Bible one year 3/5/2022 Galatians 1-3
By
Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts
Ministries; Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry &
counseling
Introduction to the letter of Paul
to the Galatians
Galatia --- At the time of the writing of this letter the
term “Galatia” was used both in a geographical and a political sense. The
former referred to north central Asia Minor, north of the cities of Pisidian
Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe; the latter referred to the Roman province
(Organized in 25 B.C.) that included southern districts and those cities just
mentioned. If the letter was written to Christians in North Galatia, the
churches were founded on the second missionary journey and the epistle was
written on the third missionary journey, either early from Ephesus (about 53)
or later (about 55) from Macedonia. In favor of this is the fact the Luke seems
to use “Galatia” only to describe North Galatia (Atc.16:6;18:23)
If the letter was written to Christians in South Galatia,
the churches were founded on the first
missionary journey, the letter was written after the end of the journey
(probably from Antioch, about 49, making it the earliest of Paul’s epistles),
and the Jerusalem council (Acts15) convened shortly afterward. In favor of this
dating is the fact that Paul does not mention the decision of the Jerusalem council
that bore directly on his Galatian argument concerning the Judaizers,
indicating that the council had not yet taken place.
The Problem – How can men (sinful by nature) come to God (holy by
nature)? Paul’s answer is : There is only one way- accept the salvation God’s
grace makes available through Christ’s death and resurrection. Forget about
merit-salvation through obedience to the law of Moses. Man is too weak by
nature to accomplish self-salvation or self-sanctification. Certain Jewish
Christians (the Judaizers) were teaching that such works are necessary, that
Paul’s gospel was not correct, and that he was not a genuine apostle. Paul’s
answer was to proclaim the doctrine of justification by faith plus nothing, and
of sanctification by the Holy Spirit, not the Mosaic law. This answer was given
in the full apostolic authority received from Christ. All theologies that teach
salvation by faith plus human effort are forcefully negated by this great
letter.
Contents – the theme, justification by faith, is defended, explained,
and applied. Other significant subjects include Paul’s three years in Arabia
(1:17), his correcting Peter (2:11), the law as a tutor (3:24) and the fruit of
the Spirit (5:22-23)
Chapter 1 introduction: the
rightness of Paul’s gospel asserted
1:1 Paul, an
apostle--sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father,
who raised him from the dead--
1:2 and all the
brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia:
1:3 Grace and peace to
you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
1:4 who gave himself
for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of
our God and Father,
1:5 to whom be glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
No Other Gospel
1:6 I am astonished
that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ
and are turning to a different gospel--
1:7 which is really no
gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are
trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
1:8 But even if we or
an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to
you, let him be eternally condemned!
1:9 As we have already
said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than
what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
1:10 Am I now trying
to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were
still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul Called by God
Justification by Faith defended:
Paul’s authority
1:11 I want you to
know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.
1:12 I did not receive
it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from
Jesus Christ.
1:13 For you have
heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the
church of God and tried to destroy it.
1:14 I was advancing
in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the
traditions of my fathers.
1:15 But when God, who
set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased
1:16 to reveal his Son
in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,
1:17 nor did I go up
to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went
immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
1:18 Then after three
years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him
fifteen days.
1:19 I saw none of the
other apostles--only James, the Lord's brother.
1:20 I assure you
before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
1:21 Later I went to
Syria and Cilicia.
1:22 I was personally
unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
1:23 They only heard
the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith
he once tried to destroy."
1:24 And they praised
God because of me.
『作使徒的保羅，（不是由於人，也不是藉著人，乃是藉著耶穌基督，和叫祂從死人中復活的父神，）』加一1
『並一切與我同在的眾弟兄，寫信給加拉太的眾召會：』加一2
『願恩典與平安，從神我們的父，並主耶穌基督歸與你們。』加一3
『基督照著我們神與父的旨意，為我們的罪捨了自己，要把我們從現今這邪惡的世代救出來。』加一4
『願榮耀歸與祂，直到永永遠遠。阿們。』加一5
『我希奇你們這麼快離開那在基督的恩典裏召了你們的，去歸向不同的福音。』加一6
『那並不是另一個福音，不過是有些人攪擾你們，想要轉變基督的福音。』加一7
『但即使是我們，或是從天上來的使者，若在我們所傳給你們的福音之外，另傳一個福音給你們，他就該受咒詛。』加一8
『我們先前說過，現在我再說，若有人在你們所領受的之外，另傳一個福音給你們，他就該受咒詛。』加一9
『我現在是要得人的心，還是要得神的心？或者我是要討人的喜悅麼？若我仍討人的喜悅，我就不是基督的奴僕了。』加一10
『弟兄們，我要你們知道，那藉著我所傳的福音，並不是照著人意的，』加一11
『因為我不是從人領受的，也不是人教導我的，乃是藉著耶穌基督的啟示領受的。』加一12
『你們聽過我從前在猶太教中所行的事，怎樣極力逼迫神的召會，並損毀神的召會。』加一13
『我又在猶太教中，比我本族許多同歲的人更有長進，為我祖宗的傳統格外熱心。』加一14
『然而那把我從母腹裏分別出來，又藉著祂的恩典呼召我的神，』加一15
『既然樂意將祂兒子啟示在我裏面，叫我把祂當作福音傳在外邦人中，我就即刻沒有與血肉之人商量，』加一16
『也沒有上耶路撒冷，去見那些比我先作使徒的，卻往亞拉伯去，後又回到大馬色。』加一17
『過了三年，纔上耶路撒冷去訪問磯法，和他同住了十五天。』加一18
『至於別的使徒，除了主的兄弟雅各，我都沒有見過。』加一19
『我寫給你們的，並不是謊言，看哪，我是在神面前說的。』加一20
『後來我到了敘利亞和基利家一帶。』加一21
『那時，猶太在基督裏的眾召會，都還沒有見面認識我，』加一22
『不過聽說，那從前一直逼迫他們的，現在將他原先所損毀的信仰當作福音傳揚。』加一23
『他們就因著我榮耀神。』加一24
Chapter 2 His Authority Approved by the Church in
Jerusalem
Paul Accepted by the
Apostles
2:1 Fourteen years
later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along
also.
