6:11–17 This closing section of the letter is Paul’s final rhetorical attack against the Judaizers’ doctrine (see notes on 1:7–9) and motives. It is also a positive statement of his own godly motives in preaching the true gospel.
6:11 with what large letters. This can be interpreted in two ways: 1) Paul’s poor eyesight forced him to use large letters (cf. 4:13, 15); or 2) instead of the normal cursive style of writing used by professional scribes, he used the large, block letters (frequently employed in public notices) to emphasize the letter’s content rather than its form. It was a visible picture that contrasted his concern with the content of the gospel for the Judaizers’ only concern: appearances. The expression served as a transition to his concluding remarks. I have written…my own hand. As a good translation of the Gr. verb, this indicates that Paul wrote the entire letter by his own hand, not merely penning a brief statement at the end of dictation to a secretary as he did other times (cf. 1 Cor. 16:21; Col. 4:18; 2 Thess. 3:17). Paul wrote this letter himself to make sure the Galatians knew he—not some forger—was writing it, and to personalize the document, given the importance and severity of its contents.
6:12 good showing. The Judaizers were motivated by religious pride and wanted to impress others with their external piety (cf. Matt. 6:1–7). compel you to be circumcised. See notes on 2:3; 5:2–6. may not suffer persecution. The Judaizers were more concerned about their personal safety than correct doctrine. By adhering more to the Mosaic law than to the gospel of Jesus, they hoped to avoid social and financial ostracism from other Jews and maintain their protected status as Jews within the Roman Empire.
6:13 circumcised. Specifically, in this case, the Judaizers (see notes on 2:7, 8; cf. Acts 10:45; 11:2). boast in your flesh. They zealously worked to win Gentile converts to the law so they could brag about their effective proselytizing (cf. Matt. 23:15).
6:14 boast except in the cross. The Gr. word for “boast” is a basic expression of praise, unlike the Eng. word, which necessarily includes the aspect of pride. Paul glories and rejoices in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 8:1–3; 1 Cor. 2:2; 1 Pet. 2:24). the world. The evil, Satanic system (see notes on 1 John 2:15, 16; 5:19). crucified to me, and I to the world. The world is spiritually dead to believers, and they are dead to the world (see notes on 2:20; Rom. 6:2–10; 1 John 5:4, 5; cf. Phil. 3:20, 21).
6:15 circumcision nor uncircumcision. See notes on 5:6. a new creation. The new birth (see notes on John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17).
6:16 peace and mercy. The results of salvation: “Peace” is the believer’s new relationship to God (Rom. 5:1; 8:6; Col. 3:15), and “mercy” is the forgiveness of all his sins and the setting aside of God’s judgment (Ps. 25:6; Dan. 9:18; Matt. 5:7; Luke 1:50; Rom. 12:1; Eph. 2:4; Titus 3:5). Israel of God. All Jewish believers in Christ, i.e., those who are both physical and spiritual descendants of Abraham (see notes on 3:7, 18; Rom. 2:28, 29; 9:6, 7).
6:17 marks. The physical results of persecution (scars, wounds, etc.) that identified Paul as one who had suffered for the Lord (cf. Acts 14:19; 16:22; 2 Cor. 11:25; see notes on 2 Cor. 1:5; 4:10; Col. 1:24).
6:18 Even Paul’s final benediction implicitly extols the superiority of the gospel of grace over any man-made system of works righteousness.
