.Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study

The Book of Galatians
 


Timeline of the Bible


God creates the world. --- God destroys the world with the flood, but saves  Noah and his family.---
 God chooses Abraham and his descendants to His people. ---Abraham's grandson, Jacob, has 12 sons who lead the 12 tribes of Israel.--- The Israelites become slaves in Egypt.--- God helps the Israelites escape and leads them to Canaan. ---The Israelites fight in wars and take control of Canaan.---Judges lead the Israelites, but the Israelites want to have kings instead of judges. ----  David is Israel's greatest king. -- Israel divides into 2 parts: Israel and Judah.--- The people of Israel and Judah continue to sin and worship false gods.--- God allows the Assyrians and the Babylonians to take the Israelites out of Israel and Judah.---   The Israelites (Jews) live in Babylonia and then Persia. --- When Persia defeats the Babylonians, the Jews go back to Judah.--- The Jews build God's Temple in Jerusalem again.--- Greece defeats Persia, and the Greeks control Judah (also now called Israel).--- The Jews become independent for 100 years.-- The Romans take control of Israel.---Jesus is born. At age 30, Jesus begins his ministry. ---Jesus is crucified and then is resurrected. --- A Roman named Saul is converted to Christianity and becomes Paul.--- Christianity spreads. --- This book of the Bible covers this time  Paul write letters to Christians in other places.  In the year, 70 A.D., God's Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed again.

Galatians is one of Paul's Epistles. Epistles are letters Paul wrote to Christians in the early churches.


Galatians 4 -6

Paul worries that the new Christians will turn back to strict Jewish laws.
Paul discusses the 2 covenants with God.
The fruits of the Spirit

 


 
Galatians was written to the church that was in Galatia.  People who study the Bible do not agree on exactly where Galatia was.  There were a couple of different places called Galatia.

After Jesus Christ died and came alive again, more people started to believe that He was the Messiah. They started to  believe in Him.  They started to be named Christians.  Most of the first Christians had been Jewish before they became Christian.  They had followed the strict Jewish laws.  They men had been circumcised.  After they became Christians, they continued following the Jewish laws even though they believed that Jesus Christ was the Messiah.

Gentiles were people who were not Jewish.  Some of them did not believe in any god -- either God or false gods.  Some of them worshiped false gods and idols. But they became Christian and followed Jesus.  They had not been Jewish so they did not follow any of the strict Jewish laws. 

There began a problem.  The Jewish Christians were not happy with the Gentile Christians.  The Jewish Christians wanted them to be more strict and follow Jewish laws. 

Paul spent a lot of time with Gentiles. He helped many of them to become Christians. He did not believe that Gentile Christians needed to start following Jewish laws.  This made the Jewish Christians mad. Many of the Jewish Christians didn't like Paul anyway. They did not trust him. In his past, Paul was very cruel to Christians. The Jewish Christians felt that he was not good enough to witness for Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote this letter to defend himself and show that he had authority and was good enough. He also wanted the Christians to remember they are saved by grace, not by works and not by following Jewish laws.

Some of the parts of Paul's letter to the Galatians:

Paul talks about his conversion and his authority to witness for Jesus.
Paul talks about faith, freedom, and being saved by grace. 
Paul talks about how Christians should live.

 



 

 

 

 



















Galatians 4


Paul worries that the new Christians will turn back to strict Jewish laws.


I am saying that when the heir is a child, he is the same as a servant. It doesn't matter that he is over everything.  His teachers and caregivers are in charge of him until the time that his father decides.

[1] Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
[2] But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.


When we were children, we were under some of the bad people of the world.
[3] Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:


But at the right time, God sent His son. He had a human mother who followed Jewish laws.  He came to redeem the people who followed the Jewish law so the Jews could be adopted as sons.

[4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
[5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.


God sent the spirit of His son to your hearts because you are sons. You cry, "Abba, Father." You are not servants anymore.  You are sons.  You are one of God's descendants because you go to God through Christ.
[6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
[7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.


Back when you did not know God, you worshiped statues that did not live. Now you know God, or rather He knows you.  But why is it that you turn to weak things like you want to be slaves again?
[8] Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
[9] But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?


Now you are celebrating special days and times that you shouldn't.  I am worried that my hard work with you was for nothing.
[10] Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
[11] I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.


Brothers, I am begging you. Be like me. I am like you. You have not hurt me at all.  When I first preached the gospel to you, I was not strong and healthy.  You thought about treating me bad, but you did not hate me or reject me.  You treated me like an angel of God, even like Christ Jesus.

[12] Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
[13] Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
[14] And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.


You felt blessed before, and you talked about it. Why don't you talk about it now? I am telling you that if it was possible, you would have taken out your own eye and given it to me.  Am I your enemy now because I am telling you the truth?

[15] Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
[16] Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

The people who want you to follow the strict Jewish laws are after you. They want you to think like them.  You need to hold firm always; not just when I am there with you.
[17] They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
[18] But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.


My little children, I am having pain until you have Christ in you. I wish I was with you now so you could hear the tone of my voice. I am confused about you.

[19] My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
[20] I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
 

You who want to be under the law, tell me, don't you hear the law?
[21] Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?


