JOSEPH KINYUA RUCHIAKA

A Brief Commentary
On the book of
Galatians

September 2017
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CONTENTS

1. Brief History of the Region of Galatia…………………….3

2. Author ……………………………………………………….5
3. Purpose Of Writing ……………………………..………….5
4. Chapter One ………………………………...………………6
5. Chapter Two ………………………………………………..8
6. Chapter Three ………………………….………….………..10
7. Chapter Four ……………………………..………..………..12
8. Chapter Five ………………………………….….………….14
9. Chapter Six ………………………………………….………16

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BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REGION OF GALATIA

The region of Galatia.

In the time of Paul, the term Galatia was both used in the political and geographical
sense and this has complicated the issue of determining the actual date of writing of the
letter. There is, therefore, no consensus of both the region herein referred in the letter
and the time of writing. Therefore it is important to place the time of writing as either 49
or 55-58 AD.
Galatia was a Roman province that was very large and can be divided into two sections,
though this region was one.
1. Northern Galatia
It stretched from the upper parts where it bordered Bithynia and Pontus, Asia, and
Cappadocia.
Some scholars believe this is the region that Paul wrote to in this letter. This school of
thought puts the day of writing to a later date of between 55 and 58 AD (same time
probably the Corinthian letters were written) during Paul third missionary journey and
puts the probable place of writing as Macedonia or Achaia.
However, with this view, we do not have the time when the churches could have been
started. To support their view the holders of this view say Paul could have started the
churches in his second missionary journey when the Holy Spirit hindered them to
preach in Asia( Acts 16:6).

2. Southern Galatia.
This is the region of Galatia which bordered Lycia, Pamphylia Cilicia, and Cappadocia
Many scholars believe this is the region that Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians. This
region had several churches he had started in the towns he visited in his first
missionary journey e.g. Lystra, Iconium, and Derbe of which he also did visit in his 2nd
and 3rd missionary journeys. It is worth noting that Luke states in Acts 16-10... That they
came from Phrygia (which bordered the Mediterranean Sea) then went to region of Galatia
(probably Derbe, Iconium Lystra) and they thought to go to Bithynia but the Holy Spirit
did not allow them so they went through Mysia and came to Troas which was a port
city in the Aegean Sea. Therefore they did not visit the upper region of Galatia. More so
there is no reference to the town of Gordion which was the major city in upper Galatia
by both Paul and Luke.
This school of thought places the time of writing this letter at around 49 AD. This is
more plausible because Barnabas who is named in this letter only accompanied Paul on
his first missionary journey and there is no reference to the Jerusalem council’s decrees.

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Figure 1. The Roman province of Galatia.

Figure 2. Paul’s first, second, and third missionary journeys

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Author
This letter was written by Paul, and as stated the most probable time is 49-50 AD. Both
external and internal evidence support this view, the internal evidence is Paul himself
claims to be the source Galatians 1:1-2, 5:2, 6:17 among others. The external evidence is
provided by the church fathers who did confirm Pauline source in their interpretations
and allusions.

Purpose of writing
From the content matter addressed in the letter, we can say Paul wrote the letter to
counter the rejection of grace and backsliding to the law by the churches in Galatia was
not only alarming but also baffling. In this letter Paul addresses the following issues:

1. Validation of his apostleship

2. Justification by faith
3. The futility of observing the law as a complement of faith in Christ.

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CHAPTER ONE
In this chapter, we get to know the source of the letter and who it was intended to.
More so the writer who is Paul the apostle addresses the problem that was ailing these
churches and does not shy away in revealing his astonishment of the doctrine being
taught in these churches

Galatians 1:1-5 ……. The author and the recipients

This letter starts with explaining its source or the writer as Paul who was an apostle not
chosen by men but by God through Jesus Christ and not only him alone but also
includes the other brothers who were with him. He addresses the churches of Galatia,
and wishes them grace and the peace of God through Jesus who forgave and delivered
us from our sins and all evil, Paul concludes this sentence by saying it is to him be the
glory forever and ever. In other words, Paul uses a summary of his gospel as his
greeting to the churches in this region.