Galatians 1
1:1 a Acts 9:6
1:1 b Acts 2:24
1:4 c (Matt. 20:28)
1:4 d Heb. 2:5
1:6 e (Rom. 8:28); Gal. 1:15; 5:8
1:7 f 2 Cor. 11:4
1:7 g Acts 15:1; Gal. 5:10, 12
1:7 h 2 Cor. 2:17
1:7 1 distort
1:8 i 1 Cor. 16:22
1:8 2 Gr. anathema
1:9 j Deut. 4:2
1:10 k (1 Cor. 10:33); 1 Thess. 2:4
1:10 l 1 Sam. 24:7
1:10 m 1 Thess. 2:4
1:11 n (Rom. 2:16); 1 Cor. 15:1
1:12 o 1 Cor. 15:1
1:12 p (Eph. 3:3–5)
1:13 q Acts 9:1
1:13 r Acts 8:3; 22:4, 5
1:14 s Acts 26:9; Phil. 3:6
1:14 t Jer. 9:14; Matt. 15:2; Mark 7:3; (Col. 2:8)
1:15 u Is. 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; Acts 9:15; Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:6
1:16 v (2 Cor. 4:5–7)
1:16 w Acts 9:15; Gal. 2:9
1:16 x Matt. 16:17
1:18 y Acts 9:26
1:18 3 NU Cephas
1:19 z 1 Cor. 9:5
1:19 a Matt. 13:55
1:21 b Acts 9:30
1:22 c Rom. 16:7
1:23 d Acts 9:20, 21
1:23 e Acts 8:3
1:24 f Acts 11:18
Galatians 2
2:1 a Acts 15:2
2:2 b Acts 15:1–4
2:2 c (Rom. 9:16; 1 Cor. 9:24); Gal. 5:7; Phil. 2:16; 1 Thess. 3:5; 2 Tim. 4:7; Heb. 12:1
2:2 1 because of
2:4 d Acts 15:1, 24; 2 Cor. 11:13, 26; Gal. 1:7
2:4 e Gal. 3:25; 5:1, 13; (James 1:25)
2:4 f Gal. 4:3, 9
2:5 g (Gal. 1:6; 2:14; 3:1); Col. 1:5
2:6 h Gal. 2:9; 6:3
2:6 i Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11
2:6 j 2 Cor. 11:5; 12:11
2:6 2 Lit. does not receive the face of a man
2:7 k Acts 9:15; 13:46; 22:21; Rom. 11:13
2:7 l 1 Cor. 9:17; 1 Thess. 2:4; 1 Tim. 1:11
2:8 m 1 Pet. 1:1
2:8 n Acts 9:15
2:8 o (Gal. 3:5)
2:9 p Matt. 16:18
2:9 q Rom. 1:5
2:9 r Acts 13:3
2:9 3 Peter
2:10 s Acts 11:30
2:11 t Acts 15:35
2:11 4 NU Cephas
2:11 5 opposed
2:12 u (Acts 10:28; 11:2, 3)
2:12 6 Jewish Christians
2:14 v Gal. 1:6; 2:5; Col. 1:5
2:14 w 1 Tim. 5:20
2:14 x (Acts 10:28); Gal. 2:12
2:14 7 NU how can you
2:14 8 Some interpreters stop the quotation here.
2:15 y (Acts 15:10)
2:15 z Matt. 9:11
2:16 a Acts 13:38, 39; Gal. 3:11
2:16 b Rom. 1:17
2:16 c Ps. 143:2; Rom. 3:20
2:16 9 declared righteous
2:17 d (1 John 3:8)
2:19 e Rom. 8:2
2:19 f (Rom. 6:2, 14; 7:4); 1 Cor. 9:20
2:19 g (Rom. 6:11)
2:20 h (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 5:24; 6:14)
2:20 i Rom. 6:8–11; 2 Cor. 5:15; (Eph. 2:4–6; Col. 3:1–4)
2:20 j Is. 53:12; Eph. 5:2
2:21 k Heb. 7:11
2:21 10 for nothing
Galatians 3
3:1 1 NU omits that you should not obey the truth
3:1 2 NU omits among you
3:2 a Rom. 10:16, 17
3:3 b (Gal. 4:9)
3:3 c Heb. 7:16
3:4 d Heb. 10:35
3:4 3 Or great
3:6 e Gen. 15:6
3:7 f John 8:39
3:8 g Rom. 9:17
3:8 h Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14
3:10 i Deut. 27:26
