This week will be a reflection of Galatians. We have now characterized the Galatians, Paul and most importantly, Jesus Christ and God.
Chapters 1 & 2 – Importance of the gospel, truth in the crucified Christ
Chapter 3 & 4 – Through Christ, a new family of God
Chapter 5 & 6 – God’s family transformed by the Holy Spirit
Read Gal 4 again, this time replace every reference to Paul(I) with God and every reference to God with I. While we know it is Paul speaking, it is God’s own heart that pursues us!! Notice that God sent the Holy Spirit, Gal 4:6.
6 Because you are sons, aGod has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “bAbba! Father!”
4:6 you are sons Those who have faith in Christ have grown up. They are no longer children (nēpios; see noteon Gal 4:1) without inheritance and freedom; they are sons (huioi). Gal 4:1
sent out the Spirit of his Son God not only sent His Son
(Gal 4:4; John 3:16)John 3:16—He sent the Spirit of the Son. The indwelling presence of the Spirit legitimizes the Galatians’ identity as children of God.
(Gal 4:4; John 3:16)John 3:16—He sent the Spirit of the Son. The indwelling presence of the Spirit legitimizes the Galatians’ identity as children of God.
Gal 4:1–7 Gal 4:1–7 In this section of the text, Paul draws a contrast between sons and slaves. In doing so, he aims to help the Galatians understand that reliance on the law is a sign not of maturity, but of immaturity. In contrast to the law, faith in Christ produces children who become heirs of God’s promises.
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Example: I replaced the I references to “Paul” with God, I and My, and the “we” references with you.
Gal 4:1 Now God says, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything,
4:1 Gal 4:1 as the heir is a child In Paul’s time, children received their inheritance when they came of age. Until then, they had neither decision-making rights nor freedom.
4:1 Gal 4:1 as the heir is a child In Paul’s time, children received their inheritance when they came of age. Until then, they had neither decision-making rights nor freedom.
no different from a slave Under Roman law, underage children could not exercise legal power over their inheritance; their status was almost identical to that of a slave. Paul uses this analogy to illustrate the condition of those living under the law.
Gal 4:2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.
Gal 4:3 So also you, while you were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.
4:3 when we were children, we were enslaved Paul applies the contrast he has been developing to the Galatians (Gal 4:1–2). Gal 4:1–2 As an underage child or slave, there is no possession or inheritance, no decision-making rights, and no freedom.
under the elemental spirits Paul’s language here could refer to basic religious teachings that contradict the gospel; the material parts of the universe, such as water, earth, and fire; or spiritual powers, such as evil spirits and demonic entities. In this verse, the first interpretation represents the best option. In Gal 4:9, Gal 4:9 Paul likely refers to one of the second two interpretations (see note on Gal 4:9). Gal 4:9 Ultimately, Paul makes it clear that these entities are negative influences (Gal 4:8–9). Gal 4:8–9).
4:8 you did not know God A common way for Paul to describe Gentiles—people of non-Jewish origin (1 Thess 4:5; 2 Thess 1:8; Titus 1:16).(1 Thess 4:5; 2 Thess 1:8; Titus 1:16) Estrangement from the living God means being subject to other forces and powers.
4:9 weak and miserable elemental spirits Here, Paul may be referring to the law, spiritual beings, or astral deities. Since Paul speaks to both Jews and Gentiles, he may be using the term in different ways with each audience (see Gal 4:3 Gal 4:3 and note).
Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, I sent forth My Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
4:4 when the fullness of time came With this phrase, Paul brings together the idea of coming of age and the coming of Jesus. Paul stresses that the life, death, and resurrection of Christ occurred according to the plan of God (v. 2).
born under the law Refers to Jesus’ identity as a Jew. He was born into the people who lived according to God’s law. Refers to the incarnation of Jesus—when the eternal Son of God became a human being (John 1:14).
Gal 4:5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that you might receive the adoption as sons.
4:5 redeem The Greek word used here, exagorazō, is a legal term meaning “buy out.” The idea is that Christ’s death has bought freedom for those who are enslaved to the law.
adoption A well-known legal procedure in the Roman Empire. The ot portrays God as adopting Israel when He delivered the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt (Exod 4:22–23; Hos 11:1).
Gal 4:6 Because you are sons, I have sent forth the Spirit of My Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
Gal 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through My Son, Christ.
Do the same for the whole chapter,
Sonship in Christ1 Now God says, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything,
2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.
3 So also you, while you were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.
4 But when the fullness of the time came, I sent forth My Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that you might receive the adoption as sons.
6 Because you are sons, I(God) have sent forth the Spirit of My(His) Son into your(our) hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave , but a son; and if a son, then an heir through My Son, Christ(God).
