… rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Summary: Revelation of God’s truth changes people. Paul is no exception.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:12b – The Box”Galatians 1:12a – When Everything Changes
I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it;
Summary: Where we get our information matters. If we learn from people who teach opinions instead of fact, we live under the burden of their ignorance. When we see the light of Truth, everything changes.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:12a – When Everything Changes”Galatians 1:11b – Far Out, Man
… that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.
Summary: Back in the ’60’s, if someone told you something unusual or surprising, you might respond with, “Far out, man!” “Far out” was a reference to the expression “out of this world,” which meant something was very unusual. The gospel Paul preaches is “not of human origin.” It is both literally and figuratively “Far out, man.”
Continue reading “Galatians 1:11b – Far Out, Man”Galatians 1:11a – The Real Deal
I want you to know, brothers and sisters …
Summary: How we acquire knowledge is an involved process. Paul is expressing his desire that we share in knowledge that the Lord has given him.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:11a – The Real Deal”Galatians 1:10c – God First
If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Summary: Pleasing God and pleasing people are at odds with each other. They always have been, and they always will be.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:10c – God First”Galatians 1:10b – People Pleaser
Or am I trying to please people?
Summary: Pleasing people is a common theme. It takes a certain amount of people-pleasing for all of us to get along. Yet being a people pleaser can lead to living life on an endless treadmill to nowhere.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:10b – People Pleaser”Galatians 1:10a – Something Else
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?
Summary: The change in Saul on the road to Damascus was noticed by the people he used to hang around with. It was a change that offended and infuriated them, and the fact that Saul didn’t care made them madder still.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:10a – Something Else”Galatians 1:9 – Repetition
As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
Summary: Repetition is a teaching tool, and Paul is a teacher. He wants us to understand a very important truth. The essence of Christ’s gospel is not up for discussion.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:9 – Repetition”Galatians 1:8b – Anáthema
… let them be under God’s curse!
Summary: What do you think of when you hear the word “cursed?” Looking into the Greek roots of this word, we find that what Paul meant might be very different than the picture we have in mind.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:8b – Anáthema”Galatians 1:8a – When Paul Met Jesus
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, …
Summary: Paul is adamant that the gospel message he was given by Jesus remain pure. This makes us wonder what it would take to get Paul off-message.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:8a – When Paul Met Jesus”