Gleanings from Galatians 1

First, To Establish in the Gospel:

Reading through Paul’s letter to Galatians triggers our thinking and reflection on the concern Paul had on the church that it should be established in the gospel first. 

In the early days of his ministry, Paul toiled that the churches he planted should stand firm in the gospel. 

Widely accepted “South Galatians Theory” confers an early date on the latter to Galatians (AD 49), which sandwiched between the First Missionary Journey and the Jerusalem Council.

Any casual reader may understand Paul that, as the Spirit of the Lord placed great burden in him, he was not just going after multiplying disestablished churches, but he had sold out himself to make those churches stronger that, even after he had actually left the scene, he wanted to see the churches might stand longer.

What is the intent of Paul in writing the letter to the Galatians?

Paul’s intent of writing the letter to the churches at Galatia is…

To establish the churches in the gospel of grace over against the heretical teachings and practices of Judaism, especially by the circumcision party and to exhort the churches to “live out in line with the truth of the gospel,”

By refuting that there is no other gospel, expect what he preached and bringing anathema on whoever would preach the other gospel (1:1-9)

By summarizing his own life testimony that the gospel he preached was neither perceived in his own invention, nor he received from human tradition, but it was handed over to him as the unique divine revelation (1:1, 10-2:6)

By referring the recognition by the pillars of the Jerusalem church (James, Peter and John) who acknowledged his apostleship to Gentiles (2:6-10)

By narrating his sharp encounter with Peter, and also with Barnabas, while they did “not walk in line with the truth of the gospel” in Antioch, as reminding them that Jews and Gentiles are justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of commandments and laws (2:11-21)

By asking series of questions on their initial reception of the gospel and the Spirit of God was by the faith and not by works (3:1-5)

 By illustrating the Abrahamic Covenant of grace, that the promise was given to Abraham 430 years before the Law, and that through Abraham, who was justified by faith, the Gentiles will also be blessed and justified by faith, and not by works of the law, which functions as teacher and guide to faith in Christ (3:6-4:7).

By expressing his concern over the churches that they should not return back to the First Principles of the world by observing Jewish traditions,  and by expressing his fear and anguish of birth that his hard work, amidst of his physical weakness, should not go waste, but Christ should be formed in them (4:8-20).

By allegorizing the two sons of Abraham, one was born of Hagar (slaved) which is symbolized to the law of Sinai and the other of Sarah (freed) symbolized to the son of promise, Jerusalem.  One is slavery to law and another is promise to freedom (4:21-31)

By exhorting not to be enslaved to the observance of ceremonial laws, which is contradictory to the truth and like spoiling yeast, but to be free to serve in love which is the summary of all the commandments (5:1-16)

By teaching the practical implications of living in line with the truth of the gospel, that is, not to be slaved to the works of flesh, but to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit, which will be evident in our fellowship with one another, doing good works to all, and guarding the gospel of Jesus Christ which is not by circumcision but in new creation (5:24-6:16)

Finally by exhorting not to trouble him again, for he bore the stigma of Jesus Christ on his body (6:17-18)

What is at stake?

You may have countless people, huge infrastructures, mighty institutions, big organizations, meticulous plans, gaiety programs, enormous financial resources and so on. If a church is not established in the gospel, not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, it is not a church as Christ has intended for its existence.  The redemptive plan and purpose of God in Jesus Christ for this perishing world through the church will be vulnerable.