3:11 j Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:38
3:11 4 declared righteous
3:12 k Rom. 4:4, 5
3:12 l Lev. 18:5; Rom. 10:5
3:13 m (Rom. 8:3)
3:13 n Deut. 21:23
3:14 o (Rom. 4:1–5, 9, 16; Gal. 3:28)
3:14 p Is. 42:1, 6; 49:6; Luke 2:32; Rom. 3:29, 30
3:14 q Is. 32:15
3:15 r Heb. 9:17
3:16 s Gen. 22:18
3:16 t Gen. 12:3, 7; 13:15; 24:7
3:16 u (1 Cor. 12:12)
3:17 v Gen. 15:13; Ex. 12:40; Acts 7:6
3:17 w (Rom. 4:13)
3:17 5 NU omits in Christ
3:18 x (Rom. 8:17)
3:18 y Rom. 4:14
3:19 z John 15:22
3:19 a Gal. 4:4
3:19 b Acts 7:53
3:19 c Ex. 20:19; Deut. 5:5
3:20 d (Rom. 3:29)
3:22 e Rom. 11:32
3:22 f Rom. 4:11
3:23 6 Lit. confined
3:24 g Rom. 10:4
3:24 h Acts 13:39
3:24 7 In a household, the guardian responsible for the care and discipline of the children
3:26 i John 1:12
3:27 j Matt. 28:19; (Rom. 6:3); 1 Cor. 10:2
3:27 k Rom. 10:12; 13:14
3:28 l (John 10:16); Rom. 3:22; 10:12; (Eph. 2:14); Col. 3:11
3:28 m (1 Cor. 12:13)
3:28 n John 17:11; (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:15, 16)
3:29 o Gen. 21:10; Heb. 11:18
3:29 p Rom. 4:11; Gal. 3:7
3:29 q Gen. 12:3; 18:18; Rom. 8:17
Galatians 4
4:3 a Gal. 4:9; Col. 2:8, 20; Heb. 5:12; 9:10
4:4 b (Gen. 49:10)
4:4 c (John 1:14); Rom. 1:3; 8:3; (Phil. 2:7)
4:4 d Gen. 3:15; (Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:25)
4:4 e (Matt. 5:17); Luke 2:21, 27
4:4 1 Or made
4:5 f (Matt. 20:28; Gal. 3:13)
4:5 g (John 1:12)
4:6 h (Acts 16:7; Rom. 5:5; 8:9, 15, 16; 2 Cor. 3:17)
4:6 2 Lit., in Aram., Father
4:7 i (Rom. 8:16, 17)
4:7 3 NU through God
4:7 4 NU omits through Christ
4:8 j 1 Cor. 1:21; Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:5; 2 Thess. 1:8
4:8 k Rom. 1:25
4:9 l (1 Cor. 8:3)
4:9 m Gal. 3:1–3; Col. 2:20
4:9 n Heb. 7:18
4:10 o Rom. 14:5; Col. 2:16
4:11 p 1 Thess. 3:5
4:12 q 2 Cor. 2:5
4:13 r 1 Cor. 2:3
4:14 s Mal. 2:7
4:14 t (Luke 10:16)
4:14 5 Or messenger
4:15 6 NU Where
4:17 u Rom. 10:2
4:19 v 1 Cor. 4:15
4:22 w Gen. 16:15
4:22 x Gen. 21:2
4:23 y Rom. 9:7, 8; Gal. 4:29
4:23 z Gen. 16:15; 17:15–19; 18:10; 21:1; Gal. 4:28; Heb. 11:11
4:24 a Ex. 24:6–8; Deut. 33:2
4:24 7 NU, M omit the
4:26 b (Is. 2:2)
4:27 c Is. 54:1
4:28 d Rom. 9:7, 8; Gal. 3:29
4:28 e Acts 3:25
4:29 f Gen. 21:9
4:29 g Gal. 5:11
4:30 h (Gal. 3:8, 22)
4:30 i Gen. 21:10, 12
4:30 j (John 8:35)
Galatians 5
5:1 a Phil. 4:1
5:1 b Acts 15:10; Gal. 2:4
5:1 1 NU For freedom Christ has made us free; stand fast therefore, and
5:2 c Acts 15:1; Gal. 5:3, 6, 11
5:3 d (Deut. 27:26; Rom. 2:25; Gal. 3:10)
5:3 2 obligated
5:4 e (Rom. 9:31)
5:4 f Heb. 12:15; 2 Pet. 3:17
5:5 g Rom. 8:24
