Entirely Optional extra series of post for those interested in a systematic Bible study of each book of the Bible.
I will add commentary as I go. I am feeling pulled to meditate on Galatians and Jeremiah for the next couple of months. If you would like to join me, I would love to hear what God reveals to you.
I am starting a new series of post exploring each book of the Bible in turn. These are an optional extra, so do feel free to skip. While we often focus on topical studies in our group, these posts will encourage one to see every verse in the context of the whole book or letter in which they were originally written. The book of Romans is a very good example of a book that is commonly quoted out of context. Reading in context AND topically is a balanced and rich approach to understanding what the verses say. I will share my commentary at the bottom including word studies, other translations, things that jump out to etc. I will colour code the text and put an asterisk next to anything I have made commentary on.
Galatians 1 King James Version (KJV)
“1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24 And they glorified God in me.”
Healing and Discipleship 
vs 1 + 11-12 “11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” –
I find this precept running through so many verses. At the end of the day, a true revelation of Jesus and the Kingdom must come through the Word and through direct revelation from God. Yes, absolutely the shepherds, and teachers and apostles and prophets etc are all part of us growing up into the full measure of Christ. But there is always this element of needing to hear it and learn and be molded directly by God.
God certainly calls and appoints specific people to specific roles in the Kingdom and within the body of Christ. My prayer is that I will walk in the way that He has prepared for me and encourage others to walk in the unique role and calling He has prepared for them and to help in any way I can to equip them for that walk, but always, ALWAYS directing them back to the Word and time alone with Him.
Vs “4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father”
Jesus did what He did in the hopes of delivering us from this present evil world, and this based on the Father’s will/desire. God wants to deliver us here… in the midst of this present evil world. Not just after we die an go to heaven. Jesus did so much for our benefit and restoration here and now, not just post mortum….
“6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
In a way, this is stunning… Even the apostles immediately after Jesus’ death and resurrection were bumping into perverted gospels. I have to keep Jesus Christ exactly as He is portrayed in the Word in my window at all time. Every day, I am hit with false sayings or impressions of who He is and what He did. Scriptures tells us that Word cuts between the soul and spirit (discerns, divides). If they had to be vigilant then, how much more so now when a couple of thousand years divide us from Jesus’ time of ministry.
“8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Living for an audience of one. This is a precious reminder that it is impossible to focussed on pleasing men and be a servant of Christ. This means all fear of man and fear of rejection, mocking, ridicule even must be overcome for me to be really free to serve my Lord. How deeply this challenges my self-preserving and self-protective instincts… I am passionate about Jesus as He is.
I have shared in our group times, that I have dear family members who have a hard time believing in God simply because they have heard so many different variations from the family members who are christian. In my immediate family, their are 3 radically different perspectives on Jesus… Just as a father is father to his children, husband to his wife and coworker to those he works with, different people have different perspectives on the Lord based on their relationship with Him. For some, it is largely heartell… they know of Him through the stories and studies of others almost exclusively but have no direct relationship with Him through His Word. Others study the Word through a carefully crafted lens that colours every verse based on a preconceived notion of what it ought to say to fit the framework of a specific worldview or theology. Some are familiar only with a handful of verses and books…. Personally, I am passionate about taking the time to know all that God has revealed about Himself throughout the entire Bible… Every book being equally precious and equally valuable in helping me to know and understand my Lord. So for me, I seek the full counsel of God and aim to spend far more time in His Word than in any teachings, books, sermons etc. I delight, truly delight to study the Word especially with others. It is the absolutely highlight of my days and life.
“11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Here is the same thing spelled out in scripture… Paul had his revelation directly from Christ, he did not rely on others.
“15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,”
As a mother in child bearing age, I am so encouraged by this little verse.. God is the one who bring’s the babies forth from the womb. It is so comforting and encouraging that even in childbirth God is at work. My last delivery was practically pain free. I took these verses to heart and more or less viewed myself as a helper in the birth of my youngest. I came believing God was delivering the baby and I was just to listen and follow His lead.
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:”
Wow! God revealed His Son to the apostles so they could in turn reveal Him to the pagans/gentiles/heathen. It reminds me of the verse we read, “such as I have give I thee.” and the command to “freely give what was freely given to us”. Put this another way… I am limited in part by what I receive…. If I am able to receive it from Christ, I am commanded to impart it to others too. If I receive a revelation of His payment for the forgiveness of my sins, I can share this powerfully with others.
If I get a revelation of the surpassing greatness of His love, than this will be what I can freely share. It is impossible to share with others what we haven’t received fully ourselves. In an interesting twist, pride can turn this thing upside down and can lead us into a place of false humility where we try to reject the receiving part or feel guilty about the receiving part. That little voice that says “no no no… I am not worthy of this… it’s too much, the lavishness of the gift is altogether too much”. But submission to God and His Word requires us to seek all and receive all that we can of what He has paid such a dear price to obtain for us. He did not pay for it with money or any other outward thing but with His pain, suffering, blood and life. He paid this price for His reasons whisch includes that we have tremendous value to Him. He sincerely adores us. His thoughts about us are more numerous than the grains of sand through the entire earth. Psalm 139:18.
God delights in the wellbeing/health/wellness/blessedness of His servants.. Psalm 35:27 “27Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity [shalom] of his servant.” Imagine investing all that God invested to redeem us spirit, soul and body… and then being denied the joy of seeing your children receiving and enjoying that which you paid such an extreme price for them to have. How difficult it must be on the Father to hear His children crying out and despairing and hurting when the answers to their prayers are sitting as carefully wrapped gifts, pushed to the side, forgotten and unused even though the contents were beyond costly to obtain. Truly the Father delights to answer our prayers and to meet our needs. Let us therefore seek to know and open every single one of the precious blessings He has poured out the life of Our Saviour, His Son to obtain for us. Not for our sake but for His joy.
Berean Study Bible Matthew 6 “31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans strive after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.…”
2 Corinthians 5 tells us we are called to be ministers of reconciliation, reconciling the nations to Lord.
“23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me.”
How encouraging that even the most avid persecutors are not beyond redemption. And that those who seemingly are the farthest fallen, not only have the most to gain, but also the most love to give once forgiven and redeemed.
Matthew 5:44-45 KJV “44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Luke 7:47 KJV”Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”