GALATIANS 1:4-5 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Gave Himself For Our Sins; NSB* This phrase looks ahead to Paul's discussion of redemption in 3:13,14. It's a quick summary of the Good News: Christ's death is for you (see 1 Corinthians 15:3).
Hebrews 2:5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.
The word "gave" here has the idea of "to give" (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection) Derivation: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); The Greek word is δίδωμι didōmi. Strong's G1325.
Deliver; lit., "to take out," denotes, in the Middle Voice, "to take out for oneself," hence, "to deliver, to rescue," the person who does so having a special interest in the result of his act. Thus it is used, in Galatians 1:4, of the act of God in "delivering" believers "out of this present evil world," the Middle Voice indicating His pleasure in the issue of their "deliverance." It signifies to "deliver" by rescuing from danger, in Acts 12:11; Acts 23:27; Acts 26:17; from bondage, Acts 7:10,34. The Greek word is ἐξαιρέω exaireo. Vine's (def A-8), Strong's G1807.
Definition Verse References:
Acts 12:11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
Acts 23:27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
Acts 26:17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,
Acts 7:10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Acts 7:34 I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.” ’
NSB* Deliever us from this present evil age is similar to Colossians 1:13, which states "Christ has delivered us from the power of darkness" into His kingdom. Both passages develop this truth based on Christ's redemptive work (Colossians 1:14) implying that the word deliver refers to sanctification in the face of the temptations of this present age.
Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
My Notes: So there are distinctions in the kinds of deliverance, it has the idea of taking us out of something, but the purpose and destinations may differ.
Evil; hurtful, i.e. evil (properly, in effect or influence, and thus differing from G2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from G4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue); figuratively, calamitous; also (passively) ill, i.e. diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, i.e. derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners Derivation: from a derivative of G4192; The Greek word is πονηρός ponēros. Strong's G4190.
My Notes; It should be noted that evil of any kind isn't something to be toyed with. It is not your friend and seeks your ultimate and total destruction, not your praise or adoration.
Age; "an age, a period of time," marked in the NT usage by spiritual or moral characteristics, is sometimes translated "world;" the RV marg. always has "age." The following are details concerning the world in this respect; its cares, Matthew 13:22; its sons, Luke 16:8; Luke 20:34; its rulers, 1 Corinthians 2:6,1 Corinthians 2:8; its wisdom, 1 Corinthians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 3:18, its fashion, Romans 12:2; its character, Galatians 1:4; its god, 2 Corinthians 4:4. Strong's notes properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future)Derivation: from the same as G104; The NKJV renders this word "age", while the KJV renders it "world". The Greek word is αἰών aiōn.
More notes from Vines on this - The phrases containing this word should not be rendered literally, but consistently with its sense of indefinite duration. Thus eis ton aiona does not mean "unto the age" but "for ever" (See, e.g., Hebrews 5:6). The Greeks contrasted that which came to an end with that which was expressed by this phrase, which shows that they conceived of it as expressing interminable duration.
Definition Verse References:
Matthew 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
Luke 16:8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.
Luke 20:34 Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
1 Corinthians 2:6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
1 Corinthians 2:8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Will; objectively, that which is willed, of the will of God," e.g., Matthew 18:14; Mark 3:35, the fulfilling being a sign of spiritual relationship to the Lord; John 4:34; John 5:30; John 6:39-John 6:40; Acts 13:22, plural, "my desires;" Romans 2:18; Romans 12:2, lit., "the will of God, the good and perfect and acceptable;" here the repeated article is probably resumptive, the adjectives describing the will, as in the Eng. versions; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 5:17, "of the Lord;" Colossians 1:9; Colossians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:18, where it means "the gracious design," rather than "the determined resolve;" 2 Timothy 2:26, which should read "which have been taken captive by him" [(autou), i.e., by the Devil; the RV, "by the Lord's servant" is an interpretation; it does not correspond to the Greek] unto His (ekeinou) will" (i.e., "God's will;" the different pronoun refers back to the subject of the sentence, viz., God); Hebrews 10:10; Revelation 4:11, RV, "because of Thy will;" of human will, e.g., 1 Corinthians 7:37; The Greek word used here is θέλημα thelema. Vines (def A-1a), Strong's G2307. Strong's note: a determination (properly, the thing), i.e. (actively) choice (specially, purpose, decree; abstractly, volition) or (passively) inclination Derivation: from the prolonged form of G2309;
Definition Verse References:
Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Mark 3:35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
John 5:30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
John 6:39-40 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Acts 13:22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’
Romans 2:18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Ephesians 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
2 Timothy 2:26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Hebrews 10:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Moving to Verse 5;
Forever; The King James translates this "for ever", using 2 words instead of one. Dodson notes: an age, a cycle of time an age, a cycle (of time), especially of the present age as contrasted with the future age, and of one of a series of ages stretching to infinity. The Greek word here is actually not ever, it's age again. That gree word is αἰών aiōn. The context here is what sets the definition. Thayer expands: 1) for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity 2) the worlds, universe 3) period of time, age.
Takeaways: I covered the takeaways in the "My Notes" sections. I also included all of these definition verses because the "will" of God trips up a lot of non-Christians and those who attack God's authority. Knowing the different ways the word "will" is used in scripture is helpful in defense of God's Word. When it comes to the word "deliver" it is also helpful to know how that is used in various parts of scripture.
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