Galatians Chapter 2 - Paul defends his apostleship and his separate evangel

 Gal 2:1-2: "Thereupon, after the lapse of fourteen years, I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also along with me. Now I went up in accord with a revelation, and submitted to them the evangel which I am heralding among the nations, yet privately to those of repute, lest somehow I should be racing or ran for naught."

Fourteen years after his aforementioned visit to Jerusalem, Paul returns with Barnabas and Titus.  Paul tells us it was “in accord with a revelation” that he returned, to submit to them his evangel that he was heralding among the nations.  I take this to mean that Paul was told to take his evangel to those of the Circumcision in Jerusalem, so that they would understand Paul’s evangel and separate calling for the nations.  It is interesting that Paul only submitted his evangel to those of repute, (Peter, James and the other higher ups among the Circumcision).  It is possible that the majority of those of the Circumcision in Judea would not have understood Paul’s separate calling and message.  I believe that this is another proof of Paul’s separate evangel, if it was the same as the evangel of Circumcision, no one in Judea would have an issue with it.  

Gal 2:3-5: "But not even Titus, who is with me, being a Greek, is compelled to be circumcised. Yet, it was because of the false brethren who were smuggled in, who came in by the way to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they shall be enslaving us- to whom, not even for an hour do we simulate by subjection, that the truth of the evangel should be continuing with you."

A. E. Knoch, in his commentary on verse 3 says this: “Titus was taken along as a test case. If circumcision was essential, then he must submit to it. If it was not essential, then he was to be a living proof that it was not necessary.”  I like what Knoch says here, and I think it highly plausible.  It seems as though Paul’s intention to only meet with those of repute was thwarted when false brethren were “smuggled in”.  There was an attempt to make the nations follow the law, or at least portions of it.  Paul would not compromise his evangel, neither him nor Barnabas or Titus subjected to their demands for even an hour.  The nations are not under law and the evangel of grace requires no law keeping of any kind.  Paul did not want anyone of the nations to be confused.

Gal 2:6-10: "Now from those reputed to be somewhat-what kind they once were is of no consequence to me (God is not taking up the human aspect)-for to me those of repute submitted nothing. But, on the contrary, perceiving that I have been entrusted with the evangel of the Uncircumcision, according as Peter of the Circumcision (for He Who operates in Peter for the apostleship of the Circumcision operates in me also for the nations), and, knowing the grace which is being given to me, James and Cephas and John, who are supposed to be pillars, give to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we, indeed, are to be for the nations, yet they for the Circumcision- only that we may be remembering the poor, which same thing I endeavor also to do."

Paul hits this point again, those of repute submitted nothing to him.  He did not get his evangel from Peter, James or any other from the Circumcision.  “On the contrary” Paul says, “perceiving that I have been entrusted with the evangel of the Uncircumcision, according as Peter of the Circumcision.”  Paul was entrusted with the evangel of the Uncircumcision and Peter the evangel of the Circumcision.  Notice the preposition “of” is used when describing these different evangels.  It is not “to” the Uncircumcision and “to” the Circumcision, but “of”.   The preposition “of” is used here to denote separation between these two, different evangels. Peter, James and John understood this difference, and gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.  

Gal 2:11-14: "Now when Cephas came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, for he was self-censured. For, before the coming of some from James, he ate together with those of the nations. Yet when they came, he shrank back, and severed himself, fearing those of the Circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also play the hypocrite with him, so that Barnabas also was led away with their hypocrisy. But when I perceived that they are not correct in their attitude toward the truth of the evangel, I said to Cephas in front of all, "If you, being inherently a Jew, are living as the nations, and not as the Jews, how are you compelling the nations to be judaizing?""

Paul publicly calls Peter out here, for the benefit and faith of those of the nations in attendance.  Peter was eating with the nations before those from James arrived, and out of fear of the judaizers, ha severed himself from the nations.  If Peter was right in severing himself after those from James arrived, then he had been in the wrong before, though he knew that not to be the case.  If  Peter can live as the nations and be correct in his “attitude toward the truth of the evangel”, then the nations can live as the nations and be in obedience toward the evangel.

Gal 2:15-16: “We, who by nature are Jews, and not sinners of the nations, having perceived that a man is not being justified by works of law, except alone through the faith of Christ Jesus, we also believe in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by the faith of Christ and not by works of law, seeing that by works of law shall no flesh at all be justified.

