Galatians 1 Breakdown (Updated)

1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul introducing himself and stating where his authority is coming from. Paul lets the Galatians know the rest of the brothers in Christ are also behind the purpose of this letter. He then greets them and wishes them grace from YHWH and Yeshua. This is followed by Paul stating who Christ is, what He did, and why He did it. YHWH is full of glory forever and ever, and it is His will that His people will be delivered from the present, evil age.

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Paul is somewhat stunned at the fact the Galatians are so quickly turning away from the message he gave them about Yeshua. They were turning to a “different gospel”. They were no longer following what Paul had taught in terms of grace through faith, but rather they allowed a certain sect of Pharisees infiltrate them and teach salvation through works.  This new “gospel” was not really good news at all because no man can be saved by works alone. Paul is telling the Galatians to beware of the men who want to come in and corrupt what Christ had done for them.

Christ’s death on the cross was to allow both the House of Israel and the House of Judah to be freed from the original covenant, which was a marriage covenant. His death was a loophole in the law. According to the Law of YHWH, a man cannot take back a divorced wife once she has defiled herself with another. Therefore, the House of Israel could not be taken back, no matter how many works were being done according to YHWH’s Law. In order for Christ’s dead to mean something, we must understand keeping the Law of YHWH was never about a checklist for salvation. It was always about keeping separate from the ways of the World, being set apart.

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

Paul then says, the original message is the true message, but they ought to be on the lookout for not only other men, but possibly those who came to teach them in the first place. Also, there may even be an angel from heaven who tries to preach something new. (Interestingly enough, about three hundred years later we find an angle does come down to a very close location, one in which the House of Israel was scattered into, preaching to Muhammad a new “gospel” and it is known as Islam).

9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Paul repeats himself to ensure no one comes with a new gospel, do not fall for it. The Pharisees were still preaching salvation through works, starting particularly with physical circumcision.

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Paul says he is writing on behalf of God, and for them to consider this thought. Does what he says coincide with what men want to hear, or to what YHWH wants to hear? For example, pagan men all over the world ate things YHWH considered unclean, and they loved it and would fight to keep it that way. The very thing could be said about other traditions of men, such as the Talmudic traditions, which many were additions to YHWH’s Torah. So, he was asking, am I preaching what YHWH said, or what men would want to hear?

But, to go deeper into this thought, what is an easier acceptance? You will know you are saved by becoming physically circumcised and completing the checklist daily, or, trusting you have salvation because you are loved by YHWH? See, salvation is about trusting in what you cannot do. You cannot save yourself because we are all corrupt as humans. It is about love that we keep the Laws of YHWH. The Law He gave is basically the vows He wants from us. What Paul is saying is this, what would please any spouse, keeping a checklist of things, or doing the things they ask because you know it is what they want? This is how the New Testament is all about love. YHWH loved His bride so much He chose to die in order to release her from her adulterous ways which allows her to choose to return to Him. If she chooses to return to Him it is out of love and then she gets to again keep the vows out of love, not requirement.  

11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.

Paul is stating outright what he was preaching comes from YHWH. He was going against the things being taught by the men of Judah.

12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

This gospel came through the revelation he had of Yeshua. We can find this story of where Paul was spoken to by Yeshua in Acts chapter nine.  

Acts 9:1-19

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.

Paul is admitting to his shameful acts against the followers of Yeshua.

Acts 8:1,3

Now Saul was consenting to his death. (Referring to the stoning death of Stephen)

At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Paul was the rising star of Judaism. He studied under Gamliel and just to be considered for that position one had to have the Torah memorized. But the more important thing Paul states here is he was “exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” This is telling because he does not say commands of YHWH, but rather points out it is the fathers of Judaism he followed. The distinction here is that the traditions of the fathers was traditions of men, not the commands of YHWH. The difference is men were adding much to the Law making it so difficult no men would ever be able to keep this law. We can see some of this still today in the Talmudic traditions. One way we can really see the difference is from the words of Yeshua Himself.

Matthew 23:1-4

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Sitting in the seat of Moses means they are there reading the Law of YHWH. Yeshua says men should be doing what they are preaching while sitting in the seat of Moses. But, the works of the Pharisees and scribes are not according to the Law, therefore, do not do these things. These are burdensome for men. This is Yeshua Himself making the distinction between keeping the Law of YHWH, and keeping the laws of the Pharisees.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

YHWH was pleased to call Paul out of the world and bring him to His grace. This was most likely do to the fact Paul already had the entire Torah memorized. YHWH needed someone with these exact set of skills to preach His message to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Yeshau was revealed to Paul in order for him to preach Yeshua to the lost sheep of the house of Israel who are scattered among the gentiles. He did not run to other men about the revelation of Christ. Paul also did not run to Jerusalem to speak with the apostles. Instead he went to preach in Arabia and Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.

He preached about Yeshua for three years before he ever went to see any apostle. When he did, he discussed things with Peter for fifteen days.

19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

James was the only other apostle Paul associate with during this time.

20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

Paul swears to God that he is not lying about the places he’s gone and the things he has done.

21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

He went on with his teaching journey.

22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.

None of the followers of Yeshua in Judea knew who Paul was by face.

23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

 Those in Judea did know Paul by word of mouth and what he did and is now doing.

24 And they glorified God in me.

Those in Judea who follow Yeshua are thankful for what YHWH had done in changing Paul’s heart toward Yeshua.