July 24 / Gal. 5:1-15

Galatians 5:1-15

When I read this section last year I was really confused by verse 11. I looked at another translation, and the first paragraph in my comments in the link below helped me to understand what Paul was saying. There are a few other confusions in today’s reading. Please read on.

I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! (v. 12) The ESV translation gets it right, with “emasculate” an even stronger word than “castrate”. Other translations have “mutilate” (NASB) and “cut themselves off” (NKJV). Paul is being sarcastic here – he certainly does not wish this behavior on any of those Judaizers!

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh… (v. 13a) In general, any time Paul refers to “the flesh” or “the world” he is referring to anything that takes our eyes or our behavior away from faith in Jesus. That is, something that is “an opportunity for the flesh” could be food or sex or money or power. Our freedom in Christ does not mean that we are free to do whatever our “flesh” desires!

Yes, Paul’s epistles are more difficult to read and understand than the Gospel or Acts narratives!

See also: March 11 (2020) / Gal. 5:1-15

July 23 / Gal. 4:1-31

Galatians 4:1-31

In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. (v.3) And: But now that you have come to know God … how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world…? (v. 9) Although it’s confusing, it could be that Paul’s twice-mention of the “elementary principles of the world” are the many rules of the Law which Jews were required to obey. That is, I wonder if Paul is speaking to those Jews who had converted to Jesus, but were now going back to their old ways because of those Judaizers who had come in, fearful of this new faith to which their fellow Jews had turned. Paul goes on about these Judaizers: They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. (v. 17) These Judaizers see that they have lost their influence with these new converts and want to turn them back the rules of the Law, once again enslaving them.

With all that it’s clear to me that I am not a Bible scholar. But then again, even the Bible scholars don’t know exactly what Paul was trying to say in this chapter – these “elementary principles” and his “bodily ailment (v. 13) and “at first” (also vs. 13). As I’ve said before the past few day, we move on!

See also:

July 22 / Galatians 3:15-29

Galatians 3:15-29

This gets confusing. Paul bases his argument in today’s reading on his translation of the word “offspring” (or “seed” as in many translations): Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings, referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (v. 16)

But here is the quotation from Genesis that Paul is citing, with God speaking to Abraham: I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And…in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:17-18) I fully understand that Paul has a better understanding of the Old Testament books than I, but as I read it, in God speaking to Abraham, it seems to me that His first use of the word “offspring” is plural, effectively translating “offspring” as “descendants”. So I find myself at odds with Paul’s argument of the singular versus the plural.

HOWEVER, Paul’s argument of singular versus plural does not nullify his main point of salvation through Jesus, where he says, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (v. 16b), in that Jesus is one of those offspring (descendants) from Abraham. That is, Abraham’s offspring (descendants) include Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David, and Jesus – and countless millions more! So the translation of offspring as singular versus plural seems to me not to be an issue.

The main point of Paul’s full argument in today’s text is that our salvation is through faith in Jesus, not through the Law of Moses. In the previous chapter we have Paul making it explicit: …if righteousness were through the Law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Galatians 2:21b) I think a better translation is that “Christ died needlessly”. That is, Jesus’ death on the cross would have been a waste of time. What a horrible thought!

See also: March 7 (2020) / Gal 3:15-29

July 21 / Galatians 3:1-14

Galatians 3:1-14

Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (v. 2b) Our Men’s Group has been on a “Three Streams” mission; currently our topic is the “Spirit-filled stream”. We are looking at the work of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels, in Acts, and in the Epistles. So here we find Paul’s first reference to the Holy Spirit in the first of the many letters/epistles that he wrote. My Study Bible noted that we will see sixteen more references to the Spirit in this Epistle!! I love it when our studies overlap!

Does He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? (v. 5) This quote is the ESV translation, but I have capitalized the deific pronoun, “He”. The NASB and the NKJV both capitalize deific pronouns, but the ESV does not. I suppose it’s because the ESV does not want to “put words into our mouth” or, more realistically, thoughts into our head. But when it’s fairly clear that the “He” refers to Jesus or His Father, I see no reason not to capitalize it – for the sake of clarity. As to the content of this verse, “…He who supplies the Spirit to you…”, you may recall Jesus’ promise to His followers at the Last Supper, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper…” (John 14:16) Here we see Paul writing that Jesus has fulfilled His promise – He or the Father has sent the Holy Spirit. Closing the loop…!