In my original go through of Galatians, I had something different written for these verses and I believe I was in error.  Here is the correction:  The “we” that Paul starts off with here pertains to believers in the body of Christ who are “by nature Jews” or Jewish by birth.  In the body of Christ, there is no Jew or Greek, but Paul is making a point here that even the members of the body of Christ who are Jews by birth (Paul included) realize that they are not justified by works of law, but alone through Jesus Christ’s faith.  I do not believe the “we” can include Peter because I don’t believe Peter or the Circumcision believe they are justified alone by the faith of Christ and not by works of law (James 2:24).  For an in-depth defense of this view see Aaron Welch’s third answer to an objection Here. 

The Galatians were taught by Paul that they were justified by the faith of Christ, not by law.  The faith OF Christ is mentioned twice here, Christ saved us and everyone.  Believing in this fact is simply one coming into a recognition of what has already been accomplished by God through Christ.

Gal 2:17-19: "Now if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ, consequently, a dispenser of sin? May it not be coming to that! For if I am building again these things which I demolish, I am commending myself as a transgressor. For I, through law, died to law, that I should be living to God."

Now that I understand what Paul is saying here, I really love it.  Once someone understands that one is only justified by the faith of Christ and not by works of law, and they have been given faith to believe the evangel (that Christ died for their sins and was roused because of our justifying-Rom 4:25), they are a believer, and are sealed (Eph 1:13).  They will also be found to still be sinners.  We sin because we are mortal and dying (Rom 5:12-14).  When one becomes a believer they are not immediately vivified (made alive beyond the reach of death/immortal), therefore, they still sin.  So some may say that trusting in Christ for our justification is being “light on sin” or “encouraging sinful behavior”.  Quite the contrary! Sin is bad enough that Christ, God’s son, had to die for it, and we trust that His sacrifice actually worked!  So we do what Paul says in Rom 6:11: "Thus you also, be reckoning yourselves to be dead, indeed, to Sin, yet living to God in Christ Jesus, our Lord."  Sin must be present in order for one to “reckon” themselves dead to it.  If one understands these truths, then goes back to the law to try to justify themselves, they are transgressing against the truth of the evangel.  

Gal 2:20: "With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ. Now that which I am now living in flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me. 

The best commentary on this verse is found in Rom 6:1-11: "What, then, shall we declare? That we may be persisting in sin that grace should be increasing? May it not be coming to that! We, who died to sin, how shall we still be living in it? Or are you ignorant that whoever are baptized into Christ Jesus, are baptized into His death? We, then, were entombed together with Him through baptism into death, that, even as Christ was roused from among the dead through the glory of the Father, thus we also should be walking in newness of life. For if we have become planted together in the likeness of His death, nevertheless we shall be of the resurrection also, knowing this, that our old humanity was crucified together with Him, that the body of Sin may be nullified, for us by no means to be still slaving for Sin, for one who dies has been justified from Sin. Now if we died together with Christ, we believe that we shall be living together with Him also, having perceived that Christ, being roused from among the dead, is no longer dying. Death is lording it over Him no longer, for in that He died, He died to Sin once for all time, yet in that He is living, He is living to God. Thus you also, be reckoning yourselves to be dead, indeed, to Sin, yet living to God in Christ Jesus, our Lord."

Gal 2:21: "I am not repudiating the grace of God, for if righteousness is through law, consequently Christ died gratuitously."

If we could justify ourselves through the law, Christ died gratuitously (without cause, for no reason).  Christ did die for our sins, and He was roused  because of our justifying.  Believe this good news, and do not repudiate the grace of God.  I love how Paul’s letters all fit together so wonderfully, so divinely.  I want to end this section on Galatians Ch. 2 with this: Rom 5:18-21: "Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for life's justifying. For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just. Yet law came in by the way, that the offense should be increasing. Yet where sin increases, grace superexceeds, that, even as Sin reigns in death, thus Grace also should be reigning through righteousness, for life eonian, through Jesus Christ, our Lord."

Galatians Chapter 1 - Paul defends his apostleship and his separate evangel

 I have been wanting to go through Galatians for a while,  I believe this letter brings great clarity to the fact that Paul’s evangel is indeed different and separate from the evangel proclaimed by Jesus (while He was on earth) and the twelve apostles, the evangel of the kingdom.  Scripture is in orange and I am using the Concordant Literal New Testament.  I give each chapter in this series a title, as you can see above, because I felt that I needed something other than just the chapter numbers up there.  

