospel (vv. 11-12)

a.       The gospel Paul preaches is of divine origin, it was neither received, nor was it invented by man

b.      V. 11

                                                              i.      Paul switches to the first person singular, making this his own statement as opposed to the statement of his supporters mentioned earlier.

c.       V. 12

                                                              i.      Apokalypsis, or “revelation”, occurs 18 times in the NT, 13 are in the Pauline epistles

                                                            ii.      God, and specifically Jesus, singled Paul out to receive the gospel on the road to Damascus.  On that road Christ confirms to Paul that He is the Risen Lord, while Paul later receives the detail of Jesus’ story from the apostles who lived it, thus confirming his experience

II.                Paul’s Former Life (vv. 13-14)

a.       Paul’s former way of life refers to orthopraxy, though it is not exclusive of orthodoxy

b.      V. 13

                                                              i.      Paul contrasts Judaism with the “assembly of God”, the connotation being that the former can no longer be called the latter in a synonymous sense

c.       V. 14

                                                              i.      We see from this context, but also from others (cf. II Corinthians 9:2 & 12:20) that zeal is an ambiguous characteristic.  It is what we are zealous for that determines whether are zeal is commendable or not

                                                            ii.      The zeal described here shows us that a consistent theme in Paul’s life is that the Law and faith in Christ are at odds.  The difference comes in which one Paul sides with (the Law pre-conversion, Christ post-conversion)

III.             Paul’s Conversion/Call (vv. 15-17)

a.       Conversion and call are simultaneous, being grounded in the Christophany (appearance of Christ) on the Damascus road

b.      V. 15

                                                              i.      Cf. Jer. 1:5 & Isa. 49:1 ff.

                                                            ii.      The parallel texts in Jeremiah 1 and Isaiah 4 also involve a mission to the Gentiles, or nations

                                                          iii.      “set apart”, compare to Paul’s former life as a Pharisee, which means “one set apart”

c.       V. 16

                                                              i.      The word “reveal” is another use of the word “apocalypse”

d.      Paul more than like goes to Arabia for missionary purposes, not reflective ones, though some time for reflection cannot be precluded

IV.             Paul’s First Visit to Jerusalem (vv. 18-20)

a.       V. 19

                                                              i.      James the Just, the brother of Jesus, killed in 62 AD at the instigation of Annas the High Priest in between the rule of two Roman governors.

                                                            ii.      In the Middle East, the line of inheritance passed horizontally from one brother to the next, so James would be seen as the natural successor to the movement began by Jesus.

                                                          iii.      The fact that Paul refers to James as “the Lord’s brother” probably shows that he did not think James responsible for the attacks against the gospel. 

b.      V. 20

                                                              i.      This is probably similar to what someone saying today “I’ll testify to that in court, under oath”

c.       Cf. I Cor. 15:1-7 to see that Paul probably did receive some tradition from Peter and James at this time

V.                Mission to the Gentiles (vv. 21-24)

a.       V. 21

                                                              i.      “climata”, or territories of Syria and Cilicia (eastern Cilicia) were united as a single Roman province

b.      V. 22

                                                              i.      The churches of Judea, which probably included refugees from the Jerusalem church, had still not physically seen Paul, they only knew of Saul. 

c.       V. 23

                                                              i.      The structure of “hearing” as it is used in the Greek implies that the hearing happened over a period of time, i.e. sustained reports

Galatians 1:1-10

Galatians 1:1-10

I.                   Greeting (vv. 1-5)

a.       General Observations

                                                                 i.      Paul could be stating that he is not merely an “apostle”, or one sent out by the church in Antioch

                                                               ii.      The word “apostle” appears 4 times in Galatians, while “gospel” appears 14 times. 

b.      Verse 1

                                                                 i.      Paul’s commission is not from or of men, like those of the agitators from James. 