8 However at that time, when you did not know Me(God), you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.
9 But now that you have come to know Me(God), or rather to be known by Me(God), how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.
11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. you have done me no wrong;
13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time;
14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of Mine(God), as Christ Jesus Himself.
15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.
18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—
20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Bond and Free
21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and bone by the free woman.
23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.
24 This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.
25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.
27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For more numerous are the children of the desolate
Than of the one who has a husband.”
28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.
29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
30 But what does the Scripture say?
“Cast out the bondwoman and her son,
For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.
now look at Gal 4:16!! 16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
“So has God become your enemy….” How important is God’s truth in our lives?
I would have to say that God's truth is essential to our lives
What is our relationship with God outside of His truth?
Very awkward, filled with sadness, alienation
Read Gal 5:1
Chapter 5
– Why is Paul so concerned about the Galatians?
The door was open for the Galatians to depart from truth and descend into error
Read Gal 5 in it’s entirety.
Chapter 5
1 1aIt was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore bkeep standing firm and do not be subject again to a cyoke of slavery.
– Why is Paul so concerned about the Galatians?
The door was open for the Galatians to depart from truth and descend into error
Read Gal 5 in it’s entirety.
2 Behold I, aPaul, say to you that if you receive bcircumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
3 And I atestify again to every man who receives bcircumcision, that he is under obligation to ckeep the whole Law.
4 You have been severed from Christ, you who 1are seeking to be justified by law; you have afallen from grace.
6 For in aChrist Jesus bneither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but cfaith working through love.
7 You were arunning well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion did not come from aHim who calls you.
9 aA little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
10 aI have confidence 1in you in the Lord that you bwill adopt no other view; but the one who is cdisturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still apersecuted? Then bthe stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.
13 For you were called to afreedom, brethren; bonly donot turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love cserve one another.
14 For athe whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “bYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you abite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
17 For athe flesh 1sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, bso that you may not do the things that you 2please.
20 idolatry, asorcery, enmities, bstrife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, cdisputes, dissensions, 1dfactions,
21 envying, adrunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not binherit the kingdom of God.
26 Let us not become aboastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free This statement summarizes Paul’s arguments in Gal 3 and 4. The freedom given by Christ liberates believers from the law.
yoke of slavery In Jewish tradition, the image of the yoke was often used to describe the law’s role of guiding people in righteousness (as is seen in the rabbinic work Mishnah Abot 3:5; compare Matt 11:29–30). Paul redirects this imagery to clarify the law’s effect now that Christ has come: It does not lead or teach people anymore, but instead enslaves them (Gal 4:3, 8).
5:2 if you become circumcised If the Galatians allowed themselves to be circumcised, they would nullify Christ’s work on their behalf, since His death had already redeemed them from the law (4:4–5).
profit you nothing Paul does not mean that (circumcised) Jews cannot become believers or that Christ’s value can be diminished by the law. His point is that anyone who insists on living under the law fails to trust in Christ. For Paul, Christ’s work is completely sufficient in the life of the believer. Therefore, to trust in the value of circumcision is to diminish the worth of Christ.
5:4 attempting to be justified by the law Here Paul equates submission to circumcision with the attempt to be justified by the law. Seeking to be justified by means outside of Christ is foreign to the gospel message, and results in estrangement from Christ.
you have fallen from grace If someone depends on the law for justification, they have effectively rejected God’s gift of grace in Christ.
5:5 we eagerly await the hope of righteousness The Greek word used here for “hope,” elpis, does not refer to something uncertain. Rather, it refers to the believer’s anticipation of God’s future deliverance of His people, whom He has made righteous.
5:6 neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision God’s gift of the Holy Spirit confirms believers’ status as His children (compare Rom 8:14–16) and empowers them to obey God. God’s people are no longer defined by their keeping of the law; rather, their status before God depends exclusively on their faith in Christ (Gal 2:16, 20; 3:11–12, 23–25). Paul therefore asserts that it no longer matters whether people arecircumcised—that is, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Because of the new creation begun by the work of Christ (compare 6:15), all who trust in God’s gift of grace and receive His Spirit belong to the family of God (compare 3:28; Col 3:11).
faith working through love The goal of the Christian life is to express faith in Christ through love, not to live under the requirements of law. Believers are called to demonstrate their faith through sacrificial love for others because their faith is placed in the one who first demonstrated such love (Gal 2:20). Paul describes the fruit of sacrificial love in vv. 22–23.
5:7 You were running well In this context, the imagery of running illustrates exercising faith in Christ and His promises.
obeying the truth Here, Paul equates obeying the truth with obeying his gospel message: There is no means of justification before God except faith in Christ. Because Christ’s sacrificial work frees believers from slavery to the law (4:4–5; 5:1), Paul regards any attempt to keep the law as disobedience to the truth of the gospel (compare 2:14).
