Bible Commentaries
Galatians 1

Verse 3

Grace

Grace (in salvation). Galatians 1:6; Galatians 1:15; Galatians 2:21; Romans 3:24. (See Scofield "Romans 3:24- :") .

Verse 4

sins

Sin. (See Scofield " :-") .

Verse 6

grace

The test of the Gospel is grace. If the message excludes grace, or mingles law with grace as the means of either of justification or sanctification Galatians 2:21; Galatians 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 Galatians 1:8; Galatians 1:9.

Verse 10

For now do

The demonstration is as follows:

(1) The Galatians know Paul, that he is no seeker after popularity Galatians 1:10.

(2) He puts his known character back of the assertion that his Gospel of grace was a revelation from God (Galatians 1:11; Galatians 1:12).

(3) As for the Judaizers, Paul had been a foremost Jew, and had forsaken Judaism for something better (Galatians 1:13; Galatians 1:14).

(4) He had preached grace years before he saw any of the other apostles (Galatians 1:15-24).

(5) When he did meet the other apostles they had nothing to add to his revelations Galatians 2:1-6.

(6) The other apostles fully recognized Paul's apostleship. Galatians 2:7-10.

(7) If the legalizers pleaded Peter's authority, the answer was that he himself had claimed none when rebuked (Galatians 2:11-14).

Verse 13

Jews' religion

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

Verse 14

religion

In verses 13 and 14 the Greek word for "the Jews' religion" is Ioudaismos (Judaism). In Acts 26:5; James 1:26; James 1:27 threskeia--religious service--is translated "religion," and in Colossians 2:18; Colossians 2:18 "worshipping." Excepting James 1:27; James 1:27 "religion" has always a bad sense, and nowhere is it synonymous with salvation or spirituality.