                                                               ii.      Cf. Amos 7:14-15

                                                             iii.      Cf. with II Cor. 8:23, where ‘apostles’ are commissioned by the churches.  While they are valid apostles, they do not have as much authority as the apostles commissioned by Christ

c.       Verse 2

                                                                 i.      There is no use of “beloved”, or “of God”, nor is there a thanksgiving section.  These omissions speak volumes to the situation of the Galatian church

                                                               ii.      “churches”- the letter is of the circular variety, with the mentioning of churches in the plural possibly supporting a dating shortly after Paul’s first journey through southern Galatia, which seems to be the only time that he set-up multiple churches

d.      Verse 3

                                                                 i.      grace and peace are sequential.  It is God’s granting of grace that brings us peace. 

e.       Verse 5

                                                                 i.      the doxology contrasts with “this present evil age” from V. 4

II.                No Other Gospel (vv. 6-10)

a.       General Observations

                                                                 i.      This section is an exordium, it signals the reader as to what the topic of the epistle will be. 

                                                               ii.      This letter has one sustained purpose, unlike many of Paul’s other letters that cover multiple topics.  Galatians addressed the nature of the true Gospel

b.      Verse 6

                                                                 i.      the “good news” itself is different because of the shift in belief of the Galatians

                                                               ii.      they are leaving someone for something

c.       Verse 7

                                                                 i.      “but”, in reality there is no other gospel. 

d.      Verse 8

                                                                 i.      Setting up his future argument in 3:19 when he states that the Law of Moses was delivered by angels through a human mediator

                                                               ii.      it is the message, not the messenger that makes the gospel

                                                             iii.      “That which does not teach Christ is not apostolic, even if Peter and Paul be the teachers.  On the other hand, that which does teach Christ is apostolic, even if Judas, Annas, Pilate or Herod should propound it.” – Martin Luther

e.       Verse 9

                                                                 i.      Greek word anathema, equivalent to the Hebrew word for “ban”, as when everything from the city of Jericho was put under the “ban”, marked out of destruction by God

Galatians- An Introduction

Galatians

Who:  The Galatians, found in Asia Minor, which we know today as Turkey.  Specifically a group of churches planted by the Apostle Paul, who now are struggling with Judaizing elements in their midst.  For discussion on whether the term Galatian was an ethnic or provincial designation, see the section “Where”. 

What: A letter from the Apostle Paul in which he outlines the basis of Christian belief in justification by faith, over and against justification through works of the law.  It is nothing less than a defense of the gospel in which our salvation is through faith in Christ.  Paul goes to great detail in outlining why the Law is an inadequate source of salvation. 

When: More than likely around 48-49 AD, just before the Jerusalem Conference recorded in Acts 15.  This dating is not without its difficulties, but it seems to fit best while also creating the least amount of problems.  Under this theory, Acts 9:26-30 = Galatians 1:18-20; and Acts 11:30 & 12:25 = Galatians 2:1-10.  It also makes sense because if the Jerusalem Conference had already taken place, Paul would probably have mentioned the ruling of the “pillars” in Jerusalem in his argument.  Furthermore, Paul normally addresses topics that are recent, and it is only in this letter that we hear any details about his conversion.  Also, he mentions Peter, James, John, Titus, and Barnabus, as well as Damascus, Antioch, and his native Cilicia.  References to Barnabas imply that the letter is after the Antioch incident, and yet before a resolution to the incident is reached in Jerusalem and also before Paul and Barnabas are reconciled. 

Where: This question cannot be answered conclusively, but the evidence leans toward south Galatia, specifically the cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.  Many of the Galatians were actually Celts who migrated in the 3^rd century BC from central Europe in the vicinity of the Danube.  They originally settled in a kingdom located in what is today northern Turkey, on the Black Sea.  However, in Paul’s day the Roman province of Galatia extended from the Black Sea in the north, to the Mediterranean Sea in the south.  The only major roads in Paul’s day ran through the southern part of Galatia, and we know that Paul generally travelled along such roads, preaching and teaching in major transportation and communication centers.  Finally, Acts is silent on the planting of churches in north Galatia.  If this area was the one in question from Galatians, surely it would have been mentioned by Luke in Acts.