5:8 not from the one who calls you God is not the source of the Galatians’ interest in the law.
5:9 A little leaven Refers to a few agitators having broad influence among the Galatians.
5:10 I have confidence Reflects Paul’s trust in God to persuade the Galatians through his letter. Confidence in God is a recurring theme in Paul’s ministry (Phil 3:15).
the one who is confusing you Earlier in the letter, Paul stated that those who distort the gospel and lead others astray are worthy of a curse (Gal 1:8–9). Here he anticipates God’s final judgment of them for corrupting God’s people.
5:11 why am I still being persecuted The agitators might have claimed that Paul advocated circumcision.
5:12 castrate themselves Paul expresses his frustration with the agitators in terms of a punishment that condemns their actions: Since they advocate circumcision, Paul wishes that they would instead castrate themselves. Essentially, Paul is saying that he wishes these men would cut themselves off from the Christian community rather than drive believers back into slavery under the law (compare v. 4).
5:13 For you were called to freedom Paul urges the Galatians to use their freedom from the law’s requirements to fulfill the law’s essence: love of neighbor. According to Paul, God frees believers from slavery under the law so that they choose to serve one another.
5:14 You shall love your neighbor as yourself By quoting Lev 19:18, Paul shows that the law itself upholds love as the main goal of law keeping. In the context of the letter, Paul uses this quote as a springboard to present a series of instructions (Gal 5:16–6:10) that promote a healthy, godly church community in Galatia.
5:15 if you bite and devour one another Paul uses vivid imagery—wild animals in a deadly fight—to warn the Galatians that attacking one another ultimately will destroy their community.
5:16 live by the Spirit Refers to being under the Spirit’s direction and empowerment.
the desire of the flesh The Greek word meaning “flesh” refers to the part of human nature that causes people to put their own selfish needs ahead of everything else.
5:17 the flesh desires against the Spirit The Spirit and the flesh are not in a stalemate. The flesh does not frustrate the desires of the Spirit; rather, the Spirit frustrates the desires of the flesh.
5:18 if you are led by the Spirit The Spirit and the law represent mutually exclusive ways of living. Either people live according to the flesh by satisfying its desires, or they live according to the Spirit of God in a manner that reflects His character. Paul lists key characteristics in vv. 22–23.
5:19–21 More than half of the works of the flesh listed here denote forms of possible conflict among people. While this list is not exhaustive, it adequately represents life apart from the Spirit.
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5:19 deeds of the flesh Refers to the sinful actions of human beings who put their own selfish needs ahead of others.
sexual immorality, impurity, licentiousness Each item in this list refers to ungodly or unlawful sexual actions.
5:21 the ones who practice such things The Greek participle here, prassontes, is used in the present tense, referring to people who continually orient their lives toward deeds of the flesh.
kingdom of God Refers to the domain in which God is king. In the Bible, believers extend God’s reign through obedience, loyalty, and love. Those who orient their lives toward the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God
because they have established a kingdom of their own.
because they have established a kingdom of their own.
5:23 Against such things there is no law When the life of the believer expresses these qualities, there is no need for the law. Those who “live by the Spirit” (v. 16) produce fruit reflecting the character of God that the law could not (3:21). However, this list shouldn’t be turned into a new kind of law (a replacement for faith in Christ and life lived by the Spirit).
5:24 crucified the flesh Through faith, believers participate in Christ’s death and resurrection, leaving behind their orientation toward selfish desires (2:19–20).
Lastly, we’ll discuss the positives and negatives of the Law….while it magnifies our sin, that very magnification if viewed correctly, brings life in Jesus. Notice how this is accomplished through the Holy Spirit, Gal 4:6
Galatians 4:6
6 Because you are sons, a God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “
bAbba! Father!”
Galatians 4:6
6 Because you are sons, a God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “
bAbba! Father!”
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| b |
, and not of our understanding, but rather, God’s understanding in us!!
Finally, review Gal 5:25,
Galatians 5:25
how does our transformation happen?
living by the Spirit, walking by the Spirit, following the Spirit, watching it happen
Looking forward to the discussion!! Take notes and let’s discuss what you see the chapters 4 and 5.
Grace and peace to you!!
Nathan
Appendix / Bibliography
Available from Cokesbury: Faithlife Study Bible NIV
NIV, Faithlife Illustrated Study Bible, Hardcover BIBLICAL INSIGHTS YOU CAN SEE AUTHOR: JOHN D. BARRY, DEREK R. BROWN DOUGLAS MANGUM PUBLISHER: ZONDERVAN PUB HOUSE DATE: 09/2017
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