Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Galatians 1

Gal 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

churches

Churches (local). Gal 1:2, 13, 22; Col 4:15-16. (Act 2:41; Phl 1:1).

of Galatia

1Co 16:1; Act 16:6.

Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

Grace

Grace (in salvation). Gal 1:6, 15; 2:21. (Rom 3:24; Scofield John 1:16, note.)

Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Who gave himself

Gal 2:20; 1Co 15:3; 1Pe 2:24.

sins

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

deliver us from this present evil

Gal 6:14; Rom 12:2; Col 2:20.

world

i.e. age.

according to the will of God

1Jo 2:15-17.

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

grace

The test of the Gospel is grace. If the message excludes grace, or mingles law with grace as the means either of justification or sanctification (Gal 2:21; 3:1-3), or denies the fact or guilt of sin which alone gives grace its occasion and opportunity, it is "another" gospel, and the preacher of it is under the anathema of God (Gal 1:8-9).

Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Which is not another

Act 4:12.

some that trouble you

Gal 5:10, 12; Act 15:24.

pervert the gospel of Christ

2Co 2:17; 11:13-14.

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

an angel

1Ki 13:18.

let him be accursed

1Co 16:22. ["Anathema Maranatha" means "Accursed, the Lord comes".]

Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

do I seek to please men

1Th 2:4.

The demonstration is as follows:

1. The Galatians know Paul, that he is no seeker after popularity (Gal 1:10).
2. He puts his known character back of the assertion that his Gospel of grace was a revelation from God (Gal 1:11-12).
3. As for the Judaizers, Paul had been a foremost Jew, and had forsaken Judaism for something better (Gal 1:13-14).
4. He had preached grace years before he saw any of the other apostles (Gal 1:15-24).
5. When he did meet the other apostles they had nothing to add to his revelations (Gal 2:1-6).
6. The other apostles fully recognized Paul's apostleship (Gal 2:7-10).
7. If the legalizers pleaded Peter's authority, the answer was that he himself had claimed none when rebuked (Gal 2:11-14).

servant of Christ

Phl 1:1.

Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

gospel

Gospel. Gal 1:6-12; 2:2, 5, 7, 14. (Gen 12:1-3; Rev 14:6.)

is not after man

Inspiration. Gal 1:11-12; Eph 3:3, 5. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

revelation of Jesus Christ

Act 9:3, 5, 17-20; Gal 1:16; Eph 3:3, 5.

Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

Jews' religion

The new dispensation of grace having come in, the Mosaic system, if still persisted in, becomes a mere "Jews' religion."

Act 9:1-3.

church

Churches (visible). Phl 3:6. (1Co 10:32; 1Ti 3:15).

Gal 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

religion

The word "religion," Greek threskeia = "religious service," is used but five times in the N.T.:

1. In a bad sense, Act 26:5; Gal 1:14¹; Jas 1:26; Col 2:18 ("worshipping");
2. in the sense of a believer's good works, Jas 1:27. It is never used as synonymous with salvation or spirituality.

Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

who separated me

Jer 1:5.

called me

Rom 8:30.

Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

reveal his Son in me

2Co 4:6.

heathen

Gentiles.

conferred not with flesh

Gal 1:1.

Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

I went up to Jerusalem

Act 9:26.

Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

James the Lord's brother

Mat 12:46; 13:55.

Gal 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth

Act 9:21, 27-28.

Gal 1:24 And they glorified God in me.

glorified God

Act 11:18.