Galatians 1:6 – 10 …….his reaction towards Galatians acceptance of Judaism.

Paul states his astonishment at the Galatian's actions of deserting God. He explains to
them that God had called them by the grace of Jesus Christ and but were now
following people who were distorting the Gospel of grace. In verse eight he firmly
states that either Paul and his team or anyone else even if it’s an angel from heaven
should preach another gospel different from the one he had preached to them that
person whoever might be should be cursed and condemned. To show the seriousness
of the issue at hand he reiterates in verse nine the statement in verse eight, in other
words, the people who were distorting the gospel in the region of Galatia should be
condemned in totality. He swears that he is not in the business of pleasing anyone and
not trying to seek the approval of any person apart from God. If he would be trying to
please people then he would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:11- 24 ……. His apostleship!

Paul explains how he received the gospel he was preaching, he tells them that he was
not given this gospel by any human being but it was through revelation by Jesus
Christ. In this, he recalls his former life in Judaism when he savagely persecuted the
church far beyond his friends in the Jewish nation and beyond. In this extremism, Paul
says then God called him. He says he was set apart before he was born (signifying even
from birth he was in the mind of God as a preacher of the gospel though not yet born again). His
call was to preach Jesus Christ to the gentiles. He says he did not immediately consult
anyone even the apostles who were in Jerusalem but he went into Arabia (he does not
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pinpoint the actual place as this represented a region from Damascus to the Sinai
Peninsula, this happened between Acts 9:22 and Acts 9:23 and afterwards returned to
Damascus in Syria and stayed three years. In verse eighteen to twenty, he explains his
journey to Jerusalem (Acts 9:24-26) and he met Peter and stayed with him fifteen days.
He did not see the other apostles apart from James who was the brother of Jesus but he
did not visit the churches in Judea. They only heard that he who used to persecute
them is now a preacher of this good news and they gave God the glory. He gives an
assurance of the information he was giving as true. After this, he went back to Syria
and he travelled to Cilicia on his way to his home city of Tarsus (Acts 9:30).

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CHAPTER TWO

In this chapter, Paul reveals more of his interactions with the Apostles and the church
in Jerusalem. The church acknowledged and approved his doctrine and the church
leaders gave him a hand of fellowship. He reveals the very things that happened on his
trip and how he reacted to them.

Galatians 2:1-5……… his second visit to Jerusalem

This visit was prompted by a revelation and happened fourteen years after the first
visit with a specific reason to present to the apostles in Jerusalem his Gospel, i.e. the
content he was preaching to the Gentiles. He did not come to Jerusalem alone for
Barnabas and Titus accompanied him. Paul says that some Jewish people (Paul calls
them false brothers) did check on them and wanted to enslave them by compelling the
gentile brothers (Titus) to be circumcised but they refused to yield to the pressure so as
to preserve the truth of the gospel Paul had preached to the Galatians

Galatians 2:6-10 ………acknowledgement of Paul’s Apostleship

Paul calls Peter John and James (the brother of Jesus) as those who seemed to be
influential, though in doctrine they did not add anything to him. When these apostles
saw how he was committed to preaching to the Gentiles just as Peter was to the Jews
they gave him a hand of fellowship as a pledge of agreement for it is God who worked
in both Peter and Paul in their apostolic missions and the grace they ministered within
their respective fields, they only requested that Paul does not forget to take care of the
poor.

Galatians 2:11 - 21……………………..Paul rebukes Peter

Paul informs the Galatians of peters visit to the church in Antioch of Syria and what
transpired in the time of his visit. He reveals that when Peter visited this largely Gentile
church, he stayed and ate together with the gentiles without any problem but when
some Jewish brothers from the Jerusalem church were sent by James came to Antioch,
he withdrew and separated himself in fear of the pro-circumcision. This act caused the
other Jewish brothers to follow suit and this also affected Barnabas, Paul calls this
action as hypocrisy. When Paul saw they were not being consistent with the gospel he
rebuked Peter in front of all people present and asked him
“If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you try to force
the Gentiles to live like Jews “……Galatians 2:14. This was hard for Peter since in the

