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Verse Commentaries:
Chapter Level Commentary:
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired but it is the key to following the original author's intent which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
A. Chapter 5 articulates the crucial, practical aspect of Paul's justification by grace through faith. The Judaizers were concerned that the Gentile Christians would not conform to their conceptions of Mosaic godliness, therefore, they tried to force the OT regulations upon them. However, Paul was equally concerned with godliness, but he affirmed that it is not a result of external rules but of a changed heart (i.e., internal guidance, cf. Jer_31:33; Eze_36:26-27). It is correct to say that the Judaizers had all of the elements of true salvation but they had them in a reverse order. They felt that mankind's performance led to or gave evidence of an acceptable place with God. However, the gospel of the crucified Christ shows that it is a personal relationship with Christ by faith which leads to a life of godliness through gratitude. The new life in Christ is not the basis of one's right standing with God, but the evidence of it. Paul was also concerned with the children of God living moral, upright, service-oriented lives. Chapter 5 addresses this moral imperative.
B. The theme of freedom is expressed in chapter 5 in relation to two different perversions,
1. Gal_5:1-12 deal with the legalistic (human merit) perversion of freedom
2. Gal_5:13-15 deal with the antinomian (lawlessness) perversion of freedom (cf. Rom_14:1 to Rom_15:13; 1 Corinthians 8; 1Co_10:23-33)
C. This book could be called a message of absolutely free grace. Paul uniquely understood the problems of self-effort (i.e., Gal_5:1-12). His gospel was a call to freedom, but not a freedom that leads to licensed excess (i.e., Gal_5:13-15) but one that leads to loving service. In our day we need to see the balance that believers are truly free in Christ, but by being free from the Law they are now free to respond appropriately to God's freely-given love (cf. Romans 6). Rom_14:1 to Rom_15:13 is a great example of the biblical balance between freedom and responsibility, as is 1 Corinthians 8-10. He (the Spirit) gives us the power to live godly lives.
D. Gal_5:16-26 show us the supernatural source of Christian freedom which is the Holy Spirit. As salvation is a free act of God's love through Christ, so also is the Christian life through the Spirit. As believers must yield in repentance and faith to salvation, they must yield in repentance and faith to the ongoing leadership of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives. Justification starts a process; it does not conclude it!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. Outline chapter 5 in its relationship to the rest of Galatians.
2. Explain freedom and what it means in the Christian life.
3. Explain the contextual meaning of the concluding phrase of Gal_5:4.
4. How does a gospel which is freely offered to us control our lifestyle?
5. What are the implications of Gal_5:15; Gal_5:26 for the Church today?
6. Do Gal_5:19-21 describe the churches of Galatia or the tendency of pagan worship?
7. How are the gifts of the Spirit related to the fruit of the Spirit?