The Readable Bible: Galatians - Philemon by Iron Stream Media

Galatians – Philemon

The Readable Bible

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Galatians – Philemon

Paul’s Letters to the Churches

Translated and Edited by Rodney S. Laughlin Brendan I. Kennedy, PhD

Birmingham, Alabama

The Readable Bible

The Readable Bible: Galatians–Philemon

Iron Stream

An imprint of Iron Stream Media 100 Missionary Ridge Birmingham, AL 35242 www.ironstreammedia.com

The Readable Bible text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of ﬁve hundred verses without express written permission of the publisher provided that (a) the verses quoted do not account for more than 25 percent of the total work in which they are quoted, (b) no more than 25 percent of a book of the Bible is quoted, (c) all quotations conform accurately to The Readable Bible text, and (d) one of the following credit lines appears on the copyright page or title page of the work:

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022938636

Cover design: twoline | | Studio

Interior designer/illustrator: Clyde Adams (www.clydeadams.com)

Map geographic features courtesy of Bible Mapper (www.biblemapper.com).

Typeface: Veritas AE from Altered Ego Fonts, a division of Aespire

1 2 3 4 5—26 25 24 23 22

v Contents Maps, tables, and charts are in italics Preface ................................................................................... xiii To the Reader xiii Acknowledgments xiv Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiv Before You Read xv How to Read a New Testament Letter .................................................. xv Paul and His Letters ...................................................................... xvi Map: Locations in Paul’s Letters xvi Galatians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ephesians ................................................................................. 14 Philippians ................................................................................ 27 Colossians 36 1 Thessalonians .......................................................................... 46 2 Thessalonians .......................................................................... 53 1 Timothy ................................................................................. 57 2 Timothy 68 Titus ....................................................................................... 75 Philemon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Bible Letters Glossary .................................................................... 84 Note on Quotations of Old Testament Scripture 94 Note on Dates of Events .................................................................. 94 Note on Spurious Text ................................................................... 95 Map Notes ................................................................................ 95 Maps and Tables Paul’s Pre-Missionary Life ........................................................ 96 Paul’s First Missionary Journey ................................................... 98 Paul’s Second Missionary Journey ...............................................100 Paul’s Third Missionary Journey .................................................102 Paul Taken to Rome 104 Familiar Verses Galatians 106 Ephesians .......................................................................... 107 Philippians ......................................................................... 108 Colossians .......................................................................... 109 1 Thessalonians ................................................................... 110 2 Thessalonians 111 1 Timothy 111

Part 1. Part 2. Defense of the Gospel

Problem:

The Apostles

I Even Corrected

Look at Your Own

Look at Abraham’s

in Syria

Wrong View

The Solution: Hold to the Promise

Salvation

Always Been

We Become Children

vi 2 Timothy 112 Titus 113 People Lists Galatians ........................................................................... 114 Ephesians .......................................................................... 114 Philippians ......................................................................... 115 Colossians .......................................................................... 115 1 and 2 Thessalonians ............................................................ 116 1 and 2 Timothy 117 Titus ................................................................................ 119 Philemon ........................................................................... 119 Subject Index Galatians–Philemon ................................................... 121 The Jewish Calendar 130 Translation Notes ...................................................................... 131 Format and Presentation Notes ....................................................... 132 Nonliteral Words and Phrases Not Footnoted ....................................... 133 Galatians Paul’s Relationship with the Galatian Church 1 The Galatian Situation .................................................................... 1

Introduction Galatians 1 Address, Greeting, and Thanksgiving .................................................... 2

A. The

Perversion of the Gospel 2 B. The Way to the Solution 3 1. Accept My Authority ............................................................... 3 a. The Gospel I Preach Is from God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 b. God Revealed His Son to Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 c. Peter and the Churches

and Cilicia Accepted

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Galatians 2 d.

Accepted

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 e.

That Peter Held . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Galatians 3 2.

Experience 5 3.

Experience .................................................... 6 C.

of Salvation by Faith Alone ..................... 6 1.