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absence of the Jewish people from Jerusalem he behaved as a gentile but when they
came he could not stand firm but wavered due to fear.
Galatians 2:15 -19 ……..Justification by faith
In the following verses, Paul explains the doctrine of Justification by faith by saying
though they were Jews by birth and not sinners like the gentiles yet their works of the
law could not justify them. It is only through Christ that one is justified by faith.
In verse seventeen he states that in his endeavor to be justified by faith he should not be
viewed as a sinner because Christ is not a servant of sin. In the following verse, he says
that if anyone builds what he broke down (works of the law) he is the one to be found
to have transgressed since through the law he died to it so that he may live to God.

Galatians 2:20-21…… life in Christ

Paul states very strongly that he has been crucified with Christ, therefore, the life he
lives in this earth did not belong to him but Christ's who through his immense love for
humankind gave his life for him. Due to this Paul says he doesn’t nullify God’s grace
for if righteousness was through the law then Christ did not have to die and because he
died then his death would achieve nothing.

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CHAPTER THREE

In this chapter, the apostle Paul continues to explain justification by faith using the
Galatian's own experience of salvation, Abrahamic reference and the law.

Galatians 3:1-5 …… Galatian own experience

At the start of this chapter he calls them foolish for leaving grace of God and retreating
to the law, he refers to this act as an act of casting a spell on their faith. He reminds
them the time he preached to them they believed in Jesus Christ and in their very own
eyes could envision Jesus crucified for their sins. He asks what means they received the
spirit was it by the works of the law they were now entertaining or by faith.
In verse three he asks them how they could have begun in Spirit and seek to perfect it
by human effort and the law, he calls this an act of foolishness. He reminds them that
God gave them the Spirit plus the many miracles God did in their midst was not
through the law but by the faith of the gospel they believed. Otherwise, why did they
suffer so much in their walk with Christ and what worth was it?
Galatians 3:6 -10……….Abraham as an example
He refers to Genesis 15:6 where the patriarch Abraham believed God and it was
credited to him as righteousness and this applies to all who believe becomes the sons of
Abraham. Paul explains that the scripture did foresee God justifying the Gentiles by
faith and proclaimed before it happened that in Abraham shall the nations be blessed.
And this applies to all who believe as they are blessed along with Abraham who also
believed.
Galatians 3:11 –14……………. the curse of the law
Paul uses Jeremiah 11:3, Deuteronomy 27:26 as the reference to show the Galatians the
curse laid to all who fail to fulfil the law in entirety. He says this puts to rest that no one
is justified by the Law before God, because it speaks of a curse and more so he quotes
Habakkuk 2:4 as the basis of justification for the just or righteous shall live by faith
which the law does not provide but puts the people under bondage by stating that
whoever does the works thereof shall live by them. In verse thirteen the apostle says
that Christ redeemed us from that curse of the law by taking our place through
crucifixion. Therefore now through him, the blessings of Abraham would extend to the
non-Jews through the spirit of Faith.

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Galatians 3:15 - 21………the promises

Paul uses a human example of a covenant that is man-made and ratified cannot be
annulled or changed. He explains the promise of the blessings were made to Abraham
and his offspring who is Jesus Christ cannot be changed or annulled by the law which
came 430 years after this covenant was made and ratified by God. Paul argues if the
inheritance of Abrahams blessing was by the law then it would no longer be based on
the promise God made to Abraham. In verse nineteen he says the law was given
because of transgressions and was necessary until the arrival of the offspring who was
promised. This law was administered through angels as the link (intermediaries)
between the parties. This does not mean that the law opposed the promises of God but
it was given to put everything into subjection until the promise by faith in Jesus Christ
be given to those who believe.
Galatians 3:22-29 ……… now no need for a guardian
Paul continues in his explanation by summarizing the work of the law as a guardian
until Christ came who declared Justification by faith to them who believed in him,
therefore we are no longer under the law for in Christ Jesus we have become sons of
God through faith. All who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have clothed
themselves with Christ and this applies to all people both Jews and Gentiles, slaves, or
free, male or female for all have become one in Christ. Since now we belong to Christ
we are Abrahams descendants and therefore heirs according to the Abrahamic
promise.

