Galatians: Session 1 – The Role of an Apostle

Notes:

 The Role of an Apostle – Galatians 1:1- 2:10    See Session Slides Here

  • Gal. 1:1. At the commencement of the Church Age the gospel was preached by Jews to Jews.
  • As the gospel began to move into Gentile territory questions arose regarding the relationship of Gentile Christians to the law. Paul preached the gospel of grace throughout Galatia. After he left, Jewish teachers arrived and taught that in order to be saved these new Christians needed to come under the law. Their message was a mixture of grace and law.
  • These are “false brethren” (Gal. 2:4) pseudadelphuous.
  • The result (Gal. 1:7) is that they perverted the gospel and subverted (agitated) the people.
  • What is the role of an apostle? Beware of the counterfeit.
  • Apostles have many functions. But the main function of an apostle is to lay the foundations of new churches (Eph.2:20).
  • The foundations determine the boundaries and the shape of the building.
  • 1 Cor.12:28. There is an order regarding the gifts. Apostles are first in order. The reason is evident, since they are sent to lay the foundations. The foundations are Jesus. 1 Cor.3:11.
  • Each of The Twelve had a revelation of Christ.
  • As Jesus had done with them, so they did with the 3,000.
  • The Apostles Doctrine is a body of doctrine, which provided the foundation for the Jerusalem Church, then later was preached in all the churches.
  • Evangelists do not lay foundations. Evangelists are reapers, not builders.
  • Pastors do not lay foundations. Pastors minister to the needs of God’s people. If we build upon that foundation we will build a need-oriented community.
  • Gal. 1:11-12. Paul received the gospel the same way as the Apostles, i.e. from Christ Himself.
  • He spent 3 years in isolation. Gal. 1:17. He went to Arabia to wait on God.
  • He returned to Damascus where he preached the gospel for 3 years (Gal. 1:17;  Acts 9:20-22).
  • He then had to flee Damascus because of persecution and went to Jerusalem. There he met Peter, Gal. 1:18, and James, Gal. 1:19.
  • He went up to Jerusalem 14 years later. He spoke to the Jerusalem leaders (Gal. 2:1-2).
  • The apostles of Jerusalem could add nothing to the revelation he had received (Gal. 2:6).
  • In fact, Paul was more certain of the gospel than Peter (Gal. 2:11-21).
  • Gal. 2:9 a handshake of agreement. From these four men – Peter, James, John and Paul 21 of the 27 NT books were written.
  • Their sphere of apostolic ministry differed; but not their central message.
  • In both accounts of meeting between Paul and the Apostles, i.e. in Galatians and in Acts 15 at the Council of Jerusalem, the Apostles stood with Paul.

 1 Cor.3:10-11. Paul laid the foundations of the church at Corinth, according to the grace of God given to him as a wise master builder. There is a plan or blueprint for the Church.

  • So, apostles lay foundations. This is called the Apostle’s doctrine. The Apostle’s doctrine is a body of truth that was preached in all the churches (Rom.6:17).
  • Every church has foundations, whether we realise it or not. We discover the foundations of the church when we go to build.
  • Often those in ministry don’t spend much time on foundations. They want to build before they are sure that solid foundations have been laid. But people gather around foundations.



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