The Companion Bible - The Book of Galatians

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Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace.

Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread.

Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment. Why would I still be persecuted, then? Love others as you love yourself. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness.

These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. I could go on. He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.

We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.

That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest.

The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God! Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: All their talk about the law is gas. And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate.

It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them! I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith.

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He could not direct his ministry towards pleasing men and at the same time direct it to pleasing Jesus Christ.

And if his concern is not first to please Jesus Christ, then he is not a servant of Christ. Servant perhaps is not the best translation here; it may be better translated slave. The 'bond-servant of Christ' is not free to offer or withhold his 'service'; his life is not his own, but belongs entirely to his Lord. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it , but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The gospel that I preached to you: Is not according to man: In contrast to the different gospel brought by others, Paul's message was a revelation from God. Paul's message was not a man's attempt to reach up and understand God; it was God's effort to bow down and communicate with man. Men may have many marvelous things to teach us, but God's revelation has all things which pertain to life and godliness 2 Peter 1: Did Paul's message - the message of the Bible - really come from God, or is it a fine achievement of man's spiritual and moral search for God?

If Paul's gospel, the message of the Bible, really came from God, then it is the most important fact in the world. If it is just a human invention or achievement, then it is the most dangerous lie in the world. There isn't any shortage of people who claim that they have a revelation from God. But we have to be careful to not regard a message as being from God if it isn't. How can we know that the Bible is really from God and not man?

First, we know that the Bible is reliable, accurate and trustworthy as an ancient document. We know this because the text itself is reliable we know this from the study and comparison of ancient manuscripts. And we know this because archaeology has consistently confirmed and supported the Biblical record, and has never contradicted the Bible. People, places, and events in the Bible are repeatedly verified by archaeology. Second, we know that the Bible is unique, and special among all books ever written.

It is unique in its continuity , being written over years, over 60 generations, by more than 40 authors, on three different continents, in different circumstances and places, in different times, different moods, in three languages, concerning scores of controversial subjects, but it speaks with one united voice. It is unique in its circulation , being the most published and popular book ever. It is unique in its translation , being the first book translated, and having been translated into more languages than any other book.

It is unique in its survival , having survived the ravages of time, manual transcription, persecution, and criticism. It is unique in its honesty , dealing with the sins and failures of its heroes in a manner quite unknown among ancient literature. It is unique in its influence , having far and away a greater influence on culture and literature than any other book in existence. Third, the Bible is a book of predictive prophecy, literally fulfilled.

For example, there are some prophecies concerning the Messiah that were exactly and literally fulfilled by Jesus, such as His birth at Bethlehem, His manner of death and burial, and so forth. Another example is that the Bible describes the rise of four successive world empires Babylonia, Persia, Greece, Rome with such accuracy that all critics can do is claim that the passage was actually written after the events happened. Fourth, the Bible is a book that has profoundly changed the lives of millions, irrespective of their race, class, era, sex, locale, age, or social status.

One might look at all this evidence and still say, "It doesn't prove that the Bible came from God. In the end, believing the Bible is from God is a step of faith.

But it is a step of intelligent and informed faith , not a leap of blind faith. I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ: Paul's own relationship to this gospel was unique. Most everyone hears the gospel from someone else; this is God's "normal" way of communicating the gospel Romans But Paul was not "normal" in this respect.

He received the gospel in a dramatic, direct revelation when He encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. The Lord Jesus spoke to Paul directly on the Road to Damascus, and then Paul spent three days without sight, before a Christian named Ananias came to him. It was probably during this time - either on the road or during the three days - when Jesus brought His gospel to Paul. Paul certainly had the gospel right away, because he was both saved and began to immediately preach the message Jesus gave him Acts 9: Paul had already been called, enlightened, and taught by Christ in the road. His contact with Ananias was merely a testimonial to the fact that Paul had been called by Christ to preach the gospel.

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.

David Guzik :: Study Guide for Galatians 1

Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie. Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.

For you have heard: Everyone had heard how Paul came to the Lord! Paul's story was familiar to Christians in general and especially to those he had personally ministered to. We can trust that if Paul was among a group a people for a while, preaching the gospel to them, it wouldn't be long until he shared his personal testimony. The value of a personal testimony is not restricted to those who have a dramatic conversion story like Paul did.

