Daily Scripture Reading Galatians 1:1-24

One of the problems Christianity has had throughout the past 2,000 years is that churches start out believing the truth, but then over time they backslide and wander away from the Bible. The Protestant Reformation happened because the Catholic church headquartered in Rome started teaching a false path to salvation. Deviation from the Bible is also why there are dozens upon dozens of Christian denominations throughout the world.

This trend began very early in church history. The churches that were established by Paul on his first missionary journey were some of the first to exhibit this tendency. We will see in today’s reading that the problem in the Galatian churches was that humans tend to seek the favor of men rather than God. This gives us an insight into how to prevent our churches from going astray.

Gal. 1:1 ¶ Paul, an apostle—not sent from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead—

Paul identified himself as an apostle. The Greek word that is translated “apostle” is “apostolos” and means a messenger or one sent on a mission. The book of Acts shows how Jesus chose Paul and sent him on a mission to the Gentiles.

Paul made it clear in this verse that he was not sent by men, he was sent by Jesus Christ and God the Father.

Gal. 1:2 and all the brothers who are with me, ¶ To the churches of Galatia:

The word “churches” is plural.

Galatia was a Roman Province.

This map shows the various Roman provinces of the 1st century AD. The province of Galatia was in an area known today as the country of Turkey.

Acts 13 and 14 tell us about a journey undertaken by Paul and Barnabas which is known as Paul’s First Missionary Journey. After visiting Salamis and Paphos on the island of Cyprus, they went to Galatia and visited Antioch, Lystra, Iconium, and Derbe.

This letter was written to the churches in Galatia that Paul and Barnabas established on that journey.

Gal. 1:3 ¶ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

Gal. 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Gal. 1:5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gal. 1:6 ¶ I marvel that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel,

Notice the word quickly.

Gal. 1:7 which is really not another, only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Paul and Barnabas taught the truth in Galatia, but later the people in the Galatian churches began deserting the truth and following false teachings.

This has been happening throughout church history. The reason we had the Protestant Reformation was because the Catholic church went astray. We have a multitude of denominations within Protestantism because denominations keep straying from the truth. Those who know the truth establish new denominations, but then those denominations go astray, so even more new denominations are started.

This process happens at an individual church level as well. Over time, most individual churches stray away from the truth.

Gal. 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to the gospel we have proclaimed to you, let him be accursed!

Gal. 1:9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is proclaiming to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed!

Gal. 1:10 ¶ For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a slave of Christ.

Look at the last sentence of this verse. It is not possible to please man and be a slave of Jesus.

Part of the reason churches go astray is because they promote into leadership people who care about the favor of man more than they care about the favor of God.

If we want to stay faithful to God and the truth, we have to accept the fact that the world will not favor us. Instead, they will hate us and be against us.

If we want to prevent our churches from going astray, we need to have leaders who are willing to fight the false ideas coming from the world. We need leaders who are willing to be despised by the world. We must not compromise the truth in any way, shape, or form. A small compromise lead to another bigger compromise which eventually leads to false gospels.

Gal. 1:11 ¶ For I make known to you, brothers, that the gospel which I am proclaiming as good news is not according to man.

Gal. 1:12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

In verse one Paul identified himself as an apostle, which meant he was a messenger. In verse 12 Paul repeated the fact that he was not sent by man; he was sent by Jesus.

Gal. 1:13 ¶ For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.

Gal. 1:14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being far more zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Acts 8 and 9 tell us about this period of Paul’s life, when he was known as Saul.

Gal. 1:15 But when God, who had set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased

Gal. 1:16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might proclaim Him as good news among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,

Gal. 1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

Paul’s conversion is recorded in Acts 9:3-6.

Gal. 1:18 ¶ Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.

Note the words “three years later” and “Jerusalem”. This trip to Jerusalem may be a reference to Acts 9:26. When you read Acts 9, it feels like all the events in that chapter happened within a few weeks or months. However, the wording allows for the possibility that those events stretched out over several years. For example, Acts 9:23 says “and when many days had elapsed”.

Gal. 1:19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

Gal. 1:20 (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying!)

Gal. 1:21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

We learn in Acts 9:30 that Paul went to Tarsus which was in Cilicia. Acts 11:26 tells us how Barnabas brought Paul to Antioch which was in Syria.

Syria and Cilicia were at the northeast corner of the Mediterranean Sea.

Gal. 1:22 And I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which are in Christ;

Gal. 1:23 but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news of the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

Gal. 1:24 And they were glorifying God because of me.

Throughout church history, Christianity has had a problem with churches and denominations wandering away from the truth. This issue began while the apostles were still alive.

When Paul confronted the Galatian churches over their desertion of the truth, he reminded them that they had to choose between having favor with God or with man. Seeking the approval of man results in heresy because the world is opposed to Christianity. In order to stay loyal to God, we must be willing to endure scorn from the world.

What are some indicators that the leaders of your church are willing to stand up for the truth and endure the disapproval of the world?

What are some warning signs that the leaders of your church are seeking favor from men, being willing to compromise the truth in order to be accepted by the world?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”