COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS

LESSON NUMBER 5

Chapter One, Verses 15-17

“But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 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.”

SET APART AND CALLED

“But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace . . . “ (NIV).

              Our theology must allow us to receive the Word of the Lord freely and without fleshly entanglements! Paul was “called” after he was “set apart.” This agrees with the affirmation of Divine intent in Romans 8:29—”and whom He predestined, these He also called.” Paul wrote of the same sequence to the Thessalonians—”God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel” (2 Thess 2:13-14, NASB). Peter also spoke from this lofty perspective—”chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience” (1 Pet 1:2, NASB). Jude also alludes to this marvelous aspect of salvation: “to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ” (Jude 1, NASB). Notice Paul’s word to Timothy in 2 Tim 1:9.

              Like Jeremiah, Paul was chosen from the mother’s womb. “Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jer 1:4-5). John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit from his mother’s womb: “and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, while yet in his mother's womb” (Lk 1:15). The Lord “loved” Jacob before he was born, or had done any good or evil (Rom 10:11-13). The foundation of God stands sure—He “knows them that are His” (2 Tim 2:19).

              The call of the Apostle was accomplished without God compromising His own character, or setting aside the volition of the called one. It was the inclination of the Apostle that drew the Lord to him, not his works. (This is why God loved Jacob and chose David. Their hearts were tender toward the Lord!) The Apostle Paul was called AFTER he had been set apart! That is the solemn affirmation of Scripture!

              Salvation is “of the Lord” from beginning to end, whether we are speaking of an Apostle or of you (Jonah 2:9; Rev 7:10; 19:1). It is owing more to His pleasure and will than our own! This truth allows for confidence and assurance in the saints!

THE REASON FOR THE CALL

“But when God . . . was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles . . . (NIV)

              The Son was revealed IN Paul, and He was revealed by the Father, as Jesus taught (Matt 11:27; John 6:44-45). Sound theology is found in a Person, not a position! The Person and accomplishments of the Son are the key to every aspect of truth! From another perspective, Jesus manifested Himself to Paul (John 14:21).

              Whatever we may think of inspiration, it does involve the insight of those to whom the revelation came. Paul makes clear that God did not merely reveal some pertinent things to him—the Son was made known to Him. Some make claims to receiving insight into social, domestic, political, or even “prophetic” matters. Paul announced insight into Christ Jesus. He joyfully received the revelation, forthwith leaving every competing interest (Phil 3:7-11).

              However, the marvelous revelation was not for Himself alone! His insight into Jesus qualified Paul to declare Him among the Gentiles! Isaiah prophesied the Gentiles would seek the Lord (Isa 11:10). He also declared the Messiah would bring judgment (favorable) to them (Isa 42:1). From old time, God intended to show light to the Gentiles—but it must come from one that had received light himself (Isa 42:6). God’s intention was to show His salvation to the “ends of the earth” (Isa 4:6). His revelation would no longer be provincial, but global. He had prepared His salvation “for all people” (Luke 2:30-32). Although the Gentiles had been delivered over to their own corrupt minds (Rom 1:22-31), yet God raised up an insightful messenger to bring them the good news of salvation!

              The contemporary church has taken the acceptance of the Gentiles for granted. Such things ought not to be! We Gentiles are trophies of God’s marvelous grace, being received “contrary to nature” (Rom 11:24). Having been “grafted” into God’s own “olive tree,” we now partake of its “root and fatness” (Rom 11:17). We are now “fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Eph 3:6). God is the “God of the Gentiles,” and therefore He gave them Paul (Rom 3:29).

NO CONSULTATION!

“But when God . . . was pleased to reveal his Son in me . . . I did not consult any man . . . ” (NIV)

              The greatness of the revelation burst upon Paul in a fresh way. He sensed that it transcended the ordinary way of learning. Even though the “twelve Apostles” (Matt 10:2; Rev 21:14) were called and commissioned before him, he did not consult with them. Here was a case where one “born out of due season” (1 Cor 15:8) received a revelation of something previously revealed to others! It was not a different or conflicting revelation, but appears to have been an expanded one. No one spoke of the grace of God with the power and insight of Paul. He certainly did not obviate the other Apostles, but neither was his understanding enhanced by their insights.

              Notice, Paul did not even go to the city of Jerusalem, where the church began and was flourishing. As we see later in Paul’s life, he did not despise Jerusalem, but had a love for the “holy city” (Acts 21). However, the revelation of the Son “in” Paul was of such magnitude that he sought fellowship with the Son even above the most qualified of all believers! His quest was to “know Christ,” not the basic tenets of the faith! Mark it well, the person that truly “knows” the Son cannot be deficient in his understanding of the principles of the faith! Perfection is found in Jesus, not in well-rounded knowledge! Identity with Christ qualifies God’s servant more than identity with a group—even the “right”group!

              Paul does not elaborate on his trek into Arabia—certainly a unique and untraditional place for learning! Later, Paul speaks of Sinai as being in Arabia (Gal 4:25). It is intriguing to think of the giving of the Law at Sinai, and of the possible illumination of the Apostle at the same place. But that is mere conjecture. The point is that Paul’s tutelage was personal. He was not handicapped by being “untimely born” (1 Cor 15:8).

              After his conversion, Paul did spend a few days with the disciples in Damascus (Acts 9:19). Although a “novice” from the perspective of time, he did begin to preach Jesus in the synagogues causing amazement among the people (Acts 9:20-22). His return was a productive one, as we might expect! He received what Jesus gave!