Has

Through Faith ....................................... 6 Note: The Purpose of the Law 7 2.

of God Through Faith ..................................... 7

Part 3. The Life of Freedom in the Spirit

Ephesians

Chosen and Made

Part 1. Introduction

Part 2. The Blessings of Believers

Saved: Made

United:

and

Part 3. Paul’s Ministry

A Ministry

Ministry

Live in Unity

the

Part 4. Call to Christian Living

Maturity

Ascent

Live According to

for Christian

Ephesians

vii Galatians 4 3. We Are to Live as God’s Children: Heirs Free from the Law 8 Note: Paul’s Concern for the Galatians ......................................... 8 4. Being a Descendant of Abraham Does Not Help ................................ 9 Table: The Covenant Allegory Summary .............................................. 10 Galatians 5 5. Faith Alone Saves, Not Faith Plus Circumcision ................................ 10

A. Live for Others, Not for Yourself ...................................................... 11 Galatians 6 B. Closing Plea ............................................................................ 12

Paul’s Relationship with the Ephesian Church ......................................... 14 The City ................................................................................... 14 The Purpose of the Letter 14

Ephesians 1 Address and Greeting .................................................................... 15

Knowledgeable................................................... 15 Prayer for the Church ............................................................... 16 Ephesians 2 B.

Alive and Raised in Christ 17 C.

Jews

Gentiles Become One .............................................. 18 Ephesians 3

Gentiles ............................................................. 19 B. A

of Prayer 20

4 A.

and

............................................................ 20 Note: Jesus’

and Descent .................................................... 21 B.

God’s Character, in Christ ........................................ 21 C. Directions

Living ....................................................... 22 1. In the Community 22 Ephesians 5 2. In the Home ....................................................................... 24

Paul’s Relationship with the

City

Purpose of the Letter

Philippians

Church

Part 1. Introduction

A. Address and Greeting

Thanksgiving and

Paul’s Circumstances

Part 2. Living the Christian Life

A. Live a Life Worthy of the Gospel

Why Paul Used

B. Look at My Life as an Example

a Courier

Philippians

C. Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

Final Exhortations

Thanksgiving for Their Gifts

Final Greetings

Colossians

Paul’s Relationship with the Colossian Church

City

Church

Purpose of the Letter

Part 1. Introduction

A. Address and Greeting

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Part 2. The Primacy and Work of Jesus

Was and Is First

Reconciled Us to God

Colossians 1

viii Ephesians 6 D. Final Thoughts 25

Philippian

....................................... 27 The

27 The

................................................................ 27

................................................................. 28 B.

Prayer.............................................................. 28 C.

..................................................... 29 Philippians 2 Note:

Epaphroditus as

................................. 31 Philippians 3

....................................................... 32 Philippians 4

........................................ 34 D.

..................................................................... 34 E.

.......................................................... 34 F.

........................................ 36 The

36 The

................................................................ 37

................................................................. 38 B.

Jesus

.................................................................... 39 Jesus

.............................................................. 39

Part 3. The Life and Work

Part 4. Closing and Greetings

1 Thessalonians

Part 1. Introduction

Thessalonians

Part 2. Call to Sanctiﬁcation

of Believers A. Rejoicing in Suffering ................................................................. 40 B. Proclaiming Jesus ...................................................................... 40 Colossians 2 C. Struggling on Behalf of Others 40 D. Being Firmly Rooted in Faith Alone .................................................. 41 Colossians 3 E. Seeking the Things Above ............................................................. 42 F. Putting on Love ......................................................................... 43 Colossians 4

Personal Notes 44

Paul’s Relationship with the Thessalonian Church 46 The City 46 The Purpose of the Letters ............................................................... 46

1 A. Address, Greeting, and Thanksgiving ................................................ 47 1 Thessalonians 2 Note: Paul’s Method of Church Planting 48 B. Paul’s Relationship with the Thessalonians ......................................... 49 1 Thessalonians 3 1 Thessalonians 4