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CHAPTER FOUR
Paul explains the need for the heir to grow and mature, uses a personal testimony as a
reminder to the Galatians of their earlier belief when he visited them. He also uses an
allegorical reference of the two sons of Abraham in trying to show the Galatians of their
error.
Galatians 4:1 -7……. Our adoption as sons
Paul puts it very clear that any heir is no different from a slave, though he owns
everything if the heir is still a child. The same heir is placed under managers until the
time set by the father for him to receive what belongs to him. In verse three he likens
this life example to our former state where we were under the basic forces of the world
but when the appropriate time came God sent out Jesus Christ born out of a woman
and under the law so as to redeem us who were under the law. This enabled our
adoption as sons of the kingdom of God with full rights, and to make it complete God
sent the Spirit of Jesus Christ in our hearts who calls out ABBA father. Therefore we are
sons and heirs of the promise through God.

Galatians 4:8 –12…….heirs should not be slaves

He tells them that before they believed in Christ they were enslaved by beings that are
not gods, but since now they are known and know God they are not supposed to return
to the weak elementary things of the world to be enslaved by them. In verse ten Paul
shows the Galatians having been influenced by the Jewish legalists had turned to
observe the Jewish feasts and he now expresses his fears in verse eleven that he might
have laboured in vain for these churches. However, in verse twelve he requests the
Galatians to be as he is in terms of his relationship with the church, he literary means
that he had a good relationship with them.

Galatians 4:13 – 20 ………his ailment

Paul gives an insight into his physical condition when he preached in the region of
Galatia, though he was sick the Galatians accepted him as a messenger of God (Angel)
even as Jesus Christ himself. Now he asks what has become of their former happiness
for they were willing to exchange their eyes for his, this is meant to show the regard
they had for Paul then but they had turned against him for telling them the truth. In
verse seventeen he gives a warning to these churches to take care of the people who
were leading them astray had their own ulterior motives. In verse nineteen he says he is
undergoing the birth pains the second time to form Christ in their hearts once again,
and he wishes he was with them in person as this would make him change his tone for
he was totally baffled by their change of heart

Galatians 4:21 -31 …….the Hagar and Sarah allegory

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Paul uses this allegory to explain the difference between the law and the promise, using
the two sons of Abraham and how they were born. He says that Ishmael who was born
of Hagar (Sarah’s slave) was after the flesh, corresponds him with the law and the Sinai
covenant and the present Jerusalem which did not believe in Jesus Christ and was in
slavery with her children. But Isaac was born by Sarah who was a free woman and her
son was of the promise. He quotes Isaiah 54:1 to cement his case of the promise to the
barren woman who bears more children. He now tells the Galatians they are the
children of the promise just like Isaac was. He further says just like Ishmael who
persecuted Isaac, that’s how it is the one born of flesh (law) persecutes the one born of
the Spirit (promise), because Ishmael was not to inherit anything alongside Isaac, Both
Hagar and her son were cast out that Isaac should take his inheritance. In concluding
this chapter he firmly tells them that they were the children of promise.

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CHAPTER FIVE

In this chapter, he gives good advice to these churches to stand fast in Christ's freedom
and use love as a benchmark of exercising their actions to avoid excesses. More so in the
last part of the chapter, he counsels against indulgence in flesh but that they walk in the
spirit and be totally separated from their sinful nattered

Galatians 5:1-5 …………..the Christian freedom

He beseeches them to stand fast in the freedom they did receive from Jesus Christ
without returning again to the enslaving bondage of the law. If they returned to the law
and were circumcised in accordance with the requirements of the Jewish legalists then
Christ would be of no value to them. Whoever will accept to be circumcised will be
obligated to fulfil the whole law, this will completely severe them from Christ as they
will be seeking to be justified by the law instead of faith and thus will automatically fall
away from grace. He tells them it is by faith we wait for the hope of righteousness.

