May I have a WORD with you?

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 5:16-26
    • The Spirit is our new guardian, not the Law
    • The desires of the sinful nature
    • The fruit of the Spirit
    • Stay in ranks and march with the Spirit
  • What’s Next?
• Gal 6:1-18
  • Vss 1-3
    • Restoration in meekness - πραότης (prah-ot'-ace)
      • Fruit - Gal 5:23; 1 Cor 4:21; Eph 4:2; Col 3:12
        • Adjective two forms- meek: πρᾶος, πραΰς
        • Mt 5:5; 11:29; 21:5; 1 Pt 3:4
      • Wisdom: see BLB on πραΰς 
    • The law of Christ and an appropriate self perception
  • Vss 4-6
    • To test, prove, approve - δοκιμάζω (dok-im-ad'-zo)
      • 1 Pt 1:7
      • Rom 12:2
    • No codependency in the Spirit filled, Spirit led life
  • Vss 7-10
    • Mocked - hapax legomenon μυκτηρίζω (mook-tay-rid'-zo)
      • to turn up the nose or sneer at
      • to mock, deride
        • From μυκάομαι - to low, bellow, roar
        • A sort of onomatopoeia (moo)
      • Recall Jeremiah’s lament in Jer 20:7
    • Selfish living as one filled with the Spirit is mocking God.
    • Make use of καιρός to do good, for the benefit of
  • Vss 11-18
    • Note the large letters of vs 11 in the NLT
    • Vss 12-18 in MSG
      • Those who walk by the standard or rule - κανών
      • Ἰσραήλ (is-rah-ale')  יִשְׂרָאֵל  
        • Jacob
        • The Jews
        • The Christian Church - grafted in
• Wrapping Up Galatians
  • The Law: you must do it 
  • The Gospel, good news: God has done it
  • Freedom in the later, bondage in the former

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 5:1-15
    • Paul is turning from doctrinal arguments to ethical ones. True freedom in Christ, from the law, is not license to sin
    • Imagery
      • The race
      • Assiduously waiting
      • A little yeast
      • Castration
      • Biting and destruction
• Galatians 5:16-26
  • Vss 16-18
    • The new guardian - not the law any longer, but the Spirit
    • Walk by the Spirit - περιπατέω (per-ee-pat-eh'-o)
      • Rom 6:4; 8:4; 1 Cor 3:3
      • Not the weakness of the flesh but the power of the Spirit
    • Wants and desires (of the natural selfish self and of the Spirit-filled self)
      • Think of Rom 7
      • Read in MSG
  • Vss 19-23
    • On the one hand
      • 19-21 - ἐπιθυμέω (ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o) the desires of the sinful nature
        • Not an exhaustive list
        • Don’t allow your mind to think of all the people you know who fit this list. Rather ask the Spirit to show you were you get trapped
        • Read it in MSG for a new or different perspective
    • On the other hand
      • 22-23 - the Holy Spirit produces
        • Fruit is singular
        • We can’t let ourselves off the hook here either. (“I’m pretty good at kindness, but definitely not patience.”)
        • These are not works I do to get rewarded for. Rather they reflect a life surrendered to God, filled with the Spirit, fulfilling the “word” to love others selflessly
        • These cannot be legislated.
  • Vss 24-26
    • Crucified the flesh - σταυρόω (stow-ro'-o) a matter of surrendering - again pointing to Rom 6
    • Walk in step with the Spirit - not περιπατέω, but στοιχέω (stoy-kheh'-o) think of soldiers marching - see MSG
    • When we are living this way, it also casts out prideful comparisons
• What’s next?