As we get deeper into the Epistles the readings get more difficult – not as much narrative as we see in the Gospels or in Acts. But we read on – there is good material for us to digest!

See also: March 6 (2020) / Gal. 3:1-14

July 20 / Galatians 2:1-21

Galatians 2:1-21

About Paul’s time line… Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. (v. 1) Scholars can make different arguments as to when this event occurred – some that this 14-year trip occurring when Paul and Barnabas brought an aid gift to the Jerusalem church while others claim that this visit was the chapter 15 Jerusalem Council. I’ve read through some of these discussions and come to my own conclusion, agreeing with the first of those time frames, the “aid” visit. So here’s my time line:

  1. Paul gets converted and spends some time in Damascus (Acts 9).
  2. He goes away into the Arabian desert for three years, returning to Damascus (Galatians 1:17).
  3. Soon thereafter he makes his first trip to Jerusalem, along with Barnabas (Galatians 1:18).
  4. Fearing for his safety he goes home to Tarsus (Acts 9:30, Galatians 1:21).
  5. After 14 years Barnabas goes to Tarsus and brings Paul to Antioch (Acts 11:25).
  6. Soon thereafter Paul makes his second trip to Jerusalem with Barnabas taking along the aid gift (Acts 11:30).
  7. Paul and Barnabas go off on their first missionary journey (Acts 13-14).
  8. Finally, Paul and Barnabas go up to Jerusalem for the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).

So that’s my time line – others disagree.

In its introduction to Galatians my Study Bible points out the importance of verse 16: …yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Here is their comment: “It was the rediscovery of the basic message of Galatians that brought about the Reformation. Galatians is often referred to as ‘Luther’s book’ because Martin Luther relied so strongly on this letter in his writings and arguments against the prevailing theology of his day. A key verse is 2:16.” Further, their note on 2:16 says, “Three times it tells us that no one is justified by observing the Law, and three times it underscores the indispensable requirement of placing one’s faith in Christ.” Much of the rest of Galatians continues this theme of justification by faith.

See also:

July 19 / Galatians 1:1-24

Galatians 1:1-24

Today we begin the Epistles – as an interruption to the Acts narrative, but chronologically consistent with Acts. That is, scholars maintain that Paul wrote to the Galatian churches (Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe) sometime after his first missionary journey (Acts 13-14) and before his second missionary journey (which begins at Acts 15:36). But even for those who agree with that chronology, there is ample discussion as to whether Paul wrote Galatians before or after the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). Our Chronological Bible has Galatians after the Jerusalem Council, but I would argue that we should have read it before Acts 15, in that nowhere in Galatians does Paul mention the four restrictions set forth by the Council, that (Gentile) believers …abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. (Acts 15:29) But we have what is laid out before us, so we move on.

…but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (v. 7b) This verse supports my comment above that Galatians was written before the Jerusalem Council. If Paul wrote Galatians after the Jerusalem Council I would imagine that he would have referred to those restrictions (cited above) in challenging the Judaizers who were arguing for circumcision of all believers. But as I said above, we read on.

Paul recounting his own conversion: 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. (vv. 16b-19) You might want to re-read Acts 9 for the details of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus.

I would encourage you to read the comments in the links below that I wrote last year, primarily because those comments might help us to understand Paul’s mindset as we read through Galatians and the rest of his epistles.

See also:

July 18 / Acts 15:1-35

Acts 15:1-35

So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. (v. 3) It’s a small item, but it lends further support to my comments from yesterday that Paul and Barnabas were preaching and teaching wherever they went. I regularly recall the words from Peter and John to the Sanhedrin: we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:20b) While they were on this journey it’s very likely that some of the Jews from the “circumcision party” who had come down from Jerusalem to Antioch were now returning to Jerusalem with Paul and Barnabas, and traveling with them they were hearing the many events among the Gentiles that Paul and Barnabas were reporting. I’m sure that hearing these things softened their hearts even before the Jerusalem Council.

Peter speaking: But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus… (v. 11) There are other verses, mostly from Paul’s epistles (see, for example, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:24, 28, II Timothy 1:9) that point to salvation by faith/grace, but I’ve never seen this verse from Acts quoted in support of the “grace, not works” theology. Interesting…

James is quoting the Old Testament in verses 16 and 17. These verses sound a lot like what Isaiah would have spoken, but in this case the author is Amos (Amos 9:11,12). I could only find one other quote from Amos in the New Testament, one that we read earlier in Acts 7:42-43 (Amos 5:25-27).

