A Verse-by-Verse Examination of Galatians
If you have not read Fruit of Whose Vine, An Introduction, which is the proceeding Letter, or indeed all the previous Letters, I strongly encourage you to do so. Without the former, this study will not be understood to its fullest.
What did Paul really say if we examine His words as a Berean would have? No matter what we find, though: Where the pillar of fire or cloud moves, we go. Where the Shepherd leads, we follow. May Ruach HaKodesh guide us all.
Let us begin …
“A letter to those in Galatia from Sha’ul the emissary”
Chapter One
“Sha’ul, an emissary—not from men, nor by a man, but by Yahoshuah Messiah and Elohim the Father Who raised Him from the dead—and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia: Favour to you and peace from Elohim the Father and our Master Yahoshuah Messiah, Who gave Himself for our sins, to deliver us out of this present wicked age, according to the desire of our Elohim and Father, to Whom be the praise forever and ever. Amen.” (1:1-5).
Verses 1-5 gives us an introduction to Paul’s letter that in itself speaks volumes. Sha’ul is Paul’s real name, much as Peter’s real name is Kepha. Sha-uul, as it is pronounced, means, “desired,” and was the given name of this Jewish servant who hopefully has some very desirable things to share with us in this letter. Yet, since Sha’ul was a citizen of Rome, he also had a pagan name, thus the name Paul. Paul means “small,” which indicates why he may have chosen this name for himself, not just out of humility, but also so as not to attract as much unwelcome attention to himself in the midst of a pagan world bent on Jewish destruction.
An emissary, or representative messenger, is not a title I hope Paul took lightly, unlike many men who today give themselves all sorts of titles without thought or concern how others will judge based on them. When we call ourselves Jewish or Christian, then others look to us as a representative of the whole. Yet, some men arrogantly call themselves more than just a servant, they take on titles fitting only for the Most High. Just name one of Yahoshuah’s followers in Scripture, name just one, who called themselves, or was called, a Rabbi, which means, “My Great One.” Paul is not this.
“and the greetings in the market-places, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ for One is your Teacher, the Messiah, and you are all brothers.” (Matthew 23:7-8). Christians do similar things by calling someone who should just be called a brother, “Reverend,” or “Father,” or “Pastor,” but Paul was never so vain as to call himself those things of Heaven’s Maker. He knew he came from, “Yahoshuah Messiah,” Whom Paul did not consider to be just a man, and, “Elohim the Father Who raised Him from the dead.” We see Paul also relied on the brothers with him. These brothers, not his “pastors, fathers, and rabbis,” were the very ones who walked with the One True Rabbi. Men, who knew more about our Saviour than you or I do, called themselves brothers. Please consider this valuable hidden treasure within this powerful introduction to Paul’s letter.
At Paul’s conversion, he did not become a Christian, but he gave up the doctrines of men, and embraced the True Torah; only then was he able to see the Messiah. “Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Mosheh, in whom you have set your expectation. For if you believed Mosheh, you would have believed Me, since he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how shall you believe My words?”(John 5:45-47). If you do not believe Moses, then you don’t believe Messiah.
Some men gave a stamp of approval to Paul, sure, but the real sender was no mere man, but rather our Saviour. Why did our Saviour send Paul? The Almighty has sent prophets, but He has allowed false prophets. Let us continue reading this as if this is the first time we have read it. If it was not in our Bibles, then what would we truly think of this letter?
“Favour to you”? Paul doesn’t stop at saying favour to you. He tells you Who the Giver of favour is. Yahoshuah gave Himself for our sins. He is our peace. “and this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” (Romans 11:27). This is of the gift of the Messiah, a favour of favours.
“… to deliver us out of this present wicked age, according to the desire of our Elohim and Father, to Whom be the praise forever and ever.”
I could speak for years on this. In fact, I have throughout this collection of my letters to you. Our Father, and Elohim, Who are One, did not just offer salvation from death, but also gave us life—life more abundantly—while we are yet here, to deliver us from this wicked age. This wicked age celebrates horrible things, and gives more and more power to those set against the Father’s desires. Even the word wicked, if you do some research on it, shows the perverse intentions meant. This coming out of the wicked age, and living a set apart life, is not in accordance to the worldly practices of many modern day believers, but in accordance to the very desire of Yahoweh. We escape the wicked age by upholding the, “desire of our Elohim and Father, to Whom be the praise forever and ever.”