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 4:21-31
    • Lesson from the Torah in allegory
      • Sarah, the mother of the promise, heavenly Jerusalem
      • Hagar, the mother of slavery, Mt Sinai, the Law
    • Being children of the promise, of freedom, of the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
    • Remember the limits of allegory
  • What’s next?
• Gal 5:1-15
  • Vs 1 - for freedom Christ has set us free
    • Freedom from slavery to the law does not mean anything goes. That would be freedom from Christ which is bondage to sin.
    • Freedom in Christ means–because of Christ’s completed work fulfilling the law’s demands–I can be free to be right before God and filled with the Spirit
    • This is a transition point from the clear doctrine of grace to the ethical life in the Spirit
  • Vss 2-4 - thinking that the law can in anyway make us right before God is making Christ and His work of no benefit ὠφελέω (o-fel-eh'-o) profit nothing
  • Vs 5 - the last compact explication of the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in the letter.
    • Notice the “we.” Up till here, Paul was talking to the Galatians with “you.”
    • Eagerly wait - ἀπεκδέχομαι (ap-ek-dekh'-om-ahee) - BLB def - assiduously and patiently waiting for
      • Assiduously (adverb) means doing something with great care, sustained effort, and unwavering attention to detail. It describes working diligently, tirelessly, and with meticulous persistence. dictionary.com
      • This word in the BLB definition shows the actual “work” called forth from us by the Spirit, sanctification, what the Augsburg Confession calls the “New Obedience.”
  • Vss 7-12
    • Running the race - play with the imagery - 2 Tim 2:5
      • Paul often used sports imagery for life in Christ
      • See also 1 Cor 9:24-27; Phil 3:13-14; 2 Tim 4:6-8
      • “Who has held you back…”
    • The little yeast
      • Beware the yeast of the Pharisees - Jesus
      • Recall Jesus’ parable in Mt 13:33
      • The Galatians make a BIG measure of flour into which this little leaven is being sewn 
    • Were “cut off,” ἀποκόπτω (ap-ok-op'-to) - amputated, in this context, castrated
  • Vss 13-15 - freedom to serve
    • The law in “one word,” - Lev 19:18
      • 10 commandments - decalogue deca=10, logue from logos=word thus the “10 words”
    • Recall Jesus’ summary of all the Law
    • δάκνω (dak'-no) a hapax legomenon
      • to bite with the teeth
      • metaph., to wound the soul, cut lacerate, rend with reproaches
    • “Beware of destroying one another.” NLT “consume” in ESV - recall James and John wanting to call down fire from heaven to destroy or consume the Samaritans who would not receive Jesus.
• What’s Next?

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 4:1-20
    • Being on guard against the elemental principles that reduce us to children of the universe rather than living in the power of the Spirit as children of God.
    • The true powerlessness and poverty that leads us to humbly receive the truth
    • The travail of childbirth that brings forth new children of promise
  • What’s next?
• Galatians 4:21-31
  • Vss 21-23
    • Genesis 15 through 18
      • Ch 15 - Abram says a slave will become his heir. God says no, and promises a son. Vs 6 “Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
      • Ch 16 - The promised child isn’t coming, so Sarai concocts a plan B and Abram submits to the scheme. Hagar becomes pregnant and gives Abram a son, Ishmael.
      • Ch 17 - circumcision, the sign of the covenant. Renaming.
      • Ch 18 - the promise is renewed. A son will be given through Sarah. She and Abraham laugh. 
      • Ch 19 & 20 - other stuff
    • Ch 21 - the birth of Isaac (laughter), the promise. Abe is 100 yrs old. 
  • Vs 22-26: the allegory - two women, two covenants
    • “These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants.”
      • ἀλληγορέω (al-lay-gor-eh'-o) hapax legomenon
        • a story, poem, or piece of art where characters and events act as symbols. It is essentially an extended metaphor designed to reveal a hidden or broader meaning, such as a moral, religious, or political lesson. - Miriam-Webster online
        • The two levels of allegory
          • The literal - what’s really happening
          • The symbolic - the hidden meaning, abstract idea, or real-world concept those events and actions represent.
      • Plato’s allegory of the cave
      • George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
    • Hagar - Mt Sinai, Law, Jerusalem in bondage
    • Sarah - heavenly Jerusalem, freedom
  • Vs 27 - OT Prophetic reflective interlude
    • Relating Sarah to the childless woman who now has many children
    • Foot note - Isaiah 54:1
    • Note that this comes abruptly after the suffering servant of Is 53
  • Vss 28-31 - casting off the bondage of the law
    • Children of the “promise” - ἐπαγγελία (ep-ang-el-ee'-ah)
      • See Acts 1:4 - the “promise” of the Father
      • The Holy Spirit
    • Being persecuted - διώκω (dee-o'-ko)
      • Used by Jesus 4X in Mt 5 Sermon on the Mount
      • Paul used it of himself in Gal 1
      • Gen 21:9 - “But Sarah saw Ishmael making fun of her son, Isaac.”
    • Vs 30 - get rid of the slave and her son
      • Gen 21:10-21
      • A great nation from Ishmael
    • Vs 31 - we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman
      • Learn the lesson of allegory
      • the limits of allegory
        • We don’t want to miss the human lessons of the actual, or literal, story of Genesis
        • The allegorical reading does not negate the bad behavior of Abraham and Sarah
        • Hagar in Gen 16 - called God El-roi, the God who sees me.
• On to Freedom in Christ!