5:6 h (1 Cor. 7:19; Gal. 6:15; Col. 3:11)
5:6 i Col. 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:3; (James 2:18, 20, 22)
5:7 j 1 Cor. 9:24
5:9 k 1 Cor. 5:6
5:11 l 1 Cor. 15:30
5:11 m Rom. 9:33; (1 Cor. 1:23)
5:12 n Josh. 7:25
5:12 o Acts 15:1, 2
5:12 3 mutilate themselves
5:13 p (Rom. 8:2); 1 Cor. 8:9; Gal. 5:1
5:13 q Rom. 6:1; 1 Pet. 2:16
5:13 r 1 Cor. 9:19; Eph. 5:21
5:14 s Matt. 7:12; 22:40; Rom. 13:8, 10; Gal. 6:2
5:14 t Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:39; Rom. 13:9
5:16 u Rom. 6:12
5:17 v Rom. 7:18, 22, 23; 8:5
5:17 w Rom. 7:15
5:18 x (Rom. 6:14; 7:4; 8:14; 1 Tim. 1:9)
5:19 y Rom. 1:26–31; Eph. 5:3, 11; 2 Tim. 3:2–4
5:19 4 NU omits adultery
5:19 5 sexual immorality
5:21 z 1 Cor. 6:9, 10
5:21 6 NU omits murders
5:22 a (John 15:2)
5:22 b (Rom. 5:1–5; 1 Cor. 13:4; Col. 3:12–15)
5:22 c Rom. 15:14
5:22 d 1 Cor. 13:7
5:23 e 1 Tim. 1:9
5:23 7 meekness
5:24 f Rom. 6:6; (Gal. 2:20; 6:14)
5:25 g (Rom. 8:4, 5)
5:26 h Phil. 2:3
Galatians 6
6:1 a Eph. 4:2
6:1 1 caught
6:2 b Acts 20:35; Rom. 15:1; 1 Thess. 5:14
6:2 c (James 2:8)
6:3 d Rom. 12:3
6:3 e (2 Cor. 3:5; James 1:22)
6:4 f 1 Cor. 11:28
6:4 g Luke 18:11
6:5 h (Rom. 2:6)
6:6 i 1 Cor. 9:11, 14
6:7 j (Rom. 2:6)
6:8 k (Rom. 6:8)
6:9 l 1 Cor. 15:58; 2 Cor. 4:1; 2 Thess. 3:13
6:9 m (Matt. 24:13); Heb. 12:3, 5; (James 5:7, 8)
6:10 n Prov. 3:27; (John 9:4; 12:35)
6:10 o Titus 3:8
6:10 p Rom. 12:13
6:12 q Gal. 5:11; Phil. 3:8
6:14 r (1 Cor. 1:18)
6:14 s (Gal. 2:20); Col. 2:20
6:14 2 Or which, the cross
6:15 t (Rom. 2:26, 28); 1 Cor. 7:19; (Gal. 5:6)
Introduction to Ephesians
Title
The letter is addressed to the church in the city of Ephesus, capital of the Roman province of Asia (Asia Minor, modern Turkey). Because the name Ephesus is not mentioned in every early manuscript, some scholars believe the letter was an encyclical, intended to be circulated and read among all the churches in Asia Minor and was simply sent first to believers in Ephesus.
Author and Date
There is no indication that the authorship of Paul should be in question. He is indicated as author in the opening salutation (1:1; 3:1). The letter was written from prison in Rome (Acts 28:16–31) sometime between A.D. 60–62 and is, therefore, often referred to as a prison epistle (along with Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon). It may have been composed almost contemporaneously with Colossians and initially sent with that epistle and Philemon by Tychicus (Eph. 6:21, 22; Col. 4:7, 8). See Introduction to Philippians: Author and Date for a discussion of the city from which Paul wrote.