Gal 1:1-2: "Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through a man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, Who rouses Him from among the dead), and all the brethren with me, to the ecclesias of Galatia:"

Paul gets started off with a bang here, he wants to make sure that his readers understand that he was chosen and made an apostle by Jesus Christ and God the Father, not from men or through men.  This is a point this letter aims to make abundantly clear, as we will see.  I love how this opening statement is a “doctrine of the trinity killer”.  It is stated clearly here that God the Father roused Jesus Christ from the dead, Jesus, being a man and not the absolute Diety, was unable to do it himself.  He had faith (before He died) in His Father to rouse Him from the dead, as the dead can do nothing.  

Gal 1:3-5: "Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gives Himself for our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked eon, according to the will of our God and Father, to Whom be glory for the eons of the eons. Amen!"

The Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins, and this is part of the evangel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).  Sin has been taken care of and has been put away by Christ’s sacrifice.  Christ died for our sakes while we were still sinners, justifying us in His blood (Romans 5:6-9).  Through the sacrifice of His Son for all, who were at enmity with Him, God has conciliated us to Himself and proven His love for all (Rom 5:10-11, 2 Cor. 5:18-19).  It is from this wonderful foundation Paul (and us) can pronounce grace and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to all.  When we come to the knowledge of this, we are extricated from this wicked eon in spirit and mind.  This can also refer to Christ snatching away the Body of Christ from the earth when that time comes, but I think the main point of this passage is the elevation of our spirit and mind upon coming to the knowledge of what God through Christ has done on our behalf.

Gal 1:6-9: "I am marveling that thus, swiftly, you are transferred from that which calls you in the grace of Christ, to a different evangel, which is not another, except it be that some who are disturbing you want also to distort the evangel of Christ. But if ever we also, or a messenger out of heaven, should be bringing an evangel to you beside that which we bring to you, let him be anathema! As we have declared before and at present I am saying again, if anyone is bringing you an evangel beside that which you accepted, let him be anathema!"

Paul has zero patience for any different evangels masquerading as the one he taught the Galatians, as they are not evangels at all.  He taught them the evangel of Christ and truths briefly covered in verses 3-5.  If someone brings an “evangel” that is different than the grace of Christ, or adds to it or takes away from it, it is no evangel at all.  Paul insists that if even he or a messenger (angel, celestial being) brought them a different message, that they should be anathema (devoted to destruction).  Paul’s evangel in its unadulterated form is important and worthy of defense from the attacks of the adversary which mean to adulterate it.  

Gal 1:10-12: "For, at present, am I persuading men or God? Or am I seeking to please men? If I still pleased men, I were not a slave of Christ. For I am making known to you, brethren, as to the evangel which is being brought by me, that it is not in accord with man. For neither did I accept it from a man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ."

The evangel of Paul, revealed to him by the glorified and risen Christ, is not pleasing to man’s flesh.  It is not an accomplishment of men in any way, shape or form.  It is ALL of God, through Christ.  Paul’s evangel is about what God, through Christ, has already accomplished on our behalf.  It makes no concessions to give any of the glory to men at all.  Men who want to work for God do not like the message of grace.  For those given the faith to believe in this grace of God and the knowledge of their inability to please God apart from a work of God delight in this message.  Paul again says here that his evangel was given to him by a revelation of Jesus Christ, not from any man, a point which we will return to.

Gal 1:13-14: "For you hear of my behavior once, in Judaism, that I inordinately persecuted the ecclesia of God and ravaged it. And I progressed in Judaism above many contemporaries in my race, being inherently exceedingly more zealous for the traditions of my fathers."

This passage reminds me of Philippians 3:1-11 where Paul tells them about his potential to have confidence in his flesh, by his following of the law and being a Pharisee, being a Hebrew of Hebrews, and being zealous to the point of persecuting the ecclesia.  He forfeits all of this because of the superiority of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.  Some have said that this passage proves that the body of Christ existed before Paul’s calling to be an apostle because it says he “persecuted the ecclesia of God”.  Let us remember that ecclesia simply means “a called out company”, and any group, called out by God, can be called an ecclesia.  The Israel of God is an ecclesia, and the body of Christ are an ecclesia, but they are not the same group.

Gal 1:15-17: "Now, when it delights God, Who severs me from my mother's womb and calls me through His grace, to unveil His Son in me that I may be evangelizing Him among the nations, I did not immediately submit it to flesh and blood, neither came I up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I came away into Arabia, and I return again to Damascus."