“Amen.” To better transliterate the word would be a-mein. Many people feel this word means, “so be it,” or, “may it be;” however, the word is an acrostic (a group of words of which the letters thereof spell out something or give a new word) from the first letter of the three Hebrew words, “El Melech Ne’eman,” rearranged for English, this means: “Trustworthy Mighty King.” The first time we see this Hebrew word is in Numbers 5:22 (spoken twice as an oath). In temple times the reply to the priestly blessing was, “Blessed be His glorious Name forever and ever.” After the Temple was destroyed, “Amen,” was used in its stead. In early times, people who could not read prayer books said amen at the end of a prayer, or the prayer of another. This is when the phrase became widely accepted to mean, “so be it.” I feel personally that, “so be it,” can be felt in trust that Yahoweh will answer your humble prayer, or in vanity in the arrogant “name it, claim it” crowd. For me, though, this amen is all of these good things. Paul would have known all this, and I can feel the bleeding of his heart as I read this brief one word closure.
From here on out in the study, please re-read the preceding portion of Paul’s letter before reading the next portion so the context can remain. Just remember, he never put numbers or chapters, let alone periods or punctuation of any kind, in this letter to us. Let us see what this emissary has to say:
“I marvel that you are so readily turning away from Him who called you in the favour of Messiah, to a different ‘Good News,’ which is not another, only there are some who are troubling you and wishing to pervert the Good News of Messiah. However, even if we, or a messenger out of Heaven, bring a ‘Good News’ to you beside what we announced to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone brings a ‘Good News’ to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or Elohim? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I should not be a servant of Messiah.” (1:6-10).
We went from an eloquent introduction, right into a marvel at the apparent stupidity of the Galatians. Yet, many times, when we see this shift, we no longer associate the letter with us. We love to read the first portion as if it were to us, and then read this portion as if it were to somebody else, but I dare say the Bible is entirely to us, including even these little parts that may not seem pleasant. However, “When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. For You are with me; Your Rod and Your Staff, they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4). Let us, therefore, look at this correction as men who truly want to have obedience to His Word.
“I marvel,” … as do I some days. At my own stupidity when I choose to walk in a different way than my Saviour. Paul marveled at them the same way I marvel at the old man (who I used to be). Though I boast on my Saviour alone, for it is by His power and guidance accepted that the times between falling down are getting further apart, and getting back up is like being pulled up by His Mighty Right Hand. I do not desire to turn away to a different good news, “which is not another.” Does, “which is not another,” mean to say this other good news is not good news, or is it the same old news we had before the Messiah? Both!
If we have quickly forgotten the Messiah, then we have quickly forgotten the Torah (Matthew 5:18-19). Any teaching that leads people away from the Torah, be it Rabbinic or Christian, is in denial of Yahoweh’s Torah made manifest. As Moses taught the written Torah (Deuteronomy 4:5-6) so also did Yahoshuah (Matthew 5:18-19), as well as Paul (1 Corinthians 11:1).
“There are some troubling you and wishing to pervert the Good News of Messiah.” You don’t say! Ha! I laughed at this because it is so obvious as it happens to me everyday. Their demonic wishing, though, will not pull me into an old wicked world age of false good news that I once knew, for after tasting the nurturing sweetness of His Word, why would I want the stench of the world once more?
We hear the Messiah warning us in Matthew 16:11 about the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees, we too need be leery of their doctrines concerning circumcision. “And Yahoweh says, ‘Because this people has drawn near with its mouth, and with its lips they have esteemed Me, and it has kept its heart far from Me, and their fear of Me has become a command of men that is taught!’” (Isaiah 29:13).
“However, even if we, or a messenger out of Heaven, bring a ‘Good News’ to you beside what we announced to you, let him be accursed.” Now this is interesting. Even if we tell you to do something different, then don’t listen! It would seem, then, that Paul is not only in agreement with me, but insistent that we check what he writes with the Hebrew Scriptures to better understand Galatians, and so that it may never be corrupted into a spirit of lawlessness. In addition, Paul urges us to compare this letter with his other writings to check for consistency. Indeed we also, without fail, must be leery of any “angel of light” who tries to tell us any different “good news” … no matter how well veiled he is.
