Few men of God ever have been as adamant as the Apostle Paul, particularly in respect to the great doctrine of salvation by grace, God’s Grace!
He traveled untold miles, suffered innumerable trials, and virtually lived his whole (Christian) life defending the “by Grace through faith” concept of salvation! The only true means of going to Heaven!
Jesus in John 5:24 … “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.”
Show me the Law of Moses in Jesus’ Statement above!
Or circumcision!
For that matter, water baptism!
It, “eternal life,” is based on “hearing” and “believing!”
Now I am ready for this morning’s (Epistle of) Galatians Text!
Paul, in the face of certain “false brethren” wrote, men trying to put the Galatian Churches “under the Law” … “To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” Galatians 2:5, a single verse.
That opening pronoun, “whom,” is plural! It is spelled “hois” in Greek; here expressed in the dative case, masculine gender as well. A whole “group” of detractors! (No liberal women theologians yet … Oh, how times have changed!) These “Judaizers” are the “focus” of Paul’s diatribe here, his jeremiad! (Study this last word. It is interesting!) Judaizers, as the name implies, are those who want to take away our freedom in Christ Jesus, and force us back under the “yoke” of the Old Testament Mosaic legislation. (They are still around!)
“To give place,” is the Greek verb “eiko,” Found only here in all the Bible, a “hapax legomenon!” (Learn this term too, especially you more diligent Bible students.) And “eiko” means “to yield!” Or if you prefer, “to give in” to a person or thing. It’s an “aorist” verb here, Paul NEVER ONCE buckled before these (lying) trying-to-act-like “Christians!” Who were really, according to the Holy Ghost’s leading of Paul, still “unsaved!”
The added noun “subjection” is a military term. “Hupotage” means (it’s called a blend, a joining together of two words) “to stand under” a person. Or here a belief as well! To place yourself “under their domain, their authority!” (Like a sergeant is supposed to do to a captain, to obey!)
In English a “double negative” equates to a “positive.”
But not so in Greek!
Paul’s “no, not for an hour” simply amplifies his refusal to yield an inch (a centimeter really) to this crowd of imposters! The Greek noun “hour” (watch this) is spelled “ora” but is pronounced “hora!” nearly our very word, “hour!” It is defined as a “short, determined” block of time! It can even be considered a “moment.”
Paul never even “thought” about acquiescing to that bunch of spiritual bullies! (They covertly wormed their way into those little Churches of Galatia and tried to “force them” to live under the Law! “Moses’ Law” … which most of those Gentile saints had barely even “heard of!”)
But WHY is Paul being so “hard-headed” here?
He tells us, in the remaining part of verse 5, today’s Bible Text, our Lesson this Wednesday morning.
“That the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”
Paul is “fighting” for the Gospel’s Sake!
“Truth” and “Gospel,” certainly compatible terms! The Gospel as God gave to Paul in those years in Arabia. (Probably in those first three days of his Christian life as well! When he was blind, in the city of Damascus, on Straight Street! See Acts 9:11!)
“Truth” in Greek carries the idea of something you can’t forget! The noun “aletheia” is derived from “alethes,” meaning “not” (the “a” prefix) plus “lanthano” (“to be unaware, to be hidden”)! “Can’t be hidden, buried, forgotten,” not once personally realized!
And just as well say “Gospel” means “good news!” Best I have ever heard anyway! (Paul’s definition of the Gospel: “How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” Wow, Hallelujah, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4! Believe it … and be saved!
Today’s text once again: “To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”
“Might continue” translates “diameno,” derived from two little Greek words. As defined here: (“through,” as in “from one end to the other” is the Greek preposition “dia) plus (“to abide in, to permanently indwell” which is the meaning of “meno” the verb)! This is a subjunctive verb, too. That is, Paul “hopes” for this outcome! But it is not a 100%guarantee! Paul longs and prays for this (victorious) result among his dear Galatians!
Folks, I am gaining a new appreciation for the Gospel of the grace of God!
As in Paul’s later words to the Ephesians: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2, verses 8 and 9, to be exact.)
Men and women have literally died for this Truth!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell