Tag: apostle

Greetings to Galatia

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Galatians 1:1-5 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead), And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 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: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

‘Apostle’ [Greek: Apostolos] a delegate, one sent with the full power of attorney to act in the place of another, the sender remaining behind to back up the one sent.

‘Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.’ Note the two separate persons of the Godhead (John 1:1-2; 1Jn. 5:7).

‘Churches of Galatia’ – This letter was from the apostle Paul, written from Rome about 68 A.D., along with the book Hebrews, and was addressed to all the congregations of Galatia, a province of Asia Minor. There was no city by this name. How many congregations were in Galatia at this time is not known. It seems they all had the same troubles. The theme of this letter was to correct the fickle Galatians from further backsliding and following the legalizing, Judaizing teachers from Judea; and to set them straight regarding the relation of Christians of the new covenant with the Jews of the old covenant.

‘Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world.’ Five reasons why Christ gave Himself: For our sins (1:4; Matt. 1:21; 26:28; 1Cor. 15:3; 1Pet. 2:24). That He might deliver us from this present evil world (1:4; Tit. 2:14). For His body of true believers – that He might sanctify them by the Word (Eph. 5:25-26). To be a ransom for all (1Tim. 2:6). For us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity (Tit. 2:14).

‘That he might deliver us from this present evil world’ – Christ came to set us free from the bonds of sin that reign in our world. No Christian should claim that Christ died for the sin so that they can continue therein (Heb. 10:26-31), to be free means not to continue therein and thus make no place for satan and the curse (Rom. 6; 1Jn. 1:6; 3:1-10; 5:18). ‘To whom be glory for ever and ever.’ God won’t give the praise and honour that are due Him to angels, demons, men, or idols. Men must not take to themselves any glory for ideas, doctrines, works, wisdom, power, or ability that has come from God for His glory. Man is not worthy of such glory; how much less are images worthy of it.

Work in the Lord

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

1Corinthians 9:1-4 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not you my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are you in the Lord. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? 

‘Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not you my work in the Lord?’ There were some in Corinth who questioned Paul’s apostleship (9:1-3).

‘Apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not you my work in the Lord.’ Nine arguments proving Paul’s apostleship: His claim of being an apostle (9:1). His claim to freedom from all secular and religious bondage, enabling him to be completely devoted to the apostleship (9:1). His claim of seeing Jesus (9:1; 15:8). The very existence of the Corinthian congregation and their conversion from heathenism proved his apostleship (9:1-2; Acts 18:1-28). His consecration to abnormal human living so as to preach (9:3-6). His unselfish devotion to the apostleship without pay (9:7-15). His divine obligation to fulfil his call to the apostleship (9:16-18). His devoted service to all people to win them to the gospel (9:19-23). His qualifications for the apostleship and the Christian race (9:24-27).

‘Seal’ [Greek: sphragis] It was a figure cut in stone and set in a ring by which letters of authority were stamped. Greeks excelled in this kind of engraving. Paul used this figure to express the fact that their own conversion was proof of his apostolic authority.

‘Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goes a warfare any time at his own charges? who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or said not the law the same also?’ Have we not power to eat and drink at the expense of the congregations we have founded? If others receive your support, are we not worthy also of support? We have not used this right as others (9:12-15). Paul supported himself partly by working while starting the Thessalonians’ congregation and partly through help from Philippi (2Thess. 3:7-9). He refers to their gift as a sweet aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” This promise is still true to those who are in Christ and who are faithful to God in tithing’s as the Philippians were (Php. 4:14-18). Imagine being a partaker of all that Paul has sown through his work for God in the lives of the congregations where he laboured as well as being the author of no less than 14 books of the New Testament (Romans to Hebrew).