GalatiansGalatiansThe Gospel and the LawThe Gospel and the Law

Lesson 1Lesson 1

Introduction to GalatiansIntroduction to Galatians

Galatians 1:1-5 Galatians 1:1-5

Pages 1-5Pages 1-5

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““TO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA”TO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA”Galatians 1:2Galatians 1:2

Paul does not name the churches – Paul does not name the churches – only the region in which they were only the region in which they were locatedlocated

The churches probably represented the The churches probably represented the churches he established on his first churches he established on his first missionary journey in Southern Galatiamissionary journey in Southern Galatia– If so, they would be Antioch [Pisidia], If so, they would be Antioch [Pisidia],

Lystra, Derbe, and Iconium (Acts 13, 14)Lystra, Derbe, and Iconium (Acts 13, 14)– If not, we do not know the cities to which If not, we do not know the cities to which

this letter was writtenthis letter was written44

““TO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA”TO THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA”Galatians 1:2Galatians 1:2

Paul calls them “Galatians” in 3:1Paul calls them “Galatians” in 3:1 The Galatian churches has come into The Galatian churches has come into

being as a result of Paul’s missionary being as a result of Paul’s missionary laborslabors

From 4:13, he preached to them the From 4:13, he preached to them the first time and, in 4:14, they had first time and, in 4:14, they had received himreceived him

But, things have changed…But, things have changed…

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DATE OF GALATIANSDATE OF GALATIANS

The date and location from which Paul The date and location from which Paul wrote this letter is unknownwrote this letter is unknown

Some theories exists:Some theories exists:– A. D. 49, maybe from AntiochA. D. 49, maybe from Antioch– A. D. 57, during his third missionary A. D. 57, during his third missionary

journey, maybe from Ephesus, Macedonia, journey, maybe from Ephesus, Macedonia, or Corinthor Corinth

Paul wrote Galatians with his own hand Paul wrote Galatians with his own hand (Gal. 6:11)(Gal. 6:11)

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PURPOSE OF GALATIANSPURPOSE OF GALATIANS

These churches had departed from These churches had departed from Paul’s original teachingsPaul’s original teachings

He needed to restore them to their He needed to restore them to their original faith and commitment to the original faith and commitment to the gospel of Christgospel of Christ

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PURPOSE OF GALATIANSPURPOSE OF GALATIANS

They had once been devoted to Paul (4:14,15) -- but now he had become their enemy (4:16)

They had once accepted Paul’s apostleship (4:14) -- but now they regarded him as dependent on human sources for his teaching (1:11,12)

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PURPOSE OF GALATIANSPURPOSE OF GALATIANS

They had embraced his teaching of justification by faith (1:9; 3:26,27; 3:2,3) -- but now they depended too heavily on fleshly ordinances (1:6; 3:3)

They had “made progress” in the gospel (5:7a) -- but now they were hindered from obeying the truth (5:7b; 5:4)

They had committed to the gospel without the Law of Moses (3:1) -- but now they were trying to be justified by that Law (5:2,4) 99

MAJOR THEMES IN GALATIANSMAJOR THEMES IN GALATIANS

Paul’s defense of his apostleship– He showed that his gospel was not

dependent on the other apostles; they sup ported his preaching but had not instructed him in what to preach

– His gospel had a heavenly origin; he had received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ

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MAJOR THEMES IN GALATIANSMAJOR THEMES IN GALATIANS

Paul’s defense of his gospel of justification by faith without works of the Law– This was not a new gospel -- it had been

preached to Abraham (3:18)– The Law was intended to be temporary, a

“tutor” (3:25)– Their salvation was involved in the

resolution of their doubts about the gospel (5:2)

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THE BOOK OF GALATIANSTHE BOOK OF GALATIANS

Paul faced two formidable tasks as he opens this letter to the Galatian churches: (1) He must rescue the faith of confused

minds from the impending peril of spiritual destruction.

(2) He must restore the confidence of these struggling Christians in his apostleship and in the authority of his teaching as an apostle.

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Paul’s GreetingPaul’s GreetingGalatians 1:1Galatians 1:1

Sometimes Paul calls himself “a servant of Sometimes Paul calls himself “a servant of Jesus Christ,” sometimes an “apostle of Jesus Christ,” sometimes an “apostle of Jesus Christ,” and sometimes simply Jesus Christ,” and sometimes simply “Paul”“Paul”

Here he calls himself “Paul, an apostle”Here he calls himself “Paul, an apostle”– He adds “not of men, neither by man”He adds “not of men, neither by man”– But, by [the authority of] Jesus Christ and GodBut, by [the authority of] Jesus Christ and God– He repeats this point in 1:12He repeats this point in 1:12

It was important that they recognized that It was important that they recognized that his apostleship and authority did not his apostleship and authority did not come from the other apostlescome from the other apostles 1313

Paul’s First ConcernPaul’s First ConcernGalatians 1:1Galatians 1:1

Paul essentially spends the first two Paul essentially spends the first two chapters setting forth the nature of his chapters setting forth the nature of his apostleshipapostleship

His opponents [Judaizing teachers] were His opponents [Judaizing teachers] were convincing people that Paul was not convincing people that Paul was not authorized to speak on behalf of Jesus authorized to speak on behalf of Jesus since he was not one of the original since he was not one of the original apostles apostles – He tells them that he is an independent He tells them that he is an independent

apostle, on a par with the other apostles, andapostle, on a par with the other apostles, and– He was not taught the gospel but gained his He was not taught the gospel but gained his

knowledge by inspiration from Christ himselfknowledge by inspiration from Christ himself1414

Paul’s First ConcernPaul’s First ConcernGalatians 1:1Galatians 1:1

Who were the Judaizing teachers?Who were the Judaizing teachers?

Those who conformed to the doctrines Those who conformed to the doctrines and rites of the Jewsand rites of the Jews

Especially, those who:Especially, those who:– Insisted on Gentiles being circumcised Insisted on Gentiles being circumcised

(2:12; 5:6; 6:15)(2:12; 5:6; 6:15)– Insisted on keeping days, months, and, Insisted on keeping days, months, and,

times and years (4:10)times and years (4:10)

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Paul’s GreetingPaul’s GreetingGalatians 1:2Galatians 1:2

““And all the brethren which are with And all the brethren which are with me”me”– We do not know the names of the brethren We do not know the names of the brethren

who were with Paul as he wrote this letterwho were with Paul as he wrote this letter

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Paul’s GreetingPaul’s GreetingGalatians 1:3-5Galatians 1:3-5

Paul added greetings from God the Paul added greetings from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus ChristFather and from the Lord Jesus Christ

He reminds them that it was Jesus who:He reminds them that it was Jesus who:– Gave himself for our sinsGave himself for our sins– Delivered us from this present evil worldDelivered us from