The scripture says that Abraham had 2 sons. He had one son by a servant. He had the other son by a free woman.
[22] For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.


The son of the servant was born ordinary by flesh.  The son of the free woman was born miraculously by promise.

[23] But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.


Paul discusses the 2 covenants with God.


I will compare the two sons to now.  There are 2 covenants with God. One covenant was from Mt. Sinai. Mt. Sinai is like Hagar. Sarah is free like Jerusalem
[24] Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
[25] For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
[26] But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.


The scripture says, "Be happy, you woman who never had children. Be happy that you didn't go through labor." The sad woman has more children (Gentiles who became Christians) than the woman who has a husband (God's chosen people, the Jews, who will not believe in Jesus).
[27] For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.


We are like Isaac. We are children by promise.
[28] Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.


Ishmael chased Isaac and even now, the children of the flesh are after the children of the promise.

[29] But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
 

The scripture said, "Send away the servant woman and her son.  The son of the servant will not be an heir to the son of the free woman."
[30] Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.


So, brothers, we are not children of the servant woman. We are children of the free woman.

[31] So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.


Galatians 5


Christ made us free. Continue being strong. Don't become slaves again.
[1] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.


I, Paul, tell you this: If you are circumcised, Christ will not save you. It won't do you any good.
[2] Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.


If you are circumcised, you must obey the whole law. If you follow the Jewish laws, you cannot have grace.
[3] For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
[4] Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.


We have righteousness and hope by faith. In Jesus Christ, circumcision does no good and does not save. We are saved by faith.

[5] For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. I
[6] For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.


You did well before.  Who changed your mind? This did not come from Christ.
[7] Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
[8] This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.


A little leaven makes the whole lump of bread rise.

[9] A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.


I feel confident that you will do the right thing through the Lord. I feel that you won't change your mind. The person who has been troubling you will be punished, whoever he is.
[10] I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.


And brothers, if I was still telling people to be circumcised, why would I still be having trouble? (The Jews wouldn't be mad at him if he was still telling people to be circumcised) 
[11] And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
[12] I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

Brothers, you have been called to be free. Don't use your freedom to do bad things.  But serve one another with love.
[13] For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.


You obey the law if you do this:  Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.
[14] For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.


But if you hurt one another, be careful or you will both be destroyed.

[15] But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.


I say this to you: walk in the Spirit and you won't do bad things.

[16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.


The part of you that sins is against the Spirit. The spirit and your sinful part fight with each other. That makes you sin and do bad things.

[17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.


But if you let the Spirit lead you, you don't need to follow the Jewish laws.

[18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.


If you let sin control your life, this is what you will do:  adultery, sexual relations with people you are not married to, be unclean, do bad sexual things, worship false gods, witchcraft, hate people, fight with people, say things against God, envy other people, murder, get drunk, and other things like I told you before.  People who do such bad things will not be in God's kingdom.
 
[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


The fruits of the Spirit


But if you let the Spirit control your life, this is what people will see in you:  love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, humbleness (not brag), and self-control. There is no law against these things.
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
[24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
 

If we live in the Spirit, we should behave like it.
[25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.


We should not want to just look good to others, or fight, or envy other people.
[26] Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
 


Galatians 6

If one of your friends sins, you should help him.  You should not brag or talk bad to him. You might also be tempted to sin.
[1] Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Help each other. That is what Christ told you to do.
[2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.


A man might think he is important, but he is just lying to himself.
[3] For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Each person should look at his own work.  He shouldn't compare himself to other people. Then, he will be happy.
[4] But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.


Each person has to carry his own load.

[5] For every man shall bear his own burden.

If someone teaches another person the Scripture, the student should help the teacher.
[6] Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.


Don't be fooled. God is always right.  When a person plants something, that is what he will pick later. A person who does bad sinful things will later have trouble.  A person who does good things in the Holy Spirit will live forever.
[7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
[8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.


Do not become tired of doing good things

Don't get tired of doing good things. When the time is right, you will have good things if you don't give up.

[9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.


When we have the chance, we should do good things to everyone especially to people who have faith.

[10] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.


You can see what a long letter I have written to you with my own hand.

[11] Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

The people who are trying to show off are trying to make you be circumcised. They don't want to be persecuted because they believe Christ died on the cross.
[12] As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.


Even people who are circumcised don't obey the law.  They just want you to be circumcised so they can brag about it.

[13] For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.


I don't ever want to brag except about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. By him, the world is crucified to me. And I am crucified to the world.  In Jesus, it doesn't matter if someone is circumcised or not. It matters that they are a new person after they accept Jesus.                                                                   
[14] But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
[15] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.


I pray that everyone who follows this will have peace and mercy. I pray for peace and mercy for the Israel of God.

[16] And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.


From now on, no one should question my faith in Jesus Christ. I have scars on my body because of my faith.
[17] From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.


Brothers, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
[18] Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

 

 

Our Bible Study is an ongoing "work in progress".  We add a new section approximately every 2-3 weeks.


 

Back to the previous chapters To the next chapters


Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study Table of Contents
 

Workers For Jesus Main Page


Workers For Jesus Main Page