Like the rest of the body of Christ, Paul was chosen in Christ before the disruption of the world (Eph 1:4-5) and called at the time of his life God designated beforehand (Rom 8:30).  This is in contrast to believers in the circumcision evangel who are called, then chosen (Matt 22:14).  Again Paul tells them that he did not immediately submit his calling to flesh and blood, nor did he go to the apostles in Jerusalem.  

I now want to draw your attention to something neat found here in chapter 1.  I will bold and underline what I want to draw your attention to in the next three passages:

Gal 1:1: "Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through a man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, Who rouses Him from among the dead),"

Gal 1:11-12: "For I am making known to you, brethren, as to the evangel which is being brought by me, that it is not in accord with man. For neither did I accept it from a man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ."

 Gal 1:16-17: "to unveil His Son in me that I may be evangelizing Him among the nations, I did not immediately submit it to flesh and blood, neither came I up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I came away into Arabia, and I return again to Damascus." 

Do you see the pattern? Not, neither, and but are repeated three times.  I think both God and Paul want us to know that Paul did not get his message from men or any man, but through a direct revelation from the risen and glorified Christ.  Peter nor the other apostles could have given the evangel of grace for the nations to Paul, as they did not know it.  This is a new message hidden in God and revealed to Paul through Christ.  This also shows that the body of Christ is not and could not be proselytes of Israel at any time.  I cannot take credit for seeing this pattern in the scriptures, I learned about it from a talk Dan Sheridan gave on this subject, which you can view here.  Let’s continue in chapter 1.

Gal 1:18-24: "Thereupon, after three years, I came up to Jerusalem to relate my story to Cephas, and I stay with him fifteen days. Yet I became acquainted with no one different from the apostles, except James, the brother of the Lord. Now what I am writing to you, lo! in God's sight, I say that I am not lying. Thereupon I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. Yet I was unknown by face to the ecclesias of Judea which are in Christ. Yet only they were hearing that "He who once was persecuting us, now is evangelizing the faith which once he ravaged." And they glorified God in me."

In verse 17, Paul tells us he went into Arabia, then returned to Damascus.  He could have been in Arabia for close to three years, where many believe (myself included) Paul learned directly from the risen Christ.  He did not go to Peter (Cephas) to learn about his evangel.  If Paul’s evangel were the same as Peter’s, Paul would have gone to learn from him.  A direct revelation from Jesus Christ would not have been necessary.  Paul wants us to know that he became acquainted with only Peter and James in Judea three years after his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. He was in Judea 15 days, to relate to Peter about his story.  He makes a point to say none of the members ecclesias in Judea saw him; they only heard that he was now evangelizing the faith.  

Science and the scriptures

 Before I get started I want to define what science is.  This is the definition of science from Oxford languages:  

Science - the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained.

Science is simply man discovering how the natural world (created by God) works.  It is what man can learn from the natural world based on perception and observation.  As a believer in the scriptures, I believe God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) and as such, He knows better than anyone how His creation works and is put together.  

I believe God has directed my life in such a way that I am able write about this.  I am a member of the body of Christ, and a believer in the scriptures.  I also have completed a degree in the sciences, crop and weed science was the proper name of it, but it was really a generalized plant science degree.  The topics studied were biology, botany, bio chemistry and organic chemistry, soil sciences, entomology, plant pathology, genetics and others.  I do not list these topics in order to brag about it, quite the contrary.  Having studied all of these subjects over the course of a four year degree, many of the courses were quite rudimentary.  I graduated twelve years ago, and since I do not really use my degree today, I have forgotten most of what I learned.  What studying these subjects has done for me, however, is given me an appreciation for what God has allowed man to learn about His creation through observation.  Learning about soil fertility and how plants react when the soil is deficient in certain nutrients, then witnessing the effects in real time is pretty cool.  

Let’s get into why I am writing about science and the scriptures at all.  Since becoming a member of the body of Christ, I have become increasingly concerned with how many members of the body of Christ dismiss and deny observations of the natural world that science has made.  To be blunt, I believe our adversary is using this tactic to distract believers, and cause unbelievers to dismiss the truth of the evangel because believers are dismissing obvious truths about the natural world that have been observed.  

I want to be clear, there are things that science claims to be true which are not.  Macroevolution is the big one.  I want to make sure all understand the difference between macroevolution and microevolution.  The theory of macroevolution I am talking about here is the theory that all life on earth can be traced back to a single, original living organism.  By traced back, I mean all life on earth evolved from this original organism; every single living organism alive today was “parented” by this original organism.  Microevolution is the God given ability for organisms to adapt to their environment in small ways over time. These adaptations are genetic, and happen through natural selection, mutation or genetic drift.  This microevolution is what Charles Darwin observed while studying the finches on the Galápagos Islands.  Microevolution is responsible for the many different species of canines we see. People have used microevolution to their advantage to breed dogs to have certain genetic traits, and the same thing has been done with plants.  