Paul then goes on to say if they do, let them be accursed (eternally condemned). He doesn’t just say this once, but twice. Was this to make his writing sound more powerful? No. The Spirit does this all on His own. To say, “let them be accursed,” again, was nothing short of swearing it. An oath—an oath of cursing heaped upon even himself if he should go against the Messiah in any way. Any teaching of man is a curse according to Deuteronomy 27:26, and thus accordingly Paul says let them be accursed. Again, Paul agrees with me in that we must also test his letter with the Words of the One True Rabbi within the five Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, and Revelations. … And test I shall.
The last portion of Paul’s words sends shivers down my spine with anticipation for what’s next. He’s telling us that there isn’t going to be a fluffed up message, because he isn’t seeking to please you but rather the Father. His thoughts on those who make their message softer so no one will be troubled or offended by it? They may as well not even serve Him! Devastating! Alarming! … Awakening. May this never be said of any of us—but it will, it will, if we do not love this Rod and Staff, the loving correction of His Word, more than the words of any other, even those of a minister, or yourself, or, dare I affirm: even Paul.
Paul gave up everything to bring this message to us. He gave up a seat on the Sanhedrin, the respect of the Romans and the Jews. He was an outsider now. What many today would call a ‘Namer,’ as we saw in my letter to you concerning His Name. He loved the Walk of the Messiah more than his own life. Let us then continue to see a message more valuable than Sha’ul viewed himself. Let us value this message worth more than the blood of Paul … if it be true to the Blood of the Messiah.
Side note: What is Good News? “‘…but the Word of Elohim remains forever.’ And this is the Word, announced as Good News to you.” (1 Peter 1:25). Good News is that His Word remains forever. It has never been, and never will be, “Old.”
“And I make known to you, brothers, that the Good News announced by me is not according to man. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but through a revelation of Yahoshuah Messiah. For you have heard of my former way of life in Yehudaism, how intensely I persecuted the assembly of Elohim, and ravaged it.
And I progressed in Yehudaism beyond many of my age in my race, being more exceedingly ardent for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased Elohim, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me by His favour, to reveal His Son in me, that I might bring Him, the Good News, to the gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, neither did I go up to Yerushalayim, to those who were emissaries before me. But I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Yerushalayim to learn from Kepha, and remained with him for fifteen days. And I saw no other of the emissaries except Ya’aqob, the brother of the Master. And what I write to you, see, before Elohim, I do not lie.” (1:11-20).
It seems Paul is explaining himself a bit. Expounding on who he is and how he wound up where he is. I have heard many men give a similar speech, but none like this. Some people read over these passages the same way they read over Numbers, but I see within it a great message, a concern, and almost like Paul was imitating the Messiah by showing the wounds to the doubters, while at the same time seeing that he is not even close to being on the same level. Sha’ul wants to make it known right away that the faith restored was not because of a sermon, rather because of the Word Himself.
Many persecute Jews because of the word used here. “Judaism.” Yet, consider that there are good and evil people in all forms of life, and while some groups of Judaism have added many commandments and removed commandments, identical to Christianity, it does not mean that all, or even many, are as evil as Paul once was. However, a change happened. Paul didn’t change faith, he had a faith born again. It took the thundering voice of the One Whom he persecuted to change him. Let us all consider the Words of our Saviour to have the same thundering life changing power as if they were spoken to us the same way they were said to Paul in Acts 9:1-9.
I have heard it said, and I can hardly imagine you have not, that, “I have a degree at such and such, and am thus this much smarter than you’ll ever be.” Yet, Paul was smarter than I dare say almost anyone was or is, and yet he had quite a bit to learn. Why did he learn? For the same reason Solomon learned. Sha’ul was hungry. Starving—though thought fed! Sha’ul desired the Truth so much that he was willing to give up even comfortable lies.