Galatians 5:6 – 12......his confidence

In this verse, Paul cautions these Galatians the futility of Circumcision in the matters of
faith, to be or not be circumcised counts nothing to them who are in Jesus Christ, what
matter is the Faith in him working through love. In verse seven he recalls that these
brothers were standing sound in the faith and wonders who hindered them from
obeying the truth, he warns that a little false teaching destroys the whole faith. He tells
them of his confidence that they will not accept the other views being peddled by the
Judaizes and wishes the troublers bear their own penalty and that they would be cut
off( to emasculate or castrate oneself……. Some pagan priests practised these acts). He asks if
he was a preacher of circumcision why did he suffer constant persecution from the
Judaizers and his preaching that kind of Gospel would remove that which made these
Jewish legalists oppose the gospel of grace.

Galatians 5:13 – 15…………extent of freedom

In the above verses he reiterates that we are called to freedom, however, this is not a
license to do as one wanted or as an opportunity for fleshly indulgencies but as an
opportunity to serve one another through the love of God.
In verse fourteen he quotes from Leviticus 19:18 and sums the whole text that one
should love his or her neighbour as himself, he warns if they continue to devour and
bite one another they will end up consuming each other.

Galatians 5:16-26 ……walk in the Spirit

In this verse, Paul deals with a very touchy issue and gives his advice on how to avoid
gratifying the lust and the desires of the flesh. He uses the word "walk" in verse sixteen

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to signify that it is a journey and a decision that is required to be made. The desires of
the flesh always fight against the desires of the Spirit, they always oppose each other
and therefore can keep the person from doing what he /she may want to do. However,
if one is led by the Spirit, the person is not under the law.
From the verse, nineteen to twenty-one Paul lays bare the works of the flesh and says
whoever does them will not inherit Gods kingdom. In verse twenty-two to twenty-three
he lays down the fruit of the spirit and says against them there is no law and those who
belong to Christ did crucify the flesh and all its passion. He concludes this chapter by
advising the Galatians to behave in accordance with their life in Spirit and not be full of
pride which would arouse envy.

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CHAPTER SIX

In this chapter he now addresses the Galatians on how they need to deal with brethren
who were overtaken by sin, and their giving towards supporting their teachers of the
word and concludes the chapter by reiterating the futility of circumcision, thereafter
wish them the grace of God but this is after telling them not to trouble him any longer.

Galatians 6:1-5 ……..restoring the sinning brother

Paul requests the brothers who are mature and strong spiritually to restore the weaker
brother who has been overtaken by a fault or sin with a spirit of gentleness and taking
care lest they also are tempted in the same issue. Also, he advises them to bear one
another’s burdens and when they do so they will fulfil the will (law) of Christ. Let
everyone examine himself and not to fall into deception but after evaluating ones work
the person has something to rejoice about but should not compare himself with others
for everyone shall be responsible for his or her work.

Galatians 6:6- 10 ……. Supporting their teachers

Paul encourages these churches to support their teacher with material things and also
cautions them against thinking that they will reap where they have not sown. He
informs them that God will not be mocked, whatsoever the things one sows he will also
harvest of the same. To those who sow in the flesh they reap corruption or destruction
but those who sow in the spirit they shall reap eternal life. In verse nine he tells them
not to give up in doing good to everyone for in the fullness of time we shall also reap
and in every opportunity, they need to do good to them who are of the same family of
faith in Christ

Galatians 6:11- 18 ………………..final remarks

Paul informs the churches in Galatia that he wrote with his own hand this letter and
used big letters, probably it was as a result of a problem with his eyes. In verse thirteen
he reminds them that the people who were forcing the Galatians to be circumcised were
doing so to avoid their own persecution from fellow Judaizers and for that reason they
shall also have grounds for their boasting. He reiterated that circumcision or lack of it
did not matter at all what was important is the new creation in Christ Jesus and he
wished Gods mercy and peace to those who walked in accordance to that rule. In verse
seventeen he tells them not to trouble him any longer for he did bear in his body the
marks of Jesus Christ, this was through the many persecutions he had undergone
because of the gospel had left many scars in his body. He concludes by wishing them
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Brief Commentary On The Book Of Galatians JOSEPH K. RUCHIAKA 2017