Microevolution has been observed, macroevolution has not.  I do not blame the majority of scientists for pushing macroevolution, however.  A scientist who has not been given faith to believe God at His word when He says He created the heavens and the earth, the stars, planets, plants, animals and humanity, has no other choice than to hypothesize on how life and the world came to be about, apart from God.  (A scientist can be an unbeliever or a believer, as a scientist is simply one who studies the natural world.). The incredible statistical improbability (impossibility) of the “big bang” resulting in the complex universe and the origin of life from it is no matter, as they have no other choice if the scientist does not believe in God.  They have no other way of attempting to explain the origin of the universe as we know it.

As a believer in the scriptures, I believe their is One God, the Father, out of Whom all is (1 Cor. 8:6).  I believe Him when He says He created the heavens and the earth and the living things on the earth (Gen. 1-2).  I believe God when He says He created each living creature according to its kind (Gen 1:24-25).  I believe these verses disprove the theory of macroevolution.  To believe and know these things takes faith. We were not there when God created the heavens and the earth; this truth is not observable.  It takes faith, given by God to believe these statements made in scripture.  This reminds me of Job 38:4 when God asks Job where he was when God founded the earth.  In Job 38 and 39, God goes on to tell about His control over His creation.  

I want to make something clear, the purpose of the scriptures is God making Himself known to us, making Christ known to us, and making God’s plan of salvation for believers and all humanity known to us.  The purpose of the scriptures is NOT a scientific exposition of creation.  There are certain things pertaining to the creation that God has seen fit to tell us, such as: He created it, out of Him all is, and God has His creation completely under His control.  Why has God chosen to tell us these things? Because they aid in helping us to know and understand Him better.  The scriptures do not describe the anatomy of a cell, how a plant produces energy through photosynthesis nor does it describe the structure of an atom.  Compared to knowing God, Christ and the evangel, the knowledge of the principles of creation are insignificant.  God gave us the scriptures to give us knowledge primarily about Himself.  

That being said, the scriptures, properly understood, do not contradict with what we observe in the natural world.  If something we read in scripture seems to contradict what has been observed, usually, a failure to take the context, or the absolute and relative perspective into account, or a failure to recognize a figure of speech is the culprit.  

2Cor 4:2-4: "But we spurn the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor yet adulterating the word of God, but, by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in God's sight. Now, if our evangel is covered, also, it is covered in those who are perishing, in whom the god of this eon blinds the apprehensions of the unbelieving so that the illumination of the evangel of the glory of Christ, Who is the Image of the invisible God, does not irradiate them."  The god of this eon, the adversary (Satan) is blinding the apprehensions of the unbelieving, so that illumination of the evangel does not irradiate them.  Our adversary wants to keep the evangel hidden, and what is his primary weapon or tool that he uses to do this? Lies. Specifically, lies about our God and Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the evangel.  Lies such as: God is monster who plans to torturously burn many for eternity, God provided a “potential” salvation through Christ, God wants to save all but just can’t override a man’s “free will”, death is really life somewhere else and the trinity, which cause stumbling blocks in understanding Christ died, Christ only died for “the elect” in exclusion of the rest of humanity, sin is still a problem even though Christ died for it, the mixing of the Evangel of the Uncircumcision and the Evangel of the Circumcision, as well as others.  

What and whom does the adversary primarily use to disseminate these lies?  Religion and religious people, primarily Christianity and Christians:  2Cor 11:13-15: "For such are false apostles, fraudulent workers, being transfigured into apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is being transfigured into a messenger of light. It is no great thing, then, if his servants also are being transfigured as dispensers of righteousness -- whose consummation shall be according to their acts."  Satan has been working on and spreading these lies since the apostle Paul was alive, we can be sure he had a hand in this: 2Tim 1:15: "Of this you are aware, that all those in the province of Asia were turned from me, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes."  Lies about God, Christ, and the evangel are the tools being used by the adversary, then and now.  In Galatians we read about the use of a “different evangel which is no evangel at all”: Gal 1:6-7: "I am marveling that thus, swiftly, you are transferred from that which calls you in the grace of Christ, to a different evangel, which is not another, except it be that some who are disturbing you want also to distort the evangel of Christ."  A different evangel was being spread, a false evangel, but it had the appearance of “good news”, which is what the word evangel means.  Satan himself is being transfigured into a messenger of light, and his servants are transfigured as dispensers of righteousness.  The “good news” of Christianity is a façade, a false front, a white washed tomb.   

