Paul explodes at the beginning Galatians 3 saying: "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?" He was shocked by the Galatians' wanting to add the Jewish law to Christ! He asked them if they received the Spirit by observing the law or by faith in Christ? He points to Abraham who believed and it was credited to him as righteousness. And the Scripture foresaw the salvation of the Gentiles saying "All nations will be blessed through you". No-one is justified by the law... because the righteous shall live by faith... Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law... so that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus. "The law therefore was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith... and now faith has come we are no longer under the supervision of the law... for you are sons of God through faith in Christ... there is neither Jew, Greek, slave, free, male nor female. But we are all one in Christ".
Monday, 28 September 2026
Galatians 2 (résumé): Paul accepted by the Apostles but opposes Peter
In Galatians 2 Paul relates how 14 years after his first visit as a Christian to Jerusalem we went there with Barnabas and Titus who was a Gentile and he presented the message he was preaching, but Titus was not called upon to be circumcised. "God does not judge by external appearance... and they saw that I had been given the task of preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles... and James, Peter and John gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship... so they went to the Jews and we went to the Gentiles... but they asked us not to forget the poor". Then Paul goes on to tell how he faced Peter for drawing back from the Gentiles because "he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group... for we have put our faith in Christ that we be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no-one will be justified... and I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me".
Galatians 1 (résumé): No other Gospel
Paul wrote this letter to the churches in Galatia which today is Turkey to the north of Syria. The main theme of the book declares that salvation is through Christ alone and not from keeping the law. Paul defends the true Gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus and not the law. As sons of God we are free in Christ to live out Christianity in our day to day lives.
In the first chapter Paul stresses the divine origin of the Gospel and warns against imitations. He says: "If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than that which you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" Paul emphasizes that he received the gospel he preaches "by revelation from Jesus Christ". He recalls how he had persecuted the church and was a fanatical Jew, but God by his grace revealed Jesus to him so that he might preach him among the Gentiles, and he first went to Arabia and Damascus, and later met Peter in Jerusalem and James, the Lord's brother. "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy!"
2 Corinthians 13 (résumé): Final warnings & greetings
Paul now challenges the church in Corinth to correct their lives before God because when he gets there for the third visit he "will not spare those that sinned earlier... and Christ will not be weak in dealing with you... examine yourselves!... test yourselves!... for our prayer is for your perfection... and the Lord gave me the authority to build you up and not tear you down... so aim for perfection, be of one mind, live in peace... greet one another with a holy kiss... and may the grace of Jesus, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all".
2 Corinthians 12 (résumé): Paul's Thorn in the Flesh
In chapter 12 Paul continues to defend his apostolic ministry initially focusing on a supernatural experience he had transporting him to the third heaven and to Paradise. He then goes on to talk about his thorn in the flesh through which Satan tormented him. Paul says that 3 times he pleaded for God to deliver him from this, and God replied: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness... and when I am weak, then I am strong". He then returns to the topic of "super-apostles" and laments the lack of the church's support on this front, pointing to his ministry with signs following which was ample proof of his authenticity. Paul then says he will visit the church for the third time but he does not want their money nor had anyone else he had sent there like Titus. However when Paul gets to Corinth he fears he will encounter quarrelling, jealousy, anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder in the church. He also fears that some have not repented of impurity, sexual sin and debauchery.
2 Corinthians 11 (résumé): Paul and the false Apostles
Paul now combats "super-apostles" who preach a different Jesus with a different spirit and a different gospel. Paul warns the Corinthians to not be deceived as Eve was by the serpent. And in the ministry of the Gospel Paul says that he was always careful not to be a burden to the church. However Paul warns that they are facing "false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ... and their end will be what their actions deserve". Paul criticized the Corinthians' willingness to tolerate these people who exploited, mistreated, enslaved and humiliated them, and said that he would boast in his true commitment to Christ which had involved suffering, floggings, danger from bandits and at sea, suffering hunger, thirst and cold... "so if I must boast I boast I boast of the things that show my weakness".
2 Corinthians 10 (résumé): Paul's Defence of his Ministry
Paul now deals with the issue of the authority of his ministry which is being questioned by some, but he feels assured and commended by God for "we don't wage war as the world does or fight with the weapons of the world... and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ... for you only look at things superficially... for I boast about the authority the Lord gave us... but we don't boast beyond limits... for let him who boasts boast in the Lord... for it's not the man who commends himself who is approved, but the man whom the Lord commends".