Galatians Summary Galatians Summary OutlineOutline

I. Ch 1-2: Defense of Message and Messenger

II. Ch 3-4: Grace-Faith versus Law-Works

III. Ch 5-6: New Life in the Spirit

Ch 3-4: Grace-Faith versus Law-Works

A.A. 3:1-93:1-9 The Preeminence of FaithThe Preeminence of Faith

B.B. 3:10-143:10-14 The Curse of WorksThe Curse of Works

C.C. 3:15-183:15-18 The Precedent of PromiseThe Precedent of Promise

D.D. 3:19-253:19-25 The Purpose of the LawThe Purpose of the Law

E.E. 3:26-4:73:26-4:7 Sons and Heirs through ChristSons and Heirs through Christ

F.F. 4:8-184:8-18 The Emptiness of LegalismThe Emptiness of Legalism

G.G. 4:19-314:19-31 Law and Grace Cannot CoexistLaw and Grace Cannot Coexist

““The Test Question”The Test Question”Believing what was heardBelieving what was heard “observing the law”?“observing the law”?

The true gospel The legalizers “gospel”

3:6-9 Faith

(“Abraham”)

3:15-18 Faith

(“covenant”)

3:23-29 Faith

(“heirs”)

3:10-14 Law (“the

curse”)

3:19-22 Law

(“transgressions”)

4:1-7 Law (“bondage”)

Galatians 3:12Galatians 3:12R. C. H. LenskiR. C. H. Lenski

The Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to The Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Galatians, to the Ephesians and to the the Galatians, to the Ephesians and to the PhilippiansPhilippians

““Faith has justification and life the instant it Faith has justification and life the instant it begins; doing law-works would get life only begins; doing law-works would get life only when the doing is ended and complete. when the doing is ended and complete. But the point Paul makes is that faith and But the point Paul makes is that faith and doing are opposites. Doing furnishes what doing are opposites. Doing furnishes what is legally and of right is legally and of right demandeddemanded; faith ; faith receives what is gratuitously bestowed.”receives what is gratuitously bestowed.”

““Curse”Curse”

kata,rakata,ra KATARA (n)KATARA (n)

evpievpikata,rakata,ratojtojEPIEPIKATARAKATARATOS (v)TOS (v)

““Curse”Curse”

kata,rakata,ra KATARA (n)KATARA (n)

evpievpikata,rakata,ratojtojEPIEPIKATARAKATARATOS (v) TOS (v)

Ron Merryman: “A pronouncement Ron Merryman: “A pronouncement from God of rejection which from God of rejection which involves barrenness, uselessness, involves barrenness, uselessness, and in the end final repudiation.”and in the end final repudiation.”

Jewish CrucifixionJewish Crucifixion

Ron MerrymanRon Merryman

““Criminals who merited capital Criminals who merited capital punishment under the law were first punishment under the law were first stoned, then their bodies were stoned, then their bodies were publicly displayed by being hung to publicly displayed by being hung to a tree, and thus they became object a tree, and thus they became object lessons to the fact that malefactors lessons to the fact that malefactors deserved death.”deserved death.”

““Redeem”Redeem”

evxagora,zwevxagora,zw EXAGORAZŌEXAGORAZŌ

lit lit “to buy out”“to buy out”

““Redeem”Redeem”

evxagora,zwevxagora,zw EXAGORAZŌEXAGORAZŌ

lit lit “to buy out”“to buy out”

““to buy off by payment of a to buy off by payment of a price to recover from the price to recover from the power of another”power of another”

Galatians 3:13Galatians 3:13James BoiceJames Boice““To redeem (exagorazō) means ‘to buy out of To redeem (exagorazō) means ‘to buy out of

slavery’ by paying a price. Christ paid this price slavery’ by paying a price. Christ paid this price by dying…. Another way of saying the same thing by dying…. Another way of saying the same thing is to say that Christ became ‘a curse for us,’ is to say that Christ became ‘a curse for us,’ which Paul does. But what does this mean? In which Paul does. But what does this mean? In what sense could Jesus become a curse? Paul’s what sense could Jesus become a curse? Paul’s quotation from Deuteronomy 21:23…suggests quotation from Deuteronomy 21:23…suggests that Jesus passed under the law’s curse in a that Jesus passed under the law’s curse in a technical way by virtue of the particular means technical way by virtue of the particular means by which he was executed. Thus, having violated by which he was executed. Thus, having violated the law in one part—through no fault of his ownthe law in one part—through no fault of his own—he became technically guilty of all of it and —he became technically guilty of all of it and bore the punishment of God’s wrath for every bore the punishment of God’s wrath for every violation of the law by every man.”violation of the law by every man.”

