Rose Murdock's Notes on The Epistles

1: Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2: and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4: who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5: to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen. 6: I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7: which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8: But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9: As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 10: For am I now see...

11: For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me 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 manner of life 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 more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15: But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16: to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him 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. ***  Paul began to account for how he received the gospel of Jesus Christ to validate his legitimacy ...

18: Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19: But I did not see any other of the apostles except 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: I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23: but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24: And they were glorifying God because of me. ***  Paul, continuing his personal history, said that three years after his conversion and subsequent time in Damascus and Arabia, he went to Jerusalem to meet Cephas (Peter) and stayed only fifteen days with him. Peter, and James, the Lord’s brother, were the only ones he saw during that visit. He did not meet any other apostles. We read in Acts that he was trying to associate with the disciples in Jeru...

1: Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2: It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 3: But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4: But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. 5: But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6: But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. 7: But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcis...

11: But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12: For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13: The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14: But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? ***  Paul had just explained that during his trip to Jerusalem James, Cephas (Peter), and John had agreed with what he had been preaching for fourteen years, that the Gentile converts to Christianity did not need to be circumcised since salvation comes through faith in Christ alone, not in keeping the Law. Yet he said that ever since...

15: “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16: nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. 17: “But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! 18: “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19: “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21: “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” ***...

1: You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2: This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3: Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4: Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5: So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 6: Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7: Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8: The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9: So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. ***  Paul asked how the Galatians coul...

10: For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.” 11: Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 12: However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” 13: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14: in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. ***  Paul quoted Old Testament Scripture here to make several important points. First is that anyone who was under the Law was under a curse. He was speaking of the Jewish Law which God gave to Moses, which, among other things, required all males to be circumcised. He brought this up because of the Je...

15: Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16: Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17: What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18: For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. 19: Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20: Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21: Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had...

23: But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24: Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25: But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26: For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27: For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29: And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. ***  It’s an amazing statement for Paul to make that if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham’s descendent and heirs according to the promise. In Christ, all class distinctions which would give religious preference or status to one over another is removed. Both Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female ...

1: Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2: but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3: So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4: But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5: so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6: Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7: Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. ***  Paul had just explained that the Law was like a tutor which led to faith in Christ, and he said that whoever belonged to Christ was Abraham’s descendant and heirs according to the promise. He continued this line of thought saying that an heir is no different from a servant when he’s...

8: However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9: But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10: You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11: I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. ***  At that time—or when you were a servant and not a son—when you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that are not gods. Things that aren’t even real and have no power in and of themselves. The Gentiles would have been enslaved to various forms of idol worship. Paul addressed that here pointing out that when they were enslaved to these things, it was when they didn’t know God. Knowing God brought them into freedom from these things they had been enslaved to. Paul asked, how they could, now that they knew God, or rather were known by God, turn back...

12: I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13: but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; 14: and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15: Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16: So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17: They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18: But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. 19: My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— 20: but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. ***  Paul u...

21: Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? 22: For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. 23: But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. 24: This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26: But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. 27: For it is written, “REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.” 28: And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29: But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit...

1: It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2: Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3: And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4: You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5: For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. ***  Paul told the Galatians that Christ hadn’t set them free so they could go back into bondage under the Law. No, He set us free so we could be free from trying to earn salvation through works, instead of by grace through faith. He encouraged them to stand firm against those who would try and bring them into a yoke of slavery through the Law. Pa...

7: You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8: This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 9: A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10: I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11: But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12: I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves. 13: For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14: For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 15: But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. ***  Paul acknowledged that they had been doing very well and asked who had come and hindered them...

16: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17: For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18: But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19: Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20: idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21: envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23: gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24: Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25: If we live by the ...

1: Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2: Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3: For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4: But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5: For each one will bear his own load. 6: The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8: For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9: Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10: So then, while we have opportunity, let u...

11: See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12: Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13: For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. 14: But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15: For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16: And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17: From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. 18: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen. ***  Paul closed his letter to the Galatians commenting that he had written this letter himself. N...