Many times I have watched people walk away from me, and go right to their preacher, asking them if the Scripture I was quoting was true or not. The preacher tells them it is not because it’s old, and presumably rotten somehow, thus they never talk to me again. Paul didn’t do that. He didn’t go to flesh and blood, or even to where the majority of this Truth was contained at, to Jerusalem, or even to those who walked with the Messiah. Paul traveled first, and studied and learned more about the One Who he had persecuted in the Scriptures: Numbers, Psalms, Jeremiah, it didn’t matter, because everyone of them tell more of the Messiah than the Gospels themselves, which hadn’t been written yet, only uttered.
What was he doing in Arabia for three years? Many people wonder this. I don’t. If I could spend some time in Arabia, there is one place I would want to go: Mount Sinai. It is probable he stayed in the cave facing Mount Sinai, the same cave EliYahu stayed in, and found there the whisper of mercy and direction. (Please read 1 Kings 19:8-18.) There was no better place to renew his mind than the place of the giving of Torah.
Paul murdered many people because of the One now revealed to him. The trauma may be understood by some of those who have had, or have, shell shock. It took Paul time to heal, and it is doubtful he ever fully recovered.
After three years, Paul spent fifteen days with Peter, and he also saw James, who served on the council of the Nazarene elders (Acts 15:13). Ah, how I would love to hear their conversation. Even if I could not understand it, the emotion alone would speak volumes.
“And what I write to you, see, before Elohim, I do not lie.”
Sha’ul gave credentials, not to brag, but to assure us that his words are true. Much more than, “I went to school all my life,” this emissary had education from the top minds, direct revelations in understanding the Scripture from above, and affirmation from Peter and James. Sha’ul is letting us know that he has tested, and been tested, in this for years, and affirms its Truth; yet, at the same time, the air of humility is unmistaken. This is the fruit of the Spirit.
“I do not lie.” “I do not lie!” … Yet, many would make him out to be one. Let us examine this.
Side note: Did Paul persecute the Jews who believed in the Messiah in the past, and if so, for what reason?
“And crying out with a loud voice, they stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one mind, and threw him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Sha’ul.” (Acts 7:57-58). There is only one thing that would get the response of covering ears and yelling at the top of their lungs, only one blasphemy worthy of death, and that is speaking aloud the Name: Yahoweh.
“And all who heard were amazed, and said, ‘Is this not he who destroyed those calling on this Name in Yerushalayim, and has come here for this, to take them bound to the chief priests?’” (Acts 9:21). Paul once lived and killed by oral laws, and sought the death of those who would even pronounce the Name. However, would he have found many in today’s church?
“Therefore, indeed, I thought within myself that I ought to do much against the Name of Yahoshuah of Natsareth, which also I did in Yerushalayim, and I shut up many of the set-apart ones in prison, having received authority from the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I gave my vote against them. And punishing them often in all the congregations, I compelled them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” (Acts 26:9-11). Why did Paul murder so many people for calling on the Name above all names—even to the point of even trying to force or trick them to say his Name, and going as far as traveling great distances to do so? Because, at one point, Paul lived by the Torah of Moses, the Talmud, the teachings of men, and not the Torah of Moses, the Word of Yahoweh, the Scriptures. The modern day church embraces the Talmud much more than they know.
“Then I went into the districts of Syria and of Kilikia. And I was still not known by sight to the assemblies of Yehudah, which were in Messiah, but they were hearing only that, ‘The one who once persecuted us now brings as Good News the belief which he once ravaged.’ So they were esteeming Elohim in me.” (1:21-24).
The Messiah said, “Sha’ul, Sha’ul, why are you persecuting Me?” The people, who Paul murdered, viewed death as gain, as did Paul later on in life. Paul’s life shows us that even spiritually disturbed people, such as those who hate His Name, can turn their life around. It will be forthright, and it will take time, but a new life can be had!
The Jews who believed in Yahoshuah the Messiah did not esteem Paul as many do this day. They esteemed him in the way he desired to be esteemed. Because of the Saviour in his heart. Let us, therefore, carry on to the next portions of Sha’ul’s letter to us with this fact in mind.
Be Blessed and be a Blessing
Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley
If this blessed you, please share it.
Additional Scripture References:
Genesis to Revelations
