Bible Study Galatians 1: 11-24

 

Bible Study Galatians 1: 11-24

Our text: 

Paul Called by God

11 For I make known to you, brothers, that the gospel which I am proclaiming as good news is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

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

18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to [b]become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except [c]James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which are in Christ; 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.” 24 And they were glorifying God because of me.

Verse by verse commentary

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

The words, make known to you, is the strong Greek verb Paul used here to often introduce an important and emphatic statement. the gospel . . . not according to man. The gospel Paul preached was not human in origin, or it would have been like all other human religion, permeated with works of righteousness born of man’s pride and Satan’s deception. Paul is affirming what is written in Jonah 2: 9: “Salvation is of the Lord.” It must be understood that the gospel message is the result of a supernatural transaction that took place before the foundation of the world. The Father chose His elect; the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, agreed to be a sacrifice for the sins of the elect; and the Holy Spirit agreed to apply these truths to the heart of the elect. Man can not save himself. Just like a baby did not choose when to be born or how, the same is true in the spiritual sense. Man can not come to Christ unless he or she receives an internal call to come. That is “good news” not according to man.

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

Judaizers received their religious instruction from rabbinic tradition, that is from men.. Most Jews did not study the actual Scriptures; rather, they used human instructions (from the Rabbinic teachers) from Scripture as their religious authority and guide. Many of their traditions not only were not taught in Scripture but also contradicted it. The experiences and traditions from through the revelation. This refers to the unveiling of something previously kept secret, in this case, Jesus Christ. While he knew about Christ, Paul subsequently met Him personally on the road to Damascus and received the truth of the gospel from Him. Again, this speaks to an inner call to salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke of this when He said that His sheep know His voice (John 10: 27-28) and follow Him. On the road to Damascus, Paul received the call to Christ and he followed Him. All that hear His voice and call will come to Him. You can’t explain the call, but when you receive it, like Paul, you will know it.

Verse 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.”

Paul states, “For you have heard of my former conduct,” that is, you have heard of my manner of life, how he persecuted the church causing the deaths of believers. Paul now calls the religion in which he was brought up the “Jews’ religion.” Paul was saved, not in Judaism, not by Judaism, but from Judaism. It is an error to believe that Christianity is Judaism plus Christ. Christianity has its foundation in the Old Testament, and those Scriptures are truth, but Christ is the fulfillment of the Law. It is through Christ’s substitution and His shed blood that we are saved. Sin had to be dealt with. Sin had to be dealt a final blow. Christ did that and all those that have Him as their Lord and Savior know the truth about salvation. Paul’s former conduct brought the sin necessary for him to be saved.  It is the same for all that are ever saved. All you bring is the sin in your life and He because of grace and mercy, brings you spiritual life.

Verse 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.”

Paul calls the religion in which he was brought up the “Jews’ religion.” Paul was saved, not in Judaism, not by Judaism, but from Judaism. The Greek word translated “advancing” means “to chop ahead,” much like one would blaze a trail through a forest. Paul blazed his path from Judaism, and because he saw Jewish Christians as trying to turn Christianity from faith based to works based (obedience to the Law as required for salvation), he worked to stop them. More zealous. Paul demonstrated his zealousness for Judaism  by persecuting Christians. “Traditions of my fathers” refers to the oral teachings about Old Testament law commonly known as the “Halakah.” This collection of interpretations from the Rabbis eventually carried the same authority as the Scriptures. Its rules were so hopelessly complex and burdensome that no human being could obey them. 

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

Paul is not referencing his being born, separated physically from his mother, but being sanctified (i.e. set apart) or ordained by God for service from the time of his birth. The statement refers to God’s election of Paul without regard for his personal merit or effort. Paul was chosen by God as His Sovereign choice, or election. “Called me through His grace,”  refers to God’s effectual call. This is different from a general call which is made to all. The effectual call is individual and those called will respond to that call. On the Damascus Road, God made an effectual call which brought Saul to salvation.

Verse 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….”