We can see the glory of God's work just as much in those who think they have a "boring" testimony. My former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it: Paul's credentials as a zealous Jew, persecuting Christians, are beyond doubt. This shows that Paul was not looking for some other truth when he was first confronted with the gospel of Jesus. Unfortunately, many of those who are seeking a "new revelation" will find it - and find deception that draws them away from Jesus Christ like a young Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church.

But when it pleased God: Paul did not come to Jesus because any man decided that he should. It wasn't at the pleasure of any man , but when it pleased God. Additionally, God did not choose Paul because there was something in Paul that pleased him; God called Paul through His grace , God's unmerited favor. We know this call wasn't because of anything Paul did, because he said he was called from my mother's womb. Therefore, God called Paul before Paul did anything to deserve it. Before Paul was a Christian, the emphasis was on what he had done: I persecuted … I advanced … I was more exceedingly zealous.

Once Paul follows Jesus Christ, the emphasis was on what God had done: God, who separated me … called me … reveal His Son in me. Martin Luther summarizes Paul's idea: Or on account of my pharsaical religion? Or on account of my prayers, fastings, and works? Well, then, it is certain God did not call me on account of my blasphemies, persecutions, oppressions. What prompted Him to call me? Separated is an important word. The Greek word aphorizo is related to the word used as a title for the religious elite in Paul's day, the "separated ones" known as the Pharisees. Before Paul came to Jesus, he was an important Pharisee Philippians 3: Now, through the work of Jesus, he was really separated to God!

To reveal His Son in me: But here is something different, and perhaps more glorious: Jesus revealed in Paul. God wants to do more than reveal Jesus to us; He wants to reveal Jesus in us. That I might preach Him among the Gentiles: Does God have a sense of humor? He selects a man before he is born for the job of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. And that man grows up hating Gentiles, and believing that the only reason God made Gentiles was so they would fuel the fires of hell.

Additionally, upon his conversion, Paul did not immediately confer with flesh and blood even the eminent apostles in Jerusalem to discover the content of the gospel. He didn't need to, because the gospel was revealed directly to him by Jesus. We shouldn't think that Paul is saying here that it is wrong to hear of the gospel through others, or that those who do have an inferior salvation.

The point is simply that the gospel Paul preached was not a gospel of man , and this is settled forever because he did not receive it from any man. Paul did not travel to what we would call Saudi Arabia. The area known in that day as Arabia in his day extended all the way to the city of Damascus. Paul probably lived in some quiet desert place outside of Damascus.

Then after three years: Paul did not learn the gospel from the apostles, because he had been a Christian for three years before he even met the apostles Peter and James. But Paul did not do this. Nor was Paul "commanded" to appear before the apostles in some kind of examination. It is indicated when Paul wrote, " to see Peter. They were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy. All they really knew was that he had been dramatically converted - for which they glorified God.

After his conversion, Paul was a "normal Christian" for many years. Paul's status as unknown is certainly different from our own habit of puffing up any prominent convert as soon as they come to Jesus. Paul was happy and well served to spend many years in obscurity before God raised him up. In this whole section, Paul shows there was enough contact between him and the other apostles to show that they were in perfect agreement, but not so much that it would show that Paul got his gospel from them instead of God.

Paul's whole point in the second part of this chapter is important. His gospel was true, and his experience was valid, because it really came from God. Does your gospel come from God, or have you made it up yourself? Does your Christian experience come from God, or have you made it up yourself? Only what comes from God can really save us and make a lasting difference in our lives. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.

Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs. Keep me logged in! Did you forget your password? Why won't my login from the old site work? These 'notes' help you to break the bible down into an organized outline, often revealing a deeper meaning in the texts. The appendices included are small essays and charts explaining everything from Greek grammar, to Hebrew customs and figures of speech. You simply cannot understand any bible unless you fully read and understand Bullinger's appendices.

Be warned that some appendices contain information that is controversial. Rest assured, however, that Bullinger offers biblical and historical proof for each of his statements. Judge for yourself if these have any merit. Bullinger never really wanted his name associated with this bible so as to let his work, not his name, speak for itself. His comments in the Companion Bible reflect the time period in which he lived late 's and offer insight into many Christian theories that were new in his time, but to us now seem old.

The rapture theory and the gap theory being two of these. Don't pass up this opportunity to obtain a copy of this awesome Bible reference! Original hard copy editions of these works have sold for many times the cost of this download.

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