A. To Moral Purity ........................................................................ 50 B. To Love 50 C. To Encourage Others, for the Lord Will Return 51 1 Thessalonians 5 D. To Appreciate Leaders ................................................................ 52 E. To Live Together in Peace ............................................................. 52 F. Closing .................................................................................. 52

Part 1. Part 2. Call to Steadfastness,

and Work

1 Timothy

Part 1. Introduction

Part 2. Instructions to Timothy

Timothy

x 2 Thessalonians

Introduction 2 Thessalonians 1 A. Address and Greeting ................................................................. 53 B. Thanksgiving for Faith and Perseverance ........................................... 53 C. Prayer 53 2 Thessalonians 2 Note: Jesus’ Return and the Apostasy .............................................. 54 D. Thanksgiving .......................................................................... 55

Prayer,

A. Call to Steadfastness .................................................................. 55 2 Thessalonians 3 B. Call to Prayer 55 C. Call to Work ........................................................................... 56 D. Closing ................................................................................. 56

Paul’s Relationship with Timothy ....................................................... 57 Timothy, the Person ...................................................................... 57 Timothy and Paul’s Work................................................................ 57 The Purpose of the Letters ............................................................... 58

1 Address and Greeting 59

A. Correct False Teachers ................................................................ 59 Interlude: Thanksgiving............................................................. 60 B. Fight the Good Fight (Part 1) .......................................................... 60 1

2 C. Pray 60 Note: Paul’s Ministry ................................................................. 61 Note: Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 1

3 D. Qualify Church Leaders .............................................................. 62 Note: The Purpose of the Letter ..................................................... 63 E. Teach the Truth 63

Timothy 4

Timothy 5

Timothy 6

2 Timothy Part 1. Introduction

Timothy 1

Part 2. Instructions to Timothy

A. Preach

Timothy 2

Train Reliable

Die to Self and

Focus on What

Avoid Ungodly Church

Be Faithful

Preach

Part 3. Paul’s Situation and Final Greetings

Timothy 3

Timothy 4

Paul’s

Titus

xi 1

F. Lead by Example 64 1

G. Provide for Widows ................................................................... 64 H. Honor Your Leaders ................................................................... 65 I. Keep Yourself Pure and Healthy ...................................................... 66 1

J. Teach Respect to Slaves and Masters 66 K. Teach Without Regard to Opposition ................................................ 66 L. Teach Hope in God (Not in Things) ................................................... 66 M. Fight the Good Fight (Part 2) ......................................................... 67

Address, Greeting, and Thanksgiving ................................................... 68

(Regardless of the Circumstances) 68 Personal Note 69 2

Leaders ................................................................ 69 C.

Endure ................................................................ 70 D.

Is Important.......................................................... 70 2

Members 71 F.

My Example .................................................................... 72 G.

to Scripture ................................................................ 72 2

the Word ...................................................................... 73

Situation 73 Final Greetings 74

Titus, the Person 75 The Purpose of the Letter 75

Part 2. Instructions to Titus

Philemon

Part1. Introduction

Part 2. Plea for Onesimus

xii Part 1. Introduction Titus 1 Address and Greeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

A. Appoint Qualiﬁed Elders 76 B. Silence False Teachers 77 Note: Corrupted and Unbelieving Persons ........................................ 77 Titus 2 C. Teach Sound Doctrine ................................................................ 78 Titus 3 D. Teach Sound Behavior 79 Note: The Power of God’s Kindness and Love 79 E. Final Remarks .......................................................................... 80

Paul’s Situation 81 Philemon, the Person ..................................................................... 81 The Occasion and Purpose of the Letter ................................................ 81

Address and Greeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Thanksgiving ............................................................................. 82

Preface

To the Reader

One day I was standing in an airport bookstore looking for a book to read. I asked myself, “Why am I looking for something to read when I have a Bible in my briefcase?” I answered, “The Bible is hard to read. I want to read something easier.” Then I asked myself, “Why is it so hard to read? You’re a seminary graduate, a former pastor, a Bible teacher!” Thus began a quest that has led to The Readable Bible—the Bible as it would look if Moses, Joshua, Matthew, Mark, Paul, and the other writers had been sitting in front of a computer when God spoke through them.

