Galatians 1 4

Galatians 1:4 kjv

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Galatians 1:4 nkjv

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,

Galatians 1:4 niv

who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Galatians 1:4 esv

who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Galatians 1:4 nlt

Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.

Galatians 1 verses

Galatians 1 4 Meaning

Galatians 1:4 states that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, voluntarily "gave Himself" in a definitive, singular act of sacrifice. The primary purpose of this offering was "for our sins," signifying a substitutionary atonement where He bore the penalty due to humanity's transgressions. This profound act was specifically designed "to rescue us from the present evil age," which refers to the current world system dominated by spiritual corruption, sin, and rebellion against God. Crucially, this entire redemptive mission and sacrificial act was not arbitrary, but unfolded "according to the will of our God and Father," establishing divine purpose and authority as the ultimate source of salvation. This verse serves as a foundational declaration of the Gospel's essence: Christ's complete, divinely purposed work alone saves, liberating believers from the dominion of sin and a hostile world.

Galatians 1 4 Context

Galatians 1:4 appears in the immediate opening of Paul's urgent and forceful letter to the churches in Galatia. Following his standard apostolic salutation, Paul remarkably bypasses the usual thanksgiving found in his other letters. Instead, he launches directly into a declaration of his astonishment and severe rebuke (Gal 1:6) at the Galatians for so quickly deserting the true Gospel they had received and turning to a "different gospel." This "different gospel" was being propagated by Judaizers who insisted that Gentile believers needed to observe aspects of the Mosaic Law, such as circumcision, in addition to faith in Christ, for salvation. Verse 4 stands as a profound theological antithesis to such false teachings, succinctly summarizing the self-sufficiency, divine origin, and comprehensive nature of Christ's work in salvation. It foundationaly asserts that Jesus' sacrifice alone is complete, perfectly adequate for sin, and totally able to deliver, leaving no room for human effort or legalistic additions.

Galatians 1 4 Word analysis

• "who gave": (ὁ δούς - ho dous) - The Greek term signifies a decisive, singular, and completed act. It emphasizes Christ's active, voluntary, and willing self-giving, rather than a passive submission. This was a deliberate and uncoerced offering.
• "himself": (ἑαυτόν - heauton) - This reflexive pronoun underscores the personal nature and completeness of Christ's gift. He didn't just give something or someone else, but Himself fully and without reservation. This highlights the profundity of His identification with humanity in His sacrifice.
• "for our sins": (ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν - hyper tōn hamartiōn hēmōn)
  • "for": (ὑπὲρ - hyper) - This preposition here carries the strong sense of "on behalf of," or "instead of," implying substitutionary atonement. Christ's sacrifice was not merely a good example but an actual payment of the penalty due to us.
  • "sins": (ἁμαρτιῶν - hamartiōn) - Plural, referring to the multitude of individual acts of transgression and rebellion against God's holy standard. Hamartia literally means "missing the mark."
• "to rescue us": (ἐξέληται ἡμᾶς - exelētai hēmas) - The verb exaireō denotes an act of forceful removal or liberation from a state of danger, bondage, or evil. It implies that humanity was captive and in need of a powerful deliverance, which Christ effectively provided through His work.
• "from the present evil age": (ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος τοῦ ἐνεστῶτος πονηροῦ - ek tou aiōnos tou enestōtos ponērou)
  • "from": (ἐκ - ek) - Denotes origin and separation. We are plucked out of this dominion.
  • "present": (ἐνεστῶτος - enestōtos) - Indicates that this "age" is not something in the distant past or future, but the current reality, the pervasive spirit and system that defines the world humanity lives in.
  • "evil": (πονηροῦ - ponērou) - More than simply "bad," this term describes something actively malicious, malignant, and morally depraved. It points to a hostile and anti-God system dominated by spiritual darkness and corruption.
  • "age": (αἰῶνος - aiōnos) - In this context, it refers not merely to a period of time, but to a moral and spiritual order, a system or way of life. It describes the comprehensive sphere of existence characterized by rebellion against God, governed by satanic influence, and opposing His divine will.
• "according to the will": (κατὰ τὸ θέλημα - kata to thelēma)
  • "according to": (κατὰ - kata) - Signifies perfect conformity or alignment. Christ's action was precisely in harmony with God's preordained plan and purpose.
  • "will": (θέλημα - thelēma) - Refers to God's deliberate, sovereign plan and ultimate design. This establishes that Christ's sacrifice was not an improvised act but an essential part of God's eternal redemptive counsel.
• "of our God and Father": (τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ πατρὸς ἡμῶν - tou theou kai patros hēmōn) - This phrase identifies the ultimate source of this divine will. It emphasizes the intimacy of God as "our Father" and connects the entirety of the salvific work to His divine authority, character, and love.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "who gave himself for our sins to rescue us": This phrase encapsulates the core of Pauline soteriology: a self-sacrificing Christ whose atoning death is effective for the forgiveness of sins and actual deliverance from spiritual bondage. It highlights the purposeful and personal nature of Christ's action in securing salvation.
• "from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father": This connection stresses that our rescue from the world's pervasive evil system is entirely an act of God's sovereign will and design, not human initiative or works. It elevates salvation beyond human effort, embedding it firmly in divine purpose.

Galatians 1 4 Bonus section

• The term "age" (aiōn) in Paul's writings often contrasts the "present evil age" with "the age to come," or "the new creation." This highlights the eschatological dimension of salvation – Christ's work initiates a break from the old, corrupt order and brings believers into a new, redeemed existence that is part of God's future kingdom even now.
• This verse encapsulates vital elements of Christian doctrine: Christology (Jesus' deity and willing sacrifice), Soteriology (atonement for sins, rescue/deliverance), and Theology Proper (the sovereignty and will of God the Father). It's a mini-creed for understanding the core of salvation.
• Paul uses this deep theological truth as his unwavering foundation for rebuking the Galatians. He emphasizes that if Christ's work was complete and according to God's will, then adding human works to it not only devalues Christ's sacrifice but fundamentally distorts and ultimately nullifies the Gospel itself. It's a statement of Christ's all-sufficiency.

Galatians 1 4 Commentary

Galatians 1:4 provides a condensed yet profound summary of the Gospel message that Paul fiercely defends throughout his letter. It establishes several foundational truths. Firstly, Jesus Christ's sacrifice was entirely voluntary ("gave himself") and deeply personal. It was a singular, completed act that fully paid the penalty for humanity's transgressions ("for our sins"). This concept directly counters any notion that human effort or adherence to religious law is required for atonement.

Secondly, the verse articulates the purpose and result of this sacrifice: "to rescue us from the present evil age." This "evil age" is not merely a temporal period but refers to the prevailing global system steeped in sin, alienated from God, and often hostile to His truth. Christ's death is not just about forgiving past sins, but also about a powerful, ongoing liberation from the dominion and mindset of this fallen world, enabling believers to live distinctively.

Finally, and crucially, all of this occurs "according to the will of our God and Father." This statement anchors salvation firmly in divine sovereignty, meaning the entire redemptive plan—from the Father's sending of the Son to the Son's obedient self-sacrifice and the rescue of humanity—is an outworking of God's eternal purpose. This reinforces the sufficiency and unchallengeable authority of the true Gospel and fundamentally discredits any alternative teaching that suggests additional human performance is needed to complete what God has already perfected through Christ. It's a powerful and concise declaration against legalism, highlighting salvation as purely by grace through faith, fully accomplished by Christ's finished work at the Father's will.