Why: We have already addressed why Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia, so now we must ask why this letter is so significant?  Besides the fact that it is part of the Scriptures, its significance is also derived from the date mentioned earlier.  If the date of 48-49 AD is correct for when Galatians was written, then it almost certainly is the earliest of the books in the New Testament.  In short, it is the first written expression we have of the beliefs, practices, and even struggles of the early church.   

Update on Marie Cook

Marie is out of surgery and doing as well as can be expected for someone who just had major surgery at the age of...well, you get my point.  The doctors repaired her valve (rather than replacing it), and did a MAZE procedure for her A-fib.  No word on when she will be able to come home, but a brief internet search revealed that the average post-op stay is 7-10 days.  I know you will join me in giving thanks for the positive results of the surgery, and will continue to pray for a swift and complete recovery.  God is good!

Prayer Updates

- Marie Cook will be having surgery Thursday in Houston (I was just told it was changed from tomorrow till then).  It will be a major operation to replace her defective valve. 
- My grandmother, Martha Townsend, came through her surgery well.  She has been moved into ICU until tomorrow, when if all goes well she will be released. 
- My friend from Columbus, Stan Riggs, has experienced some complications after his triple-bypass.  He is in need of your continued prayers for a swift and complete recovery. 
- Also, Clyde Carruth continues to face challenges in his rehab.  Pray that he will regain his strength, and have the patience to endure the work he has to do to recover. 

Upcoming Activites, Updates, and Prayer Requests

Upcoming Activities:
- Tomorrow (August 14th), we continue looking at the life of Christ through the gospel of Mark.  We will be exploring Mark 1:16-28 in the sermon during worship.
- Also, tomorrow night after an abbreviated evening service (which means no sermon, if that makes it even more enticing for you, haha), we will be having a back-to-school cookout!   

Updates:
- Marie Cook was moved to Houston around midnight on Wednesday/Thursday.  They will be running a battery of tests before the doctors meet to decide the best course of action.
- Clyde Carruth has been moved into rehab.  His kidney infection and other ailments have cleared up nicely, but he still has to work to regain his strength. 

New Prayer Requests:
- Be praying for the family of Eloise McAdams, who recently passed away. 
- Also, my grandmother, Martha Townsend, will be having surgery Tuesday to clean out an artery in her neck. 

Answered Prayers:
My friend Stan Riggs came through his triple-bypass very well, and has begun the recovery process. 

Prayer Requests

We are thankful that there has been significant improvement in Clyde Carruth's status over the past two days.  He had a rough spell there Monday and Tuesday, but yesterday and today he has seen a lot of improvement.  He told me that he knows the prayers that people offered on his behalf helped to get his health turned around a few days ago, so be praying that the improvement continues, that he steadily regains his strength, and that his appetite will return.    
Marie Cook was admitted to the hospital yesterday because her heart slipped out of sync again a few days ago.  This afternoon they moved her to the ICU because still was still laboring to breathe, even after being treated.  They are exploring other options now to see if there is anything more they can do for her.  I know she would really appreciate your prayers during this extremely difficult time. 

VBS- Day 4 (albeit two weeks after it actually happened...)

So admittedly, I dropped the ball on getting the photos up from VBS Day 4, but I did want everyone to see what the kids did that day. 
There were 51 kids at VBS on the final day, which gave us an average of close to 50 for each day.  As you know, we don't have 50 kids in our church, so you can tell that we had a lot of visitors!
The theme for Day 4 was "Forgiven By Jesus".

The memory verse was Psalm 86:5: "For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you."  There were actually a few stories that the kids heard today, but the central lesson was about how Jesus forgave Peter, even after Peter's denial of Him.  Below is a picture of the room that the MAP kids trasformed into a courtyard at night to set the scene for Peter's betrayal. 

I'll leave you with a few photos of the kids learning, snacking, making crafts, and playing games.  I will try to upload all the photos from VBS to the photostream at the bottom of the blog by the end of the week.  VBS turned out great this year, due to the outstanding work of Sonny Child's MAP team, as well as hours of preparation by some of our own members.  There is no doubt that many kids learned a great deal about who Christ is, and how much he loves them!!