It seems to me that the Bible is hard to read because all material is presented in sentence format. Today we use tables to present census information and charts for genealogies. When we want something built, we draw up a speciﬁcation document. Law codes are organized in outline form. We use bullet points, bold text, and other aids to help us grasp information. Yet in today’s Bibles, all the information is still presented in sentence format in plain text. Surely those men of old would have used modern formats if they had known about them when God spoke through them. Modern formatting does not change the information; it simply presents it in a way that makes it easier to grasp. The Readable Bible brings you the biblical text in modern formats.

You may struggle with the idea of Scripture in modern formats. Actually, all of today’s Bibles present the text in a form much different from that of the original manuscripts. Consider how many format changes that were developed over the past two thousand years led to the format considered normal today. Each change was radical in its time:

• Vowels: The earliest Hebrew manuscripts have no vowels; they were added hundreds of years later.

• Capital Letters: The Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament manuscripts have no uppercase and lowercase letters.

• Punctuation: The original manuscripts have no punctuation (no commas or periods!).

• Chapter Numbers: These were not common in Bibles until the thirteenth century AD.

• Verse Numbers: The ﬁrst verse-numbering system was developed over a thousand years after the last Bible book was written. It had one-third of today’s verse numbers, making verses three or four times longer. Today’s Christian Bible numbering system was not developed until the sixteenth century.

• Paragraphs: The ﬁrst paragraphed King James Bible was published in the mid-1800s.

So presenting the words of Scripture in tables, cascading the text of long, complex sentences, and using other modern formatting techniques is simply continuing the long-term trend of making the Bible easier to understand.

xiii

Our hope is that people who have never read the Bible will decide to read this version because it is so approachable. Please give a copy to someone who struggles to understand the Bible and, especially, to those who do not read the Bible.

Acknowledgments

My thanks to all the members of our editing team, our volunteer development team, and the many others who have donated funds and worked to bring The Readable Bible to completion.

A big “thank you” to my designer and partner in this project, Clyde Adams, for joining me in this faith venture. He has turned the translation into well-laid-out text and my formatting concepts into reality. The maps, tables, charts, book layout, and cover are all his work.

Most of all, I thank my wife, Rebecca, for her ideas, her love, and her strong support of this endeavor over the past twelve years.

Dedication

And now I dedicate to our Lord this translation of his holy Word, humbly asking him to grant that it may bring forth fruit to his glory and the building up of his people.

xiv

Spring 2022

Before You Read

Before reading the text, please browse the glossary. You will ﬁnd interesting information about words that appear frequently in this book, as well as important information regarding the words “Jesus” and “Christ.”

Words in italics are additions to the biblical text. Text enclosed in brackets is spurious—not in the oldest, most reliable manuscripts. Read “Note on Spurious Text” in the back of the book for more information.

Read lists in the text from top to bottom in the ﬁrst column then the next column. In the context of commands, rules, and regulations, “shall,” “must,” and “are/is” are equal terms, all the same strength.

We encourage you to read “Translation Notes” and “Format and Presentation Notes” in the back of the book. They are easy reading and will increase your understanding of the text.

Remember, Jesus was and is Jewish. The disciples and the women around him were Jewish. So “Jews” in the text oftentimes refers not to all Jews but only to Jesus’ opponents.

How to Read a New Testament Letter

Imagine you are living in the ﬁrst century AD, and you have become a believer. You put your faith in Jesus. You believe he died for your sins, you accepted him as your Lord, and you attend worship services in a home or small building. Your congregation has little written material—certainly not enough for everyone to be reading every day. You do not have time for that anyway, as you are exhausted by your work for six days a week (and you have no light to read at night).

One evening you go to a meeting of believers to share pieces of Scripture you or others have copied—some Old Testament writings, maybe a letter from an apostle, or a copy of one of the Gospels. Your pastor announces that he received a letter to the church from John the apostle, and he begins to read. You sit in awe, with a sense of expectation.

