Chapter 1

1:1 - Who raised Jesus from the dead?

* God raised Jesus from the dead.  However, Jesus is part of the triune Godhead (also called the trinity).

1:8-9 - Those who disagree with Paul's religious views are damned.

* Incidentally, Paul tells the people that if anyone preaches a different gospel than the one "we" preached to you, let them be accursed.  Paul is clearly warning people about false gospels.

1:10 - Romans 15:2 says, "Let every one of us please his neighbor." And in 1 Cor.10:33, Paul claims to "please all men in all things." And yet in this verse, Paul says if he pleases men, he is not the servant of Christ.

* Galatians 1:10 and 11 read, "For do I now persuade men, or God?  Or do I seek to please men?  For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.  But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.  For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."  Paul is clearly talking about the gospel message.  Paul is stating that he did not change the gospel in order to please people.

* Romans 15:1 and 2 read, "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification."  Paul is clearly telling people to edify one another.  This is not talking about distorting the gospel message.

* 1 Corinthians 10:33 is better understood by reading verses 31 and 32, also.  Paul is clearly stating that he does not offend people by breaking their traditions because he wants them to get saved.

Chapter 2

2:2 - Paul disobeys Jesus by preaching the gospel to the gentiles.(Mt.10:5)

* In Matthew 10:5, Jesus gives His disciples specific instructions.  This was a moment in time when they were to preach to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  However, later in Jesus' ministry, the disciples were told to go into the entire world and preach the gospel.  See Matthew 21:42-44, Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 1:16, etc.

2:6 - According to this verse (but contrary to many others), God accepts no one.

* This verse correlates with other passages of scripture.  It simply says that God does not show favoritism to people with titles, social status, wealth, etc.

* In the Greek, the phrase "God accepts no man's person" literally means, "God doesn't receive people by their appearance."

2:16 - Here we are told that people are judged by their faith alone. But in other verses, the Bible clearly says that people are judged by their works.

* We are saved by faith alone.  This doesn't change the fact that our works will be judged (Ecclesiastes 12:14).  The unbelievers will go to Hell after their works are judged and they don't have forgiveness (Revelation 20:12-15).  The believers will receive eternal rewards based on their good works on Earth (Psalm 37:18).

* Our beliefs don't necessarily determine anything.  A person is saved if they trust Jesus Christ's sacrifice for their sins.  "Belief" is a word with many degrees of meaning.  Many people simply "believe" or "think" things and don't sincerely trust in Jesus Christ.  In order to be given redemption and eternal life, God requires a person to trust, accept, and believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son, was perfect, died for our sins, and rose from the dead.  This involves more than a nominal belief in God or the Bible.

* Without a payment for our sins, we cannot have forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22).  We are required to either give our own life or trust in the one who gave His life for us.

2:16 - What must you do to be saved? Believe the right things.

* We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ.  This verse, in its plain and simple context, is very clear.

Chapter 3

3:1 - Paul calls the Galatians "foolish" and thus makes himself worthy of hell fire. (Mt.5:22)

* Yes, Paul calls the Galatians foolish for believing false things.

* Matthew 5:22 is better understood by reading from verse 19.  Matthew 5:19-22 read, "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

* Jesus is clearly warning against false teaching and empty words.  The Pharisees were teaching people false things about pleasing God, putting an extra yoke on the Israelites.  Furthermore, this false teaching included empty words like "you fool" that did not include correction and instruction in righteousness.  Therefore, Jesus gives a stern warning about false teachers and name calling in the absence of true, biblical instruction.

* Paul wasn't simply calling the Galatians names and refusing to give them solid, biblical instruction.  This is evidenced by the large epistle that was written to them (before and after Galatians 3:1).

3:10 - Those who try to follow the law are cursed (contrary to Dt.27:26 and Jn.5:29).

* This passage is better understood by reading verse 11, too.  Galatians 3:10 and 11 read, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."  Continue reading the next, several verses for more clarification.

* Paul is telling the people that they are no longer justified by adhering to the laws of the Old Testament.  Now, they are justified by their faith (trust, acceptance, and belief) in Jesus Christ as the atoning sacrifice for their sins.

* Deuteronomy 27:26 was written to the Old Testament Israelites and this was a correct and valid statement at that time.

* John 5:29 is better understood by reading the verses that precede it (especially verse 24).  John 5:24 reads, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."  These are the "good" people that Jesus refers to in John 5:29.

3:11 - Has there ever been a just person?

* Yes. There have been some just people.  The apparent confusion lies only in Ecclesiastes 7:20.  However, the writer is stating that there are no perfect people.  In his new "circle of friends," there surely weren't any godly people (and definitely nobody perfect).

