Ep. 321. Galatians 1-2 | A Different Gospel

EPISODE 321

A DIFFERENT GOSPEL: GALATIANS 1-2

First and foremost, let us make it clear that what Paul is addressing in Galatians is a "different gospel," which is, in fact, a false gospel. We should also agree that Paul feels so strongly about the "different gospel" being proclaimed that he wishes those who teach it would be "accursed" or, you might say, condemned to Hell. Now, Paul is not going to immediately get into the nitty-gritty of the false gospel, though he will give us some hints about it in these opening two chapters, and thankfully, since Galatians is a short book, we can read it quickly in a single sitting and catch most of the connections without a lot of extra study.

Paul reminds the Galatians that "The gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel." In other words, the true gospel does not come from men but from God. He also tells the Galatians that he went up to Jerusalem to talk to the Apostles and to make sure that he was not teaching something false. This is likely a reference to Acts 15, in which Paul and Barnabas went to visit the brethren in Jerusalem to discuss the false teachers who were coming to Antioch and preaching the necessity of circumcision for salvation. "But," Paul says, "Even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek." And that statement, along with the reference to Acts 15, tells us what is at the heart of this "different gospel." From the early days of the ministry of the Apostles, false teachers were proclaiming that salvation in Christ could only be valid if the Gentile believers were to be circumcised like the Jews. Remember, Paul says that anyone who teaches such a thing should be condemned to Hell.

Paul goes on to say that the "False brothers slipped in to spy out the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus so that they might bring us into slavery--" In this case, the "slavery" Paul refers to is slavery to the Law as we will clearly see in Galatians four.

Paul brings his point into more clarity when he says, "We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Jesus and not by works of the law, because by works of the law, no one will be justified." (Not even through circumcision, we might add)

Hopefully, as we navigate these next few days, you will find that Paul's intent becomes crystal clear.

ADDITIONAL READING: Acts 8-9; Acts 15; Romans 7