Now, read this letter with that attitude, that of a listener, as though someone is speaking to you. Look for what God has to say to you. The letter is personal. It is to you. It is theological—about God’s heart, his character, and his truth. God wants to speak to you through his Word. Open your heart and mind, and let God speak to you.

Paul and His Letters

The apostle Paul wrote at least ﬁfteen letters to churches and Christian leaders. Thirteen of those letters are in the Bible. This volume has ten of them. The other three are in the Romans and Corinthians volumes. Paul also wrote two letters to the Corinthians that have been lost.

The apostle Paul was a highly educated Jewish Roman citizen. He was raised a “Hebrew of Hebrews,”a a Pharisee instructed by Gamaliel, one of the great rabbis of the ﬁrst century. He was so “zealous for the traditions of my fathers” that he persecuted Christians, both men and women, “to the death.”b In AD 31, while on the way to Damascus to capture Christians and take them “to Jerusalem to be punished,” he had a life-altering encounter with Jesus and became a believer.c

After receiving direct revelation from Godd and taking some time to get grounded in the faith, he dedicated his life to missionary work, planting churches throughout Asia Minor and lands just to the west. Eleven of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament are letters he wrote to encourage, admonish, and teach the churches he founded, the people he mentored.e

The Bible does not record his death. Tradition holds that he was beheaded in Rome, perhaps during the executions ordered by Nero after the ﬁre in AD 64.

LOCATIONS IN PAUL’S LETTERS *

MEDITERRANEAN

CRETE

GALATIA

CILICIA

EGYPT

CYPRUS

* Maps of Paul’s journeys to these

a See Philippians 3:5.

b See Acts 22:3–5; Galatians 1:14; Philippians 3:6.

c See Acts 9:1–20; 22:6–16.

d See Ephesians 3:3.

e Paul wrote two letters to churches that he did not establish, those in Rome and Colossae.

xvi

Corinth

Jerusalem Rome

Athens

Antioch

Antioch of Pisidia Damascus Troas Ephesus PhilippiThessalonica

ASIA JUDEA LIBYA ADRIATIC SEA

BLACK SEA

SEA AEGEAN SEA ACHAIA

locations follow the glossary.

Galatians

Paul’s Relationship with the Galatian Church

Paul established churches in Galatia (today’s north-central and northeastern Turkey) in about AD 48 on his ﬁrst missionary journey, and in about AD 52 on his second missionary journey. In southern Galatia, churches were established in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.a Perhaps he made unrecorded travels in northern Galatia, as Luke wrote that on his third missionary journey, Paul “traveled from place to place throughout Galatia and Phrygia.”b So we do not know exactly to which churches this letter is written, because we do not know where churches were formed.

The Galatian Situation

Shortly after Jesus’ death, some people—Judaizers—taught that salvation comes not from faith in his atoning sacriﬁce alone, but that in addition to having faith, Christians must be circumcised and keep the Mosaic law and the Jewish customs and traditions. In about AD 49, a council of apostles and elders held a meeting in Jerusalem to consider the matter, and they determined that circumcision and obedience to the law are not required.c

However, after Paul had established some churches in Galatia, some Judaizers there taught the believers that they had to be circumcised. When Paul heard about this, he wrote this letter to the churches to reestablish the truth that salvation is by faith alone, that Christians are free from the law. Since the letter does not mention the council in Jerusalem, the letter was probably written before it was held.

a See Acts 13–14; 15:36–18:22.

b See Acts 18:23.

c See Acts 15:1–29.

Part 1. Introduction

1 Galatians

Address, Greeting, and Thanksgiving

1 From Paul, an apostle, not by humana commission nor by human authority b but by Jesus Christ and by God the Father, who raised him from the dead, 2 and from all the brothers and sisters with me.

To the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Part 2. Defense of the Gospel

A. The Problem: Perversion of the Gospel

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you by the grace of Christ c and are turning to a different gospel, 7 which is not really another.

There are some people who are troubling you and trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we already preached to you, let them be cursed! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching a gospel to you other than what you received from us, let them be cursed!

a Or “appointed.”

b Literally, “not from men or through any man.”

c Some manuscripts, “the grace of God”; some just “grace.”