3:11-12 - Is salvation by faith alone?

* Yes, salvation is by faith alone.  This passage clearly states that salvation does not come from following the law.

3:13 - Jesus was cursed by God.

* The "curse of the law" was death.  Jesus died or became the "curse of the law" for us, so we would not have to die in our sins.

3:16 - This verse says that Jesus is "the seed" of Abraham. but this is denied in Matthew (1:18, 22:41-45).

* Jesus was the seed of Abraham.  This was proven in the genealogy in Matthew 1.

* Matthew 22:44-45 simply states the Jesus was a "son of David."  He was in David's lineage.  This is also proven by the genealogy in Matthew 1.

* Incidentally, it was important that Jesus was in the line of Abraham and David.  This fulfilled specific, Messianic prophecies that identified Jesus Christ as the Messiah.  See Genesis 12:3, Psalm 22, Hosea 6, Psalm 16, Isaiah 53, etc.

Chapter 4

4:22 - In this verse Paul says Abraham had two sons, but Hebrews (11:17) and Genesis (22:2) say that Abraham had only one son.

* Paul is clearly making a point about freedom and bondage by contrasting Isaac with Ishmael.  Paul never says that Abraham had only two sons.

* Abraham's "only son" or "only begotten son" are phrases that refer to Isaac as the child God promised to Him (foreshadowing the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ).

Chapter 5

5:2 - God requires that all males be circumcised (Gen.17:10-11), but Paul considers it completely unnecessary.

* In Genesis 17:10 and 11, this passage of scripture is written to the Israelites in the pre-Christ, Old Covenant.  This was true and correct for them.  However, Paul is correct in saying that circumcision was no longer necessary.  This passage of scripture correlates with many other passages of scripture, too.  See Colossians 3:11.

5:12 - "I would they were even cut off which trouble you." Gosh, that doesn't sound very nice. But I wonder what Paul meant by "cut off". The New Revised Standard Version translates this verse as: "I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!"

* Paul is making a point about the liberty of the believer and how the yoke of the Old Covenant (with laws like circumcision) should not be imposed any longer.

5:18 - Do Christians need to follow Old Testament laws?

* Christians do not need to follow the Old Testament laws that were directed specifically to the Old Testament Israelites and not to post-Christ peoples.

* Galatians 5:18 reads, "If you are led by the Spirit, then you are not under the law."  "The law" is referring to the Old Testament laws that were specifically for the Israelites.  The New Testament believers were not bound by these laws.  Furthermore, this passage could also be translated: "If you are led by the Spirit, then you are not under the curse of the law."  The "curse of the law" was death and the Spirit brings life.

5:19-21 - Is dancing a sin?

* Dancing isn't mentioned in this passage. This is a list of evils that people do to please the flesh.

5:20-21 - Witches, idol worshippers, and heretics will not go to heaven. (Guess where they'll be going.)

* This is correct.  Pagans who do not trust, believe, and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will not go to Heaven.  This is consistent with many other passages of scripture.

5:21 - Is it ok to drink alcohol?

* In the scriptures, we only see drinking condoned when it is either consumed when a person is dying or celebrating.  Strong drink was given to people who were very sick because they didn't have medication or pills.  During celebrations, drinking a little wine without getting drunk was acceptable.

* Many times, especially in the book of Proverbs, we see warnings against drunkenness.  It is clearly foolish and wrong to get drunk.  We don't see drunkenness condoned anywhere in the scriptures.

5:22 - Paul tells us that the spirit of God is love, joy, peace, etc. Is this the same spirit that is acting in Judges (3:10, 14:19, 15:14-15) and 1 Samuel (11:6-7)?

* Incidentally, Paul lists the "fruits of the Spirit."

* In all of the Old Testament passages listed, God is judging pagan people for their sin.  God has a complete character and will not let sin go unpunished.  

* Contrary to an aloof, earthly father who fails to discipline his children, leading to their demise, God disciplines the ones He loves because the righteous learn from discipline; even when others receive the appropriate discipline.

Chapter 6

6:2 - Paul says we should bear one another's burdens in this verse, but three verses later he says, "every man shall bear his own burden."

* The Greek words for "burdens" are different in Galatians 6:2 and Galatians 6:5.  In Galatians 6:2, Paul is encouraging people to love one another by "bearing their burdens."  This involves helping, listening, etc. 

* This passage is better understood by reading verse 4, too.  Galatians 6:4 and 5 read, "But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  For each one shall bear his own load."  In Galatians 6:5, Paul is clearly referring to the need for people to work.

6:8 - Does Hell exist? No.

* This verse does not confirm or deny Hell's existence.