The theory of macroevolution is not Satan’s primary tool for turning people away from the evangel, it is a side effect of it.  Let us not put the cart before the horse.  The lies about God, Christ and the evangel are the most necessary of being exposed.  I do not blame anyone who has been told about the false god of Christianity (who is either cruel, powerless or both) and denies that God created the heavens and the earth and all living things.  To the nations, Christ crucified is stupidity (1 Cor 1:23) and since to most people, their exposure to God has been the god of Christianity, they believe that he is stupid and weak.  

When members of the body of Christ deny observable and confirmed discoveries that science has made, it hurts our testimony and puts a damper on our evangelism.  If we tell an unbeliever something is false, when it has been observed to be true, why in the world would they believe us when we tell them about the evangel of the Grace of God?  The evangel takes faith to be believed, as it cannot be observed.  Heb 11:1: "Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed;"  (Absolutely, God gives faith to all who believe the evangel.  He uses heralds to share the evangel so that those chosen and called will hear and believe, Rom 10:14.  We are not fatalists, so we share the evangel, even though we know all is of God.)  Why would someone believe something that cannot be observed, when the one sharing unobservable truth denies what can be observed?  Can you see how this could be used as a tool of the adversary? 

What I have witnessed as being the drive for members of the body of Christ to deny observed and confirmed discoveries is a belief that scripture denies these discoveries.  But as I said above, a misunderstanding of scripture through failing to take the absolute and relative perspectives into account, the context, or a failure to recognize a figure of speech is the reason for believing scripture is saying something contrary to what has been discovered.  These scriptures are often cited in support of certain causes that, at their core are rooted in the desire to not be subject to the civil authorities, which is the opposite of what Paul tells us our disposition should be as members of the body of Christ (Romans 13:1-7).  These causes that I have heard about and run into, have fallen into two categories: untrue and unimportant, or simply unimportant.  I believe this is why Paul wrote and prayed this for the Philippians: Phil 1:9-11: "And this I am praying, that your love may be superabounding still more and more in realization and all sensibility, for you to be testing what things are of consequence, that you may be sincere and no stumbling block for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that is through Jesus Christ for the glory and laud of God."   Compared to God, Christ, and the evangel, these causes are of no consequence and are often stumbling blocks for us and those who may be believing the evangel.  Paul entreats us to be sensible and to test what things are of consequence, and to do this in superabounding love.   

In Titus, Paul entreats the supervisor (1:8), aged men (2:2), aged women (2:5), young men (2:6), and us (2:12) to be sane.  The Concordant definition of sane is to be of a safe disposition, God wants us to have sound minds.  God wants us to think things through.  Let us remember the definition of science above, it really is nothing more than man learning about and studying the natural world.  As believers, we know God created all, and man is merely discovering what God has created.  Science is not the enemy of the evangel.  The lies about God, Christ and the evangel are. 

Am I denying that macroevolution is a lie and that Satan has used it to turn people from God? No, but it is the cart behind the horse of much more heinous lies being perpetrated by religion.  A quick google search told me that there are an estimated 2.2 billion Christians in the world.  The majority of these Christians probably believe God created the heavens and the earth.  Satan seems contented to allow Christians to believe the truth that God created the universe and everything in it, because he has hidden the true God from them with his lies.  Christianity does not know the living God, who is the Saviour of all mankind (1 Timothy 4:10) and thus worships idols.  Again, what is Satan’s primary tool in keeping people in the dark as to the evangel?  It is the lies about God, Christ and the evangel itself. 

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens are recounting the glory of El, And the atmosphere is telling the work of His hands.”  Frankly, creation itself is enough witness that it was created by an intelligent (understatement) being.  But the lies about God, perpetrated by the adversary through Christianity, are stronger in their effect of causing many to dismiss God, than the witness of creation is for God.   These lies are what need to be exposed by the body of Christ.  As members of the body of Christ, let us test what is of consequence, and stand for those truths.  

1Tim 6:20-21: "O Timothy, that which is committed to you, guard, turning aside from the profane prattlings and antipathies of falsely named "knowledge," which some are professing. As to the faith, they swerve. Grace be with you! Amen!"

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All scripture references are from the Concordant Literal New Testament or Old Testament unless noted otherwise.

We ambassadors of peace, not of evil.