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July 17 / Acts 13:42-14:28

Acts 13:42-14:28

I didn’t comment directly on Paul’s speech yesterday (Acts 13:16-41), but his speech in Antioch is pretty much his standard talk to a Jewish crowd in a synagogue. We’ll see different speeches on different occasions down the road as he finds himself in different situations. I’m thinking particularly of his speech in Athens to an intellectual Gentile crowd. (See Acts 17:22, ff.)

But the Jews…drove them out of their district. (v. 50) A bit of geography here… Yesterday’s speech and today’s initial event occurred in Pisidian Antioch. So when the Jews drove them “out of their district”, Luke was literally referring to “out of their district”, in that their destination, Iconium is more than 100 miles from Antioch! Further in today’s reading, in the next chapter Lystra is another 20 miles from Iconium and Derbe is another 60 miles from Lystra. So Paul and Barnabas are doing a great deal of traveling for their missionary activity. NOTE: A typical day’s journey, walking, was about 30 miles. And with all that travel, Jews from Antioch felt it necessary to trail them and harass them along the way! (See Acts 14:19.)

Paul and Barnabas on their way back to Syrian Antioch: And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. (v.25) Typically we think of Paul’s first missionary journey as Cyprus, Antioch, and Galatia (Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe). But this small item in verse 25 points out that Paul was preaching Jesus wherever he went! Pisidian Antioch is more than 100 miles inland from Perga, so three or four days’ travel for Paul and Barnabas upon their arrival in Asia Minor – no doubt preaching to fellow travelers they met along the way. In addition there is another 3-4 days’ travel from Antioch to the Galatian cities and further travel within Galatia. All that on their “inbound” travel. Then they reverse their route (verse 21: When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch…), no doubt again preaching wherever they went. It’s a good model for us to follow – “preaching” wherever we go!

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July 16 / Acts 13:1-41

Acts 13:1-41

…but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. (v. 14a) Two things about this Antioch… First, this Antioch is always referred to as Pisidian Antioch, in contrast to the other Antioch which housed the “church” from which Paul and Barnabas had been sent, occasionally referred to as “Syrian Antioch”. This “Syrian Antioch” is a major city in the Roman Empire and is simply referred to as Antioch. Second, my Study Bible referred to Pisidian Antioch also as a major city – in the region of Asia Minor. It was a Roman colony with a large Jewish population and sat “at the hub of good roads and trade”. Again from our travel to Turkey in 2017 Carol and I can imagine these “good roads” being the caravan routes that were common in this dry land. This caravan road would have gone east to Cappadocia and west to Ephesus and the Aegean Sea, with another major road going south to the Mediterranean Sea and north to what is now Istanbul. Yes, a major city…!

Every time I have read this quote from Psalm 2, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” (v. 33), I have always thought that the verse (quoted again in Hebrews 1:5, 5:5) referred to Jesus’ Incarnation, but my Study Bible said that it referred to Jesus’ Resurrection. To support that claim, in the very next verse Paul says, “And as for the fact that He raised Him from the dead…” (v. 34a), so evidently Paul’s follow-up words reflect his intent that the Psalm referred to Jesus’ Resurrection – as he shows also in the next two quotes, especially verse 35: You will not let Your Holy One see corruption. I looked online for further clarification, but the theological explanations that I found were too deep for me!

The key line in Paul’s speech is in verse 30: But God raised him from the dead… That line is a game-changer for Paul – it was his evidence that Jesus is different from all the Jewish heroes that went before Him. And it is the fact that guides us in our worship: “Christ is risen. The Lord is risen, indeed! Hallelujah!!” Yes, Hallelujah!!

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July 15 / Acts 12:1-25

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (vv. 1-3a) This Herod the king (Herod Agrippa I) in Acts 12:1-4,20-23 is not the same Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded or whom Jesus visited before His crucifixion – that was his uncle, Herod Antipas. With both of these rulers I am troubled at their violent nature, but I guess kingly cruelty was common back then. Sad…

When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. (v. 10) I wondered about this prison being outside the city (Jerusalem). But my Study Bible indicated that this prison was a tower inside the Temple area, more like a guardhouse than a formal prison. FYI.

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service… (v. 25a) The “service” that Barnabas and Saul had completed was bringing an offering from the Antioch Christians to the church in Jerusalem (see yesterday’s reading, Acts 11:29-30). Now they are returning to Antioch, which will become the major city in Acts for the next many chapters. You’ll see that in chapter 13 beginning tomorrow.

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