2:2 I went in response
to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the
Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear
that I was running or had run my race in vain.
2:3 Yet not even
Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a
Greek.
2:4 This matter arose
because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we
have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.
2:5 We did not give in
to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
2:6 As for those who
seemed to be important--whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does
not judge by external appearance--those men added nothing to my message.
2:7 On the contrary,
they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the
Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews.
2:8 For God, who was
at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in
my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.
2:9 James, Peter and
John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of
fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we
should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.
2:10 All they asked
was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to
do.
His Authority Acknowledged in the Rebuke of
Peter
2:11 When Peter came
to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.
2:12 Before certain
men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived,
he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was
afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.
2:13 The other Jews
joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led
astray.
2:14 When I saw that
they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in
front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not
like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
2:15 "We who are
Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners'
2:16 know that a man is
not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too,
have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ
and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be
justified.
2:17 "If, while
we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are
sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!
2:19 For through the
law I died to the law so that I might live for God.
2:20 I have been crucified
with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in
the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for
me.
2:21 I do not set aside
the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ
died for nothing!"
『過了十四年，我同巴拿巴，也帶著提多，再上耶路撒冷去。』加二1
『我是照著啟示上去的，把我在外邦人中所傳的福音，對他們陳述；只是私下對那些有名望的人說；惟恐我現在，或是從前，徒然奔跑。』加二2
『但與我同去的提多，雖是希利尼人，也沒有被勉強受割禮；』加二3
『因為有偷著引進來的假弟兄，他們偷著進來，要窺探我們在基督耶穌裏所得的自由，為要強制我們作奴隸；』加二4
『我們就是一刻的工夫，也沒有容讓服從他們，為要使福音的真理存留在你們中間。』加二5
『至於那些有名望的，不論他們從前是何等人，於我都沒有差別；神不以外貌取人；那些有名望的，並沒有加給我甚麼；』加二6
『反倒看見我受託傳福音給那未受割禮的人，正如彼得受託傳福音給那受割禮的人，』加二7
『（因為那在彼得裏面運行，叫他為受割禮之人盡使徒職分的，也在我裏面運行，叫我為外邦人盡使徒的職分，）』加二8
『又知道所賜給我的恩典，那被視為柱石的雅各、磯法、約翰，就向我和巴拿巴伸出右手彼此相交，叫我們往外邦人那裏去，他們卻往受割禮的人那裏去；』加二9
『只是要我們記念窮人，這也是我本來熱誠去行的。』加二10
『但磯法來到安提阿的時候，因他有可定罪之處，我就當面抵擋他。』加二11
『因為從雅各那裏來的幾個人，未到以先，他慣常和外邦人一同喫飯；及至他們來到，他因怕奉割禮的人，就開始退去，隔離自己。』加二12
『其餘的猶太人，也都隨著他裝假；甚至連巴拿巴也被牽引，和他們一同裝假。』加二13
『但我一看見他們不按福音的真理正直而行，就在眾人面前對磯法說，你既是猶太人，若是生活像外邦人，不像猶太人，怎麼還勉強外邦人猶太化？』加二14
『我們是生來的猶太人，並不是出於外邦的罪人，』加二15
『且知道人得稱義，不是本於行律法，乃是藉著信耶穌基督，連我們也信入了基督耶穌，使我們本於信基督得稱義，不是本於行律法；因為凡屬肉體的人，都不能本於行律法得稱義。』加二16
『我們若尋求在基督裏得稱義，自己卻也顯為罪人，這樣，基督豈不是叫人犯罪的麼？絕對不是。』加二17
『因為我所拆毀的，若再建造，就證明自己是個有過犯的人。』加二18
『我藉著律法，已經向律法死了，叫我可以向神活著。』加二19
『我已經與基督同釘十字架；現在活著的，不再是我，乃是基督在我裏面活著；並且我如今在肉身裏所活的生命，是我在神兒子的信裏，與祂聯結所活的，祂是愛我，為我捨了自己。』加二20
『我不廢棄神的恩；因為義若是藉著律法得的，基督就是白白死了。』加二21
Chapter 3 the Argument from
explained: Paul’s Gospel
The Argument from experience; Faith or Works
of the Law
3:1 You foolish
Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly
portrayed as crucified.
