Galatians 5:12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! Truth to Learn False teachers and their teaching cause trouble in the church. Behind the Words The word translated “I could wish” is ophelon. At one point in time this word was used as...
Daily Verse
Galatians 5:11 – Persecuted for Righteousness
Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. Truth to Learn Our message is offensive to those who refuse to believe. Behind the Words The word translated, “preach” is kērussō, which means to...
Galatians 5:10 – Truth or Consequences
Galatians 5:10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. Truth to Learn Good doctrine produces confidence in the Church, and those who teach false doctrine will be judged harshly. Behind...
Galatians 5:9 – Leavenly Teaching
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Truth to Learn Any teaching in the church, no matter how small, which does not square with the Bible, needs to be abandoned. Behind the Words The word translated “leaven” is dzumē, which is probably derived from dzeō, meaning “to heat.”...
Galatians 5:8 – Unfriendly Persuasion
Galatians 5:8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. Truth to Learn We need to be persuaded by the truth, not the seductive messages of the world and false teachers. Behind the Words The word “this” does not appear in the Greek text. Instead, this should have...
Galatians 5:7 – Tripped-up Runner
Galatians 5:7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? Truth to Learn Get back in the race, pursuing the truth and serving God. Behind the Words The word translated “ran” is from the Greek word trechō, which means “to run.” This particular word is expressed in the...
Galatians 5:6 – Loving Faith
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. Truth to Learn Faith is strengthened through acts of love, not through acts of obedience to a set of religious rules. Behind the Words The Greek word translated “avails” is ischuō, which...
Galatians 5:5 – Eager Anticipation
Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Truth to Learn Unlike those who think they can earn their righteousness, we eagerly wait for the day of our complete righteousness. Behind the Words “Eagerly wait for” is translated from the Greek word...
Galatians 5:4 – Secure Grace
Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Truth to Learn You cannot be justified by keeping the law, and you cannot lose your salvation by falling from grace. Behind the Words The word translated “estranged” is...
Galatians 5:3 – Unpayable Debt
Galatians 5:3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. Truth to Learn No matter how obedient we are to laws, church ordinances, and regulations, we can never repay the debt that we owe to God...
Galatians 5:2 – Faith Alone
Galatians 5:2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. Truth to Learn Obedience to the Law of Moses (or any other set of rules and regulations) adds nothing to salvation. Behind the Words The word translated “indeed” is eidō...
Galatians 5:1 – Stay Free
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Truth to Learn Once we are freed from the bondage of church laws and rules we are not to return to that form...
Galatians 4:31 – Reborn Free
Galatians 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Truth to Learn We are spiritually born free; therefore, we should live as freeborn sons and not as slaves to the law. Behind the Words The word translated “So then” is ara. Technically,...
Galatians 4:30 – Cast Out Legalism
Galatians 4:30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." Truth to Learn Get rid of your legalistic rules and practices. They have no place alongside a life...
Galatians 4:29 – Jealous Bondage
Galatians 4:29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Truth to Learn The bondage of legalism and religious acts of the flesh will not produce freedom or peace, but they may...
Galatians 4:28 – Children of Promise
Galatians 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. Truth to Learn We are the children of God through believing what He tells us in the Bible and works of the flesh add nothing to that. Behind the Words The New Testament was written in Greek,...
Galatians 4:27 – The Whole Bible
Galatians 4:27 For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, you who do not bear! Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband." Truth to Learn Even in the Old Testament, God indicated that...
Galatians 4:26 – Jerusalem Free
Galatians 4:26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. Truth to Learn We can choose freedom through simple faith in Christ or bondage through observance of a set of commands. Behind the Words The word translated “above” is ano, which means...
Galatians 4:25 – Jerusalem Bound
Galatians 4:25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— Truth to Learn We have been set free from the slavery which is produced by trying to live by the Law, and we want to...
Galatians 4:24 – Covenant of Bondage
Galatians 4:24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— Truth to Learn Living your life under a collection of spiritual rules and guidelines produces bondage. Behind the Words It was pointed out a...
Galatians 4:23 – Flesh or Promise?
Galatians 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, Truth to Learn Works of the flesh, like obeying man made spiritual laws and rules, do not please God. What He wants is faith. Behind...
Galatians 4:22 – Works or Faith?
Galatians 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. Truth to Learn Obedience comes from faith, which results in God’s blessing. Neither faith nor blessing comes from our own actions, even when we think they are the...
Galatians 4:21 – Determined Faith
Galatians 4:21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? Truth to Learn Those who would please God must do so through faith, not through obeying a set of rules and regulations. Behind the Words The word translated “desire” is a...
Galatians 4:20 – Loving Doubt
Galatians 4:20 20I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you. Truth to Learn Our message to the world needs to be concise and clear and it must be presented with the love of God. Behind the...
Galatians 4:19 – Spiritual Children
Galatians 4:19 19My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, Truth to Learn Spiritually healthy Christians are constantly maturing to become more like Christ. Behind the Words “Little children” is from “teknia,” a diminutive form of “teknon,” the word for...
Galatians 4:18 – Good Zeal
Galatians 4:18 18But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. Truth to Learn We should proclaim the gospel message with zeal, but we must ensure that we only proclaim the truth. Behind the Words As...
Galatians 4:17 – Misplaced Zeal
Galatians 4:17 17They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. Truth to Learn Motive and method are often intertwined. We need pastors and teachers who are not only sincere and enthusiastic, but also concerned above...
Galatians 4:16 – Truth or Consequences
Galatians 4:16 16Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? Truth to Learn Holding to the truth of God’s Word is more important than being well liked. Behind the Words The word translated as “therefore” is “hōste,” which is best translated here as so...
Galatians 4:15 – Blessing and Honor
Galatians 4:15 15What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. Truth to Learn The gospel message produces a blessed experience for the one receiving the truth, but all...
Galatians 4:14 – Rejection or Blessing
Galatians 4:14 14And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Truth to Learn Do not judge a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ by his appearance or his credentials....
Galatians 4:13 – Preached Through Pain
Galatians 4:13 13You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. Truth to Learn We tend to evaluate those who minister to us based on external factors. Instead, we should evaluate them on how close they stick to the truth and on...