Not only was Christ revealed to Paul on the Damascus Road, but in him as God gave him a new heart and faith to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s specific call was to proclaim the gospel toGentiles (meaning non Jews). Paul did not look to Ananias or any other Christians for assistance in helping to understand what had happened to him on the Damascus Road. The revelation and call from the Lord Jesus Christ was more than sufficient to eliminate the need to speak with any other teacher.

Verse 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.”

Following his Damascus road conversion, Paul did not go right away to Jerusalem, where the apostles and church leaders were, but stayed approximately three years in Arabia. It is implied that he conferred with God there. During this time, he was not taught the doctrines of men by men. He had the Lord Jesus Christ to guide his instruction.

Verse 18: “Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.”

This means that Paul spent less than three years in the desert. God is consistent in how He trains His soldiers for spiritual warfare. Consider the following: (1) Moses was trained in the desert. (2)  Abraham was in a rather unique place for training. (3) Elijah had that same type of experience. (4) David was trained outdoors in the caves of the earth while he was running away from King Saul. The Lord used the same method with Paul. God sent him into the desert for less than three years. Then he went to Jerusalem, saw Peter, and stayed with him for fifteen days.

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

Paul had no contact with any apostles except Peter and James, the Lord’s brother. That is the extent of his contact with the apostles, and he received no instruction from them.

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

Paul says here that he did not receive the gospel from anyone else but Christ. Also, Paul says he does not lie. Someone is lying. Paul was not afraid to speak the truth. Too often in our day, people that claim to be Christians are afraid to speak up. They are afraid of being “canceled.” We need to show love to others by telling the truth of the Gospel. There is no love without truth. And, I am not lying either!

Verse 21: “Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.”

These regions included his hometown of Tarsus. He was preaching in that region for several years. When word of revival reached Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas (see Acts 11:20–26). Paul stayed on in that region as a pastor in the church at Antioch. I think this is a good pattern for us to follow. Paul spent a few years getting prepared for his service to the Lord Jesus Christ, then after meeting with Peter and James, he headed off to his home area to preach the Gospel. Let us be ever mindful that we need to begin our ministry at home. It does us little good to spend all our time winning others and then losing our families. May we be faithful to our families as we are to others.

Verse 22: “And I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which are in Christ;”

These churches had not met Paul, but they had heard that he who persecuted the church in times past now preaches for the faith he once tried to  destroy. There may be times that because of your sinful past, those that knew your lifestyle may not want to hear about your new faith. They will desire to hold you in the past, but you must proclaim the truth that Christ has given you a new heart and you are a new creation in Him. It is not your desire to persuade them, but rather your duty is to speak words of truth. God will draw His elect. You just have to be faithful. 

Verse 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.”

These believers were hesitant to receive Paul because of his past in persecuting the church, but since they had an experimental salvation, they knew the power of the cross in a believer's life. They knew what it was to have an absolutely “train wreck” experience that could transform a man. I use the term “train wreck” because if you ever see a train wreck you notice the magnitude of the event. If you are ever in a train wreck, you know it.It is a major life experience. In the same way, when a person comes to Christ it is because they have experienced Holy Spirit conviction, they know they are lost and headed to Hell, and they come to a place where they know in their hearts that Christ died for them and they are now forgiven. That is something you don’t forget. It would not take the believers long to see the reality of Christ in Paul’s life (and not just in his speech). It would be a cause for great rejoicing.

Verse 24: “And they were glorifying God because of me.”

The word translated “because” is literally, “in me.” The believers saw Christ in Paul, by his words and life. May this be a desire of ours, that others would see Christ in us. There were three religious periods in Paul’s life: (1) Paul was a proud Pharisee. He hated Christ and he hated the church. (2) The second period began on the Damascus road when he was knocked down into the ground. This was his conversion and the beginning of his faith walk. He had a “train wreck” experience and was now beginning to be instructed by our Lord and prepared for ministry. (3) Then came that glorious period when he walked in the Spirit. He was on fire for God. He could face persecutions and afflictions because he had a real conversion. Christ was real to him. We need to be the same today. If so, we should be happy regardless of our circumstances. The famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody said, “Some people have just enough religion to make them miserable.” We can and must do better than that. We are to be a light to the world, even when the world doesn’t want the light. Truly converted people understand this.