3:2 I would like to
learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law,
or by believing what you heard?
3:3 Are you so
foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your
goal by human effort?
3:4 Have you suffered
so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing?
3:5 Does God give you
his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because
you believe what you heard?
3:6 Consider Abraham:
"He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
3:7 Understand, then,
that those who believe are children of Abraham.
3:8 The Scripture
foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel
in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."
3:9 So those who have
faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
The Argument for Abraham; The Law and the
Promise
3:10 All who rely on
observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is
everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the
Law."
3:11 Clearly no one is
justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."
3:12 The law is not based
on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by
them."
3:13 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."
3:14 He redeemed us in
order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ
Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
3:15 Brothers, let me
take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a
human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.
3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his
seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people,
but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.
3:17 What I mean is
this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant
previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.
3:18 For if the
inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God
in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
3:19 What, then, was
the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed
to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through
angels by a mediator.
3:20 A mediator,
however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
3:21 Is the law, therefore,
opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given
that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the
law.
3:22 But the Scripture
declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised,
being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Children of God
3:23 Before this faith
came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be
revealed.
3:24 So the law was
put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.
3:25 Now that faith
has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.
3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor
free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
『無知的加拉太人哪，耶穌基督釘十字架，已經活畫在你們眼前，誰竟迷惑了你們？』加三1
『我只願問你們這一件，你們接受了那靈，是本於行律法，還是本於聽信仰？』加三2
『你們是這樣的無知麼？你們既靠那靈開始，如今還靠肉體成全麼？』加三3
『你們受苦如此之多，都是徒然的麼？難道果真是徒然的麼？』加三4
『這樣，那豐富供應你們那靈，又在你們中間行異能的，是本於行律法，還是本於聽信仰？』加三5
『正如“亞伯拉罕信神，這就算為他的義。”』加三6
『所以你們要知道，那以信為本的人，就是亞伯拉罕的子孫。』加三7
『並且聖經既豫先看明，神要本於信稱外邦人為義，就豫先傳福音給亞伯拉罕，說，“萬國都必因你得福。”』加三8
『這樣，那以信為本的人，便和那信的亞伯拉罕一同得福。』加三9
『凡以行律法為本的，都在咒詛之下，因為經上記著：“凡不常常照著律法書上所記一切之事去行的，都是被咒詛的。”』加三10
『沒有一個人憑著律法在神面前得稱義，乃是明顯的，因為“義人必本於信得生並活著；”』加三11
『但律法不是本於信，只說，“行這些事的，必因這些事活著。”』加三12
『基督既為我們成了咒詛，就贖出我們脫離律法的咒詛，因為經上記著：“凡掛在木頭上的，都是被咒詛的，”』加三13
『為叫亞伯拉罕的福，在基督耶穌裏可以臨到外邦人，使我們藉著信，可以接受所應許的那靈。』加三14
『弟兄們，我照著人的常話說，即使是人的約，若已經立定了，就沒有人可以廢棄，或加增的。』加三15
『應許原是向亞伯拉罕和他後裔說的。並不是說，和眾後裔，像是指著許多人，乃是說，“和你那後裔，”指著一個人，就是基督。』加三16
『而且我這樣說，神豫先所立定的約，不能被那四百三十年以後纔有的律法廢掉，以致使應許失效。』加三17
『因為承受產業若是本於律法，就不再本於應許；但神已經藉著應許，將產業恩賜亞伯拉罕。』加三18
『這樣，律法是為甚麼有的？乃是因過犯添上的，直等那蒙應許的後裔來到；並且是藉天使經中保之手設立的。』加三19
『但中保不是一面的，神卻是一位。』加三20
『這樣，律法是與神的應許相反麼？絕對不是！因為若曾賜給一個能賜生命的律法，義就真是本於律法了。』加三21
『但聖經把眾人都圈在罪裏，好叫那以信耶穌基督為本的應許，可以賜給那些信的人。』加三22
『但信仰還未來到以先，我們是被看守在律法之下，被圈住好歸於那要顯示的信仰。』加三23
『這樣，律法成了我們的兒童導師，帶我們歸於基督，好使我們本於信得稱義。』加三24
『但信仰既然來到，我們就不再在兒童導師的手下了，』加三25
『因為你們眾人藉著相信基督耶穌，都是神的兒子。』加三26
『你們凡浸入基督的，都已經穿上了基督。』加三27
『沒有猶太人或希利尼人，沒有為奴的或自主的，也沒有男和女，因為你們眾人在基督耶穌裏，都是一了。』加三28
『你們既屬於基督，就是亞伯拉罕的後裔，是照著應許為後嗣了。』加三29
Bibliography,
King
James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company
Lee,
Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream
Ministry, 1985.
Ryrie,
Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible
Institute, 1986.
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