2 Paul’s Letter to the Churches in Galatia

B. The Way to the Solution

1. Accept My Authority

a. The Gospel I Preach Is from God

10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or of God? Or am I trying to please people?

If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, the gospel that was preached by me is not of human origin.a

12 I did not receive it from any man; I was not taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

b. God Revealed His Son to Me

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I violently persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my peers;b I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when God,c who had set me apart from my mother’s womb, who called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone,d 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me.

c. Peter and the Churches in Syria and Cilicia Accepted Mee Rather, I went into Arabia and later I returned once more to Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him ﬁfteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Look, I am writing these things to you before God; I am not lying.) 21 Then I went into the Roman provinces of f Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown g to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They were only hearing it said of me: “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they were glorifying God because of me.

a Literally, “is not according to man.”

b Literally, “many of my own age among my people.”

c Literally, “when he.”

d Literally, “consult with ﬂesh and blood.”

e “Paul’s Pre-Missionary Life” map and table record Paul’s travels mentioned in the next sections. The visit of Peter to Antioch is not mentioned elsewhere; we do not know where it ﬁts in the chronology.

f Literally, “the regions of.”

g Literally, “was unknown by face.”

d. The Apostles Accepted Me

1 Then fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation from God, and I privately presented the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles to those respected as leaders, to be sure that I was not running or had not run my race in vain. 4 For false believers had inﬁltrated the church in Antioch to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to thema for even a moment so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. The result was that 3 not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled by the Jerusalem leaders to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 6 Those who were thought of as leaders,b those of repute, added nothing to my message.c (Whatever rank they were makes no difference to me, for God treats all of us the same.d ) 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with taking the gospel to the uncircumcised (i.e., the Gentiles) just as Peter had been appointed to take it to the circumcised (i.e., the Jews). 8 For Gode worked through Peter as an apostle to the circumcised and also worked through me as an apostle to the Gentiles.

9 James, Peter, and John, who were respected as pillars, gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me when they recognized the grace given to me, and they agreed that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

e. I Even Corrected a Wrong View That Peter Held

11 Later, when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James,f he used to eat with the Gentile believers. But when they arrived, he drew back and separated himself from the believing Gentiles, because he was afraid of those from the faction that requires believers to be circumcised.g 13 The rest of the believing Jews joined him in this hypocrisy so that even Barnabas was led astray by it.h

14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel,i I said to Peter in front of them all, “If you, being a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force Gentiles to live like Jews?

a Literally, “did not yield in subjection to them.”

b Literally, “as something.”

c Literally, “added nothing to me,” meaning they did not require Paul to change his message or conduct.

d Literally, “for God accepts no person’s face,” an idiomatic expression meaning God does not show favoritism toward anyone.

e Literally, “For he who.”

f James was a leader of the church in Jerusalem. Acts 15:24 indicates that he did not send out these men.

g Literally, “afraid of those of the circumcision.”

h Literally, “by the hypocrisy.”

i Literally, “not walking uprightly according to the truth of the gospel.”

4 2 Galatians

15 We are Jews by naturea and not sinners from among Gentiles.

16 We know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but is justified by faith in Jesus Christ (because by the works of the law no one will be justified).

So we too, like the Gentiles, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justiﬁed not by the works of the law but by faith in Christ.

17 But if in seeking to be justiﬁed by faith in Christ we Jews ﬁnd ourselves living like sinners,b is Christ then a promoter of sin?

Absolutely not!

18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I establish myself as a lawbreaker.d 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.

20 I have been cruciﬁed with Christ.

I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.

21 I do not set aside the grace of God by thinking I have to obey the law, for if righteousness is gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

2. Look at Your Own Experience

1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you [so that you do not obey the truth]? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayede as cruciﬁed.

2 The only thing I wish to learn from you is this:

Did you receive the Holy Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing the gospel with faith?