Background and Setting
It is likely that the gospel was first brought to Ephesus by Priscilla and Aquila, an exceptionally gifted couple (see Acts 18:26) who were left there by Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18, 19). Located at the mouth of the Cayster River, on the east side of the Aegean Sea, the city of Ephesus was perhaps best known for its magnificent temple of Artemis, or Diana, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. It was also an important political, educational, and commercial center, ranking with Alexandria in Egypt, and Antioch of Pisidia, in southern Asia Minor.
The City of Ephesus
The fledgling church begun by Priscilla and Aquila was later firmly established by Paul on his third missionary journey (Acts 19) and was pastored by him for some 3 years. After Paul left, Timothy pastored the congregation for perhaps a year and a half, primarily to counter the false teaching of a few influential men (such as Hymenaeus and Alexander), who were probably elders in the congregation there (1 Tim. 1:3, 20). Because of those men, the church at Ephesus was plagued by “fables and endless genealogies” (1 Tim. 1:4) and by such ascetic and unscriptural ideas as the forbidding of marriage and abstaining from certain foods (1 Tim. 4:3). Although those false teachers did not rightly understand Scripture, they propounded their ungodly interpretations with confidence (1 Tim. 1:7), which produced in the church harmful “disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith” (1 Tim. 1:4). Thirty years or so later, Christ gave to the Apostle John a letter for this church indicating its people had left their first love for Him (Rev. 2:1–7).
Historical and Theological Themes
The first 3 chapters are theological, emphasizing NT doctrine, whereas the last 3 chapters are practical and focus on Christian behavior. Perhaps, above all, this is a letter of encouragement and admonition, written to remind believers of their immeasurable blessings in Jesus Christ; and not only to be thankful for those blessings, but also to live in a manner worthy of them. Despite, and partly even because of, a Christian’s great bl
essings in Jesus Christ, he is sure to be tempted by Satan to self-satisfaction and complacency. It was for that reason that, in the last chapter, Paul reminds believers of the full and sufficient spiritual armor supplied to them through God’s Word and by His Spirit (6:10–17) and of their need for vigilant and persistent prayer (6:18).
A key theme of the letter is the mystery (meaning a heretofore unrevealed truth) of the church, which is “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (3:6), a truth completely hidden from the OT saints (cf. 3:5, 9). All believers in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, are equal before the Lord as His children and as citizens of His eternal kingdom, a marvelous truth that only believers of this present age possess. Paul also speaks of the mystery of the church as the bride of Christ (5:32; cf. Rev. 21:9).
A major truth emphasized is that of the church as Christ’s present spiritual, earthly body, also a distinct and formerly unrevealed truth about God’s people. This metaphor depicts the church, not as an organization, but as a living organism composed of mutually related and interdependent parts. Christ is Head of the body and the Holy Spirit is its lifeblood, as it were. The body functions through the faithful use of its members’ various spiritual gifts, sovereignly and uniquely bestowed by the Holy Spirit on each believer.
Other major themes include the riches and fullness of blessing to believers. Paul writes of “the riches of His [God’s] grace” (1:7), “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (3:8), and “the riches of His glory” (3:16). Paul admonishes believers to “be filled with all the fullness of God” (3:19), to “come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (4:13), and to “be filled with the Spirit” (5:18). Their riches in Christ are based on His grace (1:2, 6, 7; 2:7), His peace (1:2), His will (1:5), His pleasure and purpose (1:9), His glory (1:12, 14), His calling and inheritance (1:18), His power and strength (1:19; 6:10), His love (2:4), His workmanship (2:10), His Holy Spirit (3:16), His offering and sacrifice (5:2), and His armor (6:11, 13). The word “riches” is used 5 times in this letter; “grace” is used 12 times; “glory” 8 times; “fullness” or “filled” 6 times; and the key phrase “in Christ” (or “in Him”) some 12 times.
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV Page 602