Week 2- Galatians 1:11-2:10

We are in our second week of going through the book of Galatians, and we are seeking God’s wisdom in this book and looking for applications into our daily lives today. Last week we covered 3 key words for us to remember.

Definitions:
Judaizers
Christians who are trying to adhere to the Mosaic Law

Grace
A: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification
B: a virtue coming from God
C: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance

Simplified version- unmerited favor or getting something we don’t deserve

Mercy
compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power

Simplified version- not getting what we deserve

With those in mind, we will pick up where we left off last week. Paul had greeted the Galatians, briefly shared the Gospel, and is in the act of correcting them for leaving God’s Gospel for man’s.

*Galatians 1:11-17
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 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. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 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; 17 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.*

11-12
Paul makes a bold claim, that the Gospel wasn’t taught to him by man, but directly from Jesus. This being said, he makes the point that it doesn’t need man’s affirmation, but we will see later how Paul did come before the elders of the early church to make sure that he is being obedient to the Lord and not wasting his efforts. We see that he learns and receives the gospel in his encounter with Jesus on the road to damascus. He refers to this as if it is not a secret, but a story that is well known at this time.

13-14
Paul talks about his past as an enemy to Christ, and how he was successful in this. We know that we was a very educated Pharisee.

His mentor, Gamaliel was a very well know Pharisee, and was a member of the sanhedrin.
What is a pharisee?

Expert of the written and oral law, the torah or for us, the first 5 books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
The Pharisees were an influential religious sect within Judaism in the time of Christ and the early church. They were known for their emphasis on personal piety (the word Pharisee comes from a Hebrew word meaning “separated”), their acceptance of oral tradition in addition to the written Law, and their teaching that all Jews should observe all 600-plus laws in the Torah, including the rituals concerning ceremonial purification.

The Pharisees were mostly middle-class businessmen and leaders of the synagogues. Though they were a minority in the Sanhedrin and held a minority number of positions as priests, they seemed to control the decision-making of the Sanhedrin because they had popular support among the people.

What is the Sanhedrin?
The experts of the Law, and would be like the supreme court for us today. They would deal with issues of the Law and its applications.

We see Gamaliel in the Bible

*Acts 5:33-40
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
*

This all being said, Gamaliel was a major person at this time. Saul was one of if not his best pupil. Now, you could be wondering why the major rabbit hole. This applies to what we are reading today, but also to our own lives. Saul was incredibly knowledgeable and knew his beliefs, and he renounced that for Jesus Christ. Today, we sometimes look at someone and say they will never know Christ, I can’t convince him about Jesus, I am afraid to talk to him because he is such a smart guy, why would he listen to me? All of these are lies. First, we need to be as well verses as Paul. He was an extremist first against Jesus and then for Jesus. He knew what he believed and why, do you?
Second, we need to not be afraid of other extremists, because God is so much bigger, and we need to share Jesus with them. If God could use Peter to reach the Jews, surely God can use you to share what Jesus did in your life with those around you.

Ok, back to the scriptures. We see Paul is not hiding his former life. He doesn’t deny the horrible things he did against the Christians, and he addresses these issues, why? Why would he confess these things here to the Galatians? Let’s continue reading.

15-17
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 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; 17 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.

We see a change here. He acknowledges God, and that Jesus Christ is His Son, and then Paul went out to share this with the Gentiles. We see that Paul doesn’t go back to Jerusalem, but instead goes to Arabia and then back to Damascus.

First, we see that he acknowledges a change. He was a Jew, following the Jewish Law, but now Paul follows God and His Son Jesus Christ.

Second, Paul immediately goes out to preach among the Gentiles. What is he going to preach? Exactly what we know at this point, that Jesus is the son of God. He will then share the story of Jesus.

Lastly, he didn’t check with anyone, he was on a mission. One we can safely assume was from God, btu we will see later how he does come and be a part of the disciples and other early church leaders. He doesn’t go rogue, but he does go about sharing the Good News.

Why does he share all this? Because if you remember there are others who are speaking of how Paul is not one they can listen to, and that he is not one to trust with the Gospel. These individuals are polluting the Gospel from last week, remember? So Paul doesn’t deny anything, but he confesses what he had done, but also what he is doing now. He has dealth with the character issue, but we will see, more importantly how he focuses on the truth of God instead of defending himself.

*Galatians 1:18-20
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) *

We see Paul now is hanging with this guy named Cephus, who is he?

Cephus is Peter the Apostle, and then we see he also speaks to James, the brother of Jesus. During this time he learns, asks questions, and confirms his efforts with them as he goes and shares the gospel with the Gentiles. This is 3 years after the road to Damascus.

Galatians 1:21-24
21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

We see after his time with Peter and James, that he goes to Syria and Cilicia and they didn’t really know Paul. They had heard a little about him, but this was the first time probably that Paul was going to a region that he wasn’t seen as a horrible guy.

They praised God for Paul coming and for what had happened to Paul. Again, all this is being communicated to help the church in Galatia to give an account of Paul, and him giving feedback of how he is being received in these other regions, and also giving them accounts to look up and talk to others about him if they are really that concerned.

Galatians 2:1-2
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 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.

So we have had a lot of time pass, and now Paul comes before the disciples and the church leaders and runs through his revelation through them to see if his message of the Gospel is accurate. Paul wanted to make sure that the message he is sharing is accurate, and worthwhile.

Who is Barnabas?

Barnabas became a disciple early in the book of Acts. This man was an early convert, and was active from the beginning giving financially and serving as he can. Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus. One big thing he did was when Saul becomes Paul, Barnabas vouches for Saul and brings him into the fold with the disciples.

Who is Titus?

Titus was a early church leader who travelled a lot with Paul, and was Greek. He will serve in the church of Corinth later, but was a faithful servant whenever we see him in the Bible. Both Barnabus and Titus were impactful people both for Christ and in Paul’s life.

Ok, lesson for us today, do you know what you believe or do you assume? I have known people that believe what others have told them. Maybe it was their parents, maybe family members, maybe the were seen as an authority in what they were discussing, but are you doing the research and are you knowing what you believe? We see here Paul, a leader of the church, an author who wrote a lot in the Bible, that he met with other experts, and checked his math so to speak. Do you check your beliefs, and if so how? Going back to the verses, let’s see what happens.

Galatians 2:3-6
3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 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— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 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.

We see that Paul makes a significant point to the original issue of the letter of Galatians. What was that problem? The Gospel being polluted, and specifically that Christians would have to also adhere to the Mosaic Law. We see here Paul makes a point that Titus the Greek Gentile was not asked to be circumcised by the main church leadership.

Now, we do see there were some who did create an issue, but the main chore had no issues and made no requests that Paul or his companions adhere to the Jewish traditions. Let’s read on for the sake of time.

Galatians 2:7-10
7 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 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 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. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

We see that the pillars of the early church extended the right hand of friendship, this was an act or a pledge of friendship, and this was a way to communicate clearly their relationship. This would communicate that Paul is a welcome part to the ministry, and that he is valued in the group.

Now, we also see some of what I spoke about last week, that Paul and his companions were called by God and blessed by other church leaders to share the Gospel to the Gentiles, and that they would be the primary focus for this as Peter and his companions were to focus on the Jews.

Is this unhealthy or divisive for Peter and his lot to pursue the Jews, while Paul and his lot would seek the Gentiles?

Asked to still help the poor, which Paul wants to do anyways.

The main takeaway for today is Paul is sharing the Gospel correctly, and though he was given it uniquely, he confirmed this with the other church leaders, and checked it with the scriptures.