3 Are you so foolish to think that after beginning your walk of faith through the work of the Holy Spirit, you are now being perfected by unspiritual means? f

4 Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing?

5 So again I ask, does he who supplies you with the Spirit and works miracles among you do so by the works of the law or by your believing what you hear g 6 (just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”h)?

a Or “by birth.”

b “Living like sinners”: that is, living like Gentiles, people who do not obey the law.

c Literally, “a servant of sin.”

d Literally, “I prove myself a lawbreaker.” Paul is pointing out that Peter “lived as a Gentile” (ignoring the ceremonial/sacriﬁcial/food laws as the Gentiles do), because they are no longer necessary (see Acts 10:9–15). Therefore, it is sinful to “rebuild” the law by telling people they must obey it.

e “Publicly portrayed”: that is, in the preaching and/or teaching about the cruciﬁxion.

f Literally, “by the ﬂesh.”

g Literally, “or by your hearing with faith.”

h See Genesis 15:6.

Galatians 3

3. Look at Abraham’s Experience

7 Understand then that it is those who have faitha who are children of Abraham.

8 Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”b

9 So those who rely on faithc are blessed along with Abraham the believer.

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the law (i.e., to do themd ).”

11 Now it is clear that no one is justiﬁed before God by keeping the law, because “the righteous will live by faith.”e

C. The Solution: Hold to the Promise of Salvation by Faith Alone

1. Salvation Has Always Been Through Faith

12 The law is not based on faith.

Rather, Scripture says,f “The person who does these things to save themselves will live by them.”

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree”; g

14 that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through faith in Christ Jesus; that we believers would receive the promise of the Holy Spirit by faith.

15 Brothers and sisters, I will now give you an illustration from human life. The Principle: When a person has ratiﬁed a covenant, no one person can annul it or add to it.

Illustration: 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.h Scripture does not say i “and to seeds,” referring to many people, but “and to your seed,” referring to one person, who is Christ.

Explanation 1: 17 What I am saying is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thereby do away with the promise.

a Literally, “those of faith.”

b See Genesis 12:3; 22:18.

c Literally, “are of faith.”

d See Deuteronomy 27:26.

e See Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17.

f Literally, “it says.” See Leviticus 18:5.

g See Deuteronomy 21:22–23.

h See Genesis 17:7; 22:18.

i Literally, “It does not say.”

Explanation 2: 18 If the inheritance (i e , the promises to Abraham) depends ona your keeping the law, then it no longer depends on the promise of God. But God graciously gave the inheritance to Abraham through a promise.

Note: The Purpose of the Law

19 Why then was the law given at all ?

It was added because of people’s transgressions, until Jesus, the Seed to whom the promise referred, had come. How was the law given?

The law was put in place through angels and put in the hand of a mediator, Moses.

20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party,b but God is one.

21 Is the law then opposed to the promises of God?

Absolutely not!

For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under sin (i.e., holds that all people are prisoners of sin) so that the promise of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 Now before faith came, we were conﬁned under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.

24 So the law was our guardianc until Christ came, that we might be justiﬁed by faith.

2. We Become Children of God Through Faith

25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile;d there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

a Literally, “is by.” Twice in this verse.

b Literally, “a mediator, however, is not for one.”

c Or “our tutor.” The Greek term refers to a slave who would be an heir’s teacher and deputy parent until the heir reached adulthood.

d Literally, “nor Greek.”

3. We Are to Live as God’s Children: Heirs Free from the Law

I am saying that the heir, as long as he is a child, though he is the owner of the whole estate,a is no different from a slave 2 but is under guardians and trustees until the time appointed by the father.

3 So also, when we were underage (i.e., under the law), we were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.

4 But when time was fulﬁlled,b God sent his Son (born of a woman, born under the law)

5 that he might redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as children.c 6 God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, calling out, “Abba, Father,”d because you are his children. 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child of God; and if you are a child, then you are an heir through God.

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those idols who by nature (i e , being made of wood and stone) are not gods.