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 3:15-29
    • Seed vs seeds
    • Abraham vs Moses (heir vs slave)
    • Jesus our mediator & the law our tutor
    • Promise vs keeping the law
  • What’s next?
• Galatians 4:1-20
  • Vss 1-7
    • Heir, child, slave, guardian, manager
      • Remember the vineyard and tenants (Mt 21; Mk 12; Lk 20)
      • Consider 1 Cor 13:11 - gives new meaning
      • δοῦλος - servant, slave - very common in NT
      • Guardian = steward
    • Basic spiritual principles - στοιχεῖον (stoy-khi'-on)
      • The foundational elements of life apart from life in the Spirit
      • ABCs - Col 2:8, 20
      • A revival - Desiderata (Max Ehrmann’s “child of the universe” philosophy)
  • Vss 8-16
    • Consider the weak, worthless word πτωχός (pto-khos')
      • Compare fleshly spirituality with HS Spirituality
      • Mt 5:3 “poor” in spirit; Mt 11:5 “poor” have the gospel preached to them
      • Galatians are choosing the poverty of homelessness
    • Vss 12-16 - Paul’s poverty
      • How he came to them
      • Their overlooking of his temptation (KJV) πειρασμός (pi-ras-mos') trial
        • Lead us not into πειρασμός
        • Jas 1:2 - consider it pure joy when πειρασμός come
      • Would have given him their own eyes?
  • Vss 17-20
    • See vs 17 in MSG
    • The pain of childbirth - ὠδίνω (o-dee'-no)
      • see ὠδίν - Mt 24:8; Mk 13:8 - the beginnings of the labor pains
      • compare συνωδίνω - Rom 8:22
    • Since he is writing rather than talking face to face Paul is
      • perplexed - ἀπορέω (ap-or-eh'-o)
        • John 13:22 - one of you will betray me
        • 2 Cor 4:8 - “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.”
  • He will keep trying to get through to them, though, so
• Stay tuned!

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 3:1-14
    • Vss 1c-4 - the picture of the Gospel and question - προγράφω (prog-raf'-o) - recall Rd to Emmaus
    • Vss 5-9 - faith before works, (promise before law)
    • Vss 10-14 - the curse and the removal of the curse
  • What’s next? The basis of Paul’s argument.
• Galatians 3:15-29
  • Vss 15-18 -  an example of a “last will and testament”
    • Vs 16 - σπέρμασιν vs σπέρματί
      • Plural vs singular - Rabbinic style of argument
      • In Gen 12:7 - זֶרַע - singular
      • But in Gen 1:11 also singular ??
    • Abraham vs Moses
  • Vss 19-20  μεσίτης (mes-ee'-tace) mediator (6x in NT)
    • 1 Timothy 2:5 - recall the context here
    • Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24
    • vs 21
  • Vss 22-23 συγκλείω (soong-kli'-o) - prisoners(?) (4x in NT)
    • σύν - with  &  κλείω to shut up
    • of a shoal of fishes in a net - Luke 5:1-10 (vs 6 ESV)
    • consigned - Rom 11:28-33 (vs 32 ESV, see MSG)
  • Vss 24-25 παιδαγωγός (pahee-dag-o-gos') (3x in NT)
    • tutor, instructor - Gal 3:24 & 25
      • BLB - “Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood.”
      • Gives us the word pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching)
    • 1 Cor 4:1-16 (vs 15) teachers, guides
  • Vss 26-29 
    • ἐνδύω (en-doo'-o) 
      • to sink into (clothing), put on, clothe one's self
      • consider in relation to baptism (see Rom 6)
    • σπέρμα (noun, singular)
      • Recall Paul’s rabbinic style argument
        • One with Christ, in Christ, 
        • The promise not the law

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 2:11-21
    • Confrontation
      • Clarifying and righting the Gospel
      • Spiritual battle for the Body of Christ (including Peter and Barnabas)
    • Justification by faith
      • Mnemonic - justified = “just as if I’d” never sinned.
      • By grace through trusting God’s Word of promise
  • Going forward - hang on
• Gal 3:1-14
  • Vs 1a&b - “You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a spell on you?” MSG
    • ἀνόητος (an-o'-ay-tos) 6x in NT - foolish, unwise
      • Luke 24:25 - the guys on the road to Emmaus
      • Paul’s admonition to Timmothy 1 Tim 6:2b-10
    • βασκαίνω (bas-kah'-ee-no) - a hapax legomenon
      • to speak ill of one, to slander - Demosthenes
      • to bring evil on one by feigned praise or an evil eye, to charm, bewitch one - Aristotle, Theocritus
        • Consider Acts 17:18-34 (esp. v 28)
        • In him we live and move and have our being - Epimenides of Crete
        • For we are indeed his offspring - Aratus in Phainomena
  • Vs 1c-4 - the picture of God’s gracious Gospel and question
    • προγράφω (prog-raf'-o) - προ: before & γράφω: writen - a way of saying that everything they had come to know about Jesus was coming from God’s Word
      • Gen 12:3, 15:6, 18:18, 22:18
      • Lev 18:5; Deut 21:23, 27:26
      • Hab 2:4
    • The question of order
      • Upon trusting the picture painted by the Word
      • The Spirit is given
  • Vss 5-9 - faith before works
  • Vss 10-14 - the curse and the removal of the curse
    • Trying to become right with God by works - curse
    • The way of faith is different
    • Jesus becomes our curse
    • Blessed like Abraham, through faith