Galatians 3:14Galatians 3:14Christ has redeemed us (3:10-14)Christ has redeemed us (3:10-14)

thatthat

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The blessing of Abraham may come to the The blessing of Abraham may come to the Gentiles (3:6-9)Gentiles (3:6-9)

thatthat

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We might receive the promise of the Spirit We might receive the promise of the Spirit (3:2-5)(3:2-5)

““The Test Question”The Test Question”Believing what was heardBelieving what was heard “observing the law”?“observing the law”?

The true gospel The legalizers “gospel”

3:6-9 Faith

(“Abraham”)

3:15-18 Faith

(“covenant”)

3:23-29 Faith

(“heirs”)

3:10-14 Law (“the

curse”)

3:19-22 Law

(“transgressions”)

4:1-7 Law (“bondage”)

The Doctrinal Logic of Galatians 3:6-14The Doctrinal Logic of Galatians 3:6-14In this paragraph, Paul seeks to prove from the OT scriptures In this paragraph, Paul seeks to prove from the OT scriptures that justification by faith is an OT doctrine. He quotes six that justification by faith is an OT doctrine. He quotes six different OT passages to show that his argument rests in the different OT passages to show that his argument rests in the authority of God’s written record.authority of God’s written record.

1.1.3:6 – The basic principle of justification by faith is exemplified 3:6 – The basic principle of justification by faith is exemplified in Abraham, the father of the Hebrew people.in Abraham, the father of the Hebrew people.

2.2.3:7, 9 – Any who follow this principle are the true spiritual sons 3:7, 9 – Any who follow this principle are the true spiritual sons of Abraham; e.g., followers of an recipients of the same spiritual of Abraham; e.g., followers of an recipients of the same spiritual blessings as Abraham received from God on the same basis blessings as Abraham received from God on the same basis (faith).(faith).

3.3.3:8 – This is what God meant in Gen 12:3 when He promised 3:8 – This is what God meant in Gen 12:3 when He promised Abraham that in him all the Gentiles (Hebrew Abraham that in him all the Gentiles (Hebrew goyimgoyim, meaning , meaning peoples or nations) would be blessed.peoples or nations) would be blessed.

4.4.3:10 – Conversely, those under the law are cursed because:3:10 – Conversely, those under the law are cursed because: the law itself curses those who obey not its every precept;the law itself curses those who obey not its every precept; by implication no one has kept the law perfectly (explicit in by implication no one has kept the law perfectly (explicit in

Rom 3:23)Rom 3:23) therefore, all are under the curse of the law.therefore, all are under the curse of the law.

The Doctrinal Logic of Galatians 3:6-14 (cont)The Doctrinal Logic of Galatians 3:6-14 (cont)In this paragraph, Paul seeks to prove from the OT scriptures In this paragraph, Paul seeks to prove from the OT scriptures that justification by faith is an OT doctrine. He quotes six that justification by faith is an OT doctrine. He quotes six different OT passages to show that his argument rests in the different OT passages to show that his argument rests in the authority of God’s written record.authority of God’s written record.

5.5.3:11, 12 – Moreover, salvation by the law and salvation by 3:11, 12 – Moreover, salvation by the law and salvation by faith are mutually exclusive because law keeping is based faith are mutually exclusive because law keeping is based upon works merit, whereas justification before God is based upon works merit, whereas justification before God is based upon faith rest in what God provides for it. Therefore, those upon faith rest in what God provides for it. Therefore, those under the law do not receive the blessings because blessings under the law do not receive the blessings because blessings come only through faith.come only through faith.

6.6.3:13, 14 – Messiah died to deliver men from the 3:13, 14 – Messiah died to deliver men from the condemnatory curse of the law: blessing, promise, fullness of condemnatory curse of the law: blessing, promise, fullness of the Spirit come solely by faith in Messiah (Christ), whether the Spirit come solely by faith in Messiah (Christ), whether one is Jew or Gentile.one is Jew or Gentile.