GALATIANS

Sunday, July 28, 2013

 

The Divine Origin of the Gospel

Galatians 1:11 – 17

 

 

 

 

Main Idea

 

   “The central truth in 1:11 – 17 is that Paul’s gospel is not from human beings but was received through a revelation of Jesus Christ (1:11 – 12).  Therefore, the charge that he was pleasing people (1:10) is groundless.  Galatians 1:13 – 17 supports the divine origin of Paul’s gospel”  [Thomas Schreiner].

 

Note:  The basic outline of Galatians neatly falls into three sections – biography, theology, and ethics.

 

Verse 10 is seen by many scholars to be transitional in Paul’s argument.  Paul is obviously not trying to please people as is evident from his pronouncement of condemnation in verses 8 & 9.  Paul has no need to please people because the gospel message that he is entrusted with is of divine origin.  God revealed His glorious gospel to Paul in Jesus Christ His Son.

 

 

C. Paul’s Gospel Delivered from God, Not People (1:11 – 2:21)

1. Thesis: Source of His Gospel Was Revelation (1:11 – 12)

 

– Verse 11.  The gospel that Paul preached is not according to man.  This gospel did not find its origin in Paul or any other human being.  Paul’s gospel is truly a “revelation of Jesus Christ.”  Apparently the Judaizers were saying that Paul’s gospel was his own peculiar message (a convenient message that pleased the Gentiles), not the true gospel.  The Judaizers argued that Paul was not an authentic apostle and that out of a desire to make the message more appealing to Gentiles he had removed from the gospel certain legal requirements.

 

– Verse 12.  “A revelation of Jesus Christ.”  The Greek word for revelation is apokalupsis, which means to reveal, manifest or disclose.  “In general, revelation means this: announcement from God’s side of what lies beyond human reach” – Herman Ridderbos.

 

The emphasis here is not so much on how Paul received his gospel, as to the origin of the gospel itself.  Paul never places himself outside the pale of Christian tradition.

 

 

                                    a. His Past Hostility (1:13 – 14)

 

– Verses 13 – 14.  “You have heard.”  Compare – Philippians 3:1 – 10 and Acts 7:54 – 8:3; 9:1 – 9.

 

“Traditions of my fathers” – This refers to “rabbinic traditions”.

 

– Paul’s apostleship rests fully on God’s intervention.

 

 

                                    b. His Call from God (1:15 – 17)

 

– Verse 15.  God called Paul from his mother’s womb.  Paul could not have earned any special privilege or merit at this point in his life.  It was by grace alone that God saved Paul and appointed him to the ministry.  God is absolutely sovereign in choosing those who would serve Him.  No one can possibly merit God’s call.  Nor is God’s call based on any foreseen willingness to serve on the part of the one being called.  It is only by God’s sovereign wisdom, council, and grace that any are called.  To God alone belongs all of the glory!

 

– Verse 16. “Was pleased.”  It is according to God’s good pleasure that He reveals Himself to any person.

 

“was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles…”

The TransLine Literal Translation says:  “was well-pleased to reveal His Son in me in order that I might be announcing Him as good news among the Gentiles.”  Paul was to preach Jesus Christ – see 1 Corinthians 2:1.

 

 

Notes 

 – “Paul’s conversion and call also point to the power of grace.  If we had met Paul before his conversion, we doubtless would have been persuaded that he would never be converted…Paul’s conversion, then, reminds us of God’s power to turn around the most unlikely people…Salvation is ultimately a miracle; it is a work of God.  It cannot be calculated or manipulated” (Schreiner).

 

For thought:

– How can any human being have the audacity to add to, change or think they can improve this gospel of divine origin? 

 

– There is an incredible sense of responsibility to rightly interpret and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.