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 2:1-10
    • The question?
    • The ill-intentioned skeptics who want others to miss the goal (see Phil 3:14)
    • The right hand of fellowship
  • Recalling Acts 10
• Gal 2:11-21 - the core and foundation of the Gospel
  • 2:11-15 - Paul fights for Peter. (?)
    • Opposing him to his face - ἀνθίστημι (anth-is'-tay-mee)
      • This was the fourth of the five smooth stones series. 
        • (Ep 055 (S3E11) Five Smooth Stones - Pt 4 Our Fighting Stance)
        • I am planning to reprise this series this fall
      • Mat 5:39 - don’t resist an evil person, but offer the right cheek as well
      • Mt 16:23 - Jesus opposing Peter
      • Acts 11:2 - criticised - διακρίνω (dee-ak-ree'-no)
    • Even Baranabas was led astray
  • 2:16 - justified - made right with God
    • δικαιόω (dik-ah-yo'-o) verb - to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
    • The faith of Jesus Christ (?) - His faithfulness or our faith in Him and His faithfulness
  • 2:17-21
    • This begins to show us why I call this a “thick” book, a weighty book, a challenging book
    • Think baptism - Romans 6:3-11 ESV

References:

• Quick Review
  • Former Saul - Gal 1:13-14
    • See Acts 7:57-8:1
    • See Acts 26:9-11
  • Redeemed and restored Paul - vss 15-16a
    • See Eph 1:3-14
    • Compare 1:Pet 1:18-20
  • The Christians in Judea praised God because of Paul (1:22-24)
• Paul receives acceptance and recognition 2:1-10
  • Pre-2:1-10 background
    • Saul’s conversion (Acts 9:1-25)
    • Saul sent to Tarsus (9:26-31)
    • Barnabas and Saul team up (Acts 11:19-30)
  • 2:1-3 - Fourteen Years
    • In Syria and Cilicia
    • Circumcision vs Titus (THE question)
    • In vain - κενός (ken-os')
      • empty, vain, devoid of truth
        • of words/ideas which contain nothing (Eph 5:6; Col 2:8; 1 Cor 15:14)
        • of men (recall the parable of the vineyard)
          • empty handed
          • without a gift
      • metaph. destitute of spiritual wealth, of endeavours, labours, acts, which result in nothing, vain, fruitless, without effect
        • Jas 2:20
        • 1 Cor 15:58
  • 2:4-5 - ill intentioned skeptics
    • To spy - κατασκοπέω (kat-as-kop-eh'-o) only here in the NT
    • from κατά - against, and σκοπός - mark or goal
    • See Phil 3:14 and compare to these intentionally contrary skeptics who want others to miss the mark
  • 2:6-8 - nothing to add
    • James, the brother of Jesus
    • Cephas (Peter)
    • John the elder (1, 2, 3 John)
  • 2:9-10 - an important handshake
    • The right hand
    • Of fellowship (koinonia)

References:

• Quick Review
  • The churches of Galatia to whom Paul was writing are the subject of Luke’s telling of Acts 13 & 14
    • Antioch of Pisidia - near modern day Yalvaç, Turkey
    • Iconium & Lystra - near Konya, Turkey
    • Derbe - near Karaman, Turkey
  • Paul starts the letter with both barrels blazing
    • I’m shocked! You are abandoning the true Gospel
    • for a twisted one, a false Gospel
    • Curses! Anathema!
• 1:11-24 - The Gospel is God’s, not ours to adapt to our liking
  • The Gospel’s source and Paul’s testimony - vss 11-16a
    • Not human - οὐκ ἔστιν      κατὰ                  ἄνθρωπον
    •                      not | is | according to, after, by |  man
    • Revelation - ἀποκάλυψις (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis)
      • laying bare, making naked
      • a disclosure of truth, instruction
        • concerning things before unknown
        • used of events by which things or states or persons hitherto withdrawn from view are made visible to all
      • manifestation, appearance
    • Former Saul - vss 13-14
      • See Acts 7:57-8:1
      • See Acts 26:9-11
    • Redeemed and restored Paul - vss 15-16a
      • See Eph 1:3-14
      • Compare 1:Pet 1:18-20
  • Paul’s early years before his 1st missionary journey
    • He was in no hurry for affirmation from others - vss 16b-17
      • Arabia? What scholars do with silence.
        • Did Paul travel as far as the Sinai Penninsula
        • Mt Sinai? (see 4:25)
        • Moses, Elijah and now maybe Paul?
      • Damascus? - remember Acts 9:19b-30
    • Jerusalem and beyond - vss 18-24