9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless elementary principles of the world? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

10 You are even observing special days and months and seasons and years! Stop doing that!

Note: Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

11 I fear for you, that I have labored over you for nothing. 12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become as I am, for I became like you. You did me no wrong when I was with you 13 You know that it was amid illnesse that I ﬁrst preached the gospel to you, 14 and though my physical conditionf was a trial for you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I myself were Christ Jesus. 15 So where is your blessing now? I can attest that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and

a Literally, “owner of everything.”

b Literally, “the fullness of time had come.”

c “Sonship”: all the aspects of becoming adopted—a new father, new name, new family, new legal standing.

d “Abba, Father”: the Aramaic term for “father,” abba, followed by the Greek term for “father,” pater. They are the two terms of direct address to a father from the early church’s two most common languages.

e Literally, “amid weakness of the ﬂesh.”

f Literally, “though my ﬂesh.”

8 4 Galatians

given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17 Those Judaizers a are zealous for you to follow them but for no good. They want to exclude you from our inﬂuence so that you will favor them. 18 It is always ﬁne to be zealous about the right thing b—and not just when I am present with you. 19 My children (for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you), 20 how I wish to be present with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.

4. Being a Descendant of Abraham Does Not Help (The Covenant Allegory)

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? 22a For it is written that

Abraham had two sons.

One was by Hagar, the slave woman.

23a But his son by the slave woman, Ishmael, was born in the ordinary way.c

22b One was by his wife Sarah, the free woman.d

23b His son by the free woman, Isaac, was born through a divine promise.

24 These things are spoken allegorically: The women represent two covenants.

One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children for slavery: This is Hagar.

25 Now Hagar representse Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the other is from Jerusalem above, in heaven, and bears free children:f

This is Sarah, and she is our mother; 27 for it is written:

“Be glad, barren woman, who does not bear children; break into a joyful shout,g you who have never labored, because more numerous are the children of the desolate woman, than of her who has a husband.”h

28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as back in that time, the son born only according to the ﬂesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit, so it is now.

a “Judaizers”: Jews who insisted that Gentiles who wanted to become Christians had to become Jews ﬁrst (that is, be circumcised and obey Jewish laws and practices) before they could be baptized.

b Or “It is always good to be eagerly sought for good motives.”

c Literally, “according to the ﬂesh.”

d See Genesis 16:1–16; 17:15–22; 21:1–14 for the story behind the following verses.

e Literally, “Hagar is.”

f Literally, “and is free.”

g Literally, “break forth and cry aloud.”

h See Isaiah 54:1.

the slave woman’s

slave woman and her son.

the free woman’s son.”

children of Hagar, the slave woman, but of Sarah

brothers

the

woman.

The Covenant Allegory Summary

Type Law/Slavery

Mother

the slave

Born of The ﬂesh,

Sinai

Slavery

ordinary

Mount Sinai is where the law was

Jerusalem of heaven: where salvation

5 Galatians

the free woman

Spirit, the

of heaven**

the

location where the law was practiced.

5. Faith Alone Saves, Not Faith Plus Circumcision

1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Therefore stand ﬁrm in faith alone; do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery to the law.

2 Look! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you!

3 I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised, that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

4 You who would be justiﬁed by the law are separated from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace.

5 For through the Holy Spirit, by faith, we eagerly await the righteousness for which we hope.

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith that expresses itself through love means anything.

7 You were running the race well. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 This set of beliefsb is not from the one who calls you. 9 A little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough.c 10 I am conﬁdent in you in the Lord that

a See Genesis 21:10.

b Literally, “This persuasion.”

c See Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21; 1 Corinthians 5:6.

10 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the

For

son will never inherit with

a 31 Therefore,

and sisters, we are not

free

4:22–26, 28–30

Freedom/Grace

Hagar,

woman 22a Sarah,

22b Son Ishmael 23a Isaac 23b

the

way 29 The

promise 29 Covenant Location Mount

and Jerusalem of Israel* 24 Jerusalem

26 Covenant Type

law 25 Freedom 26 Promise 28 Result Cast out 30 Inheritor 30 *

given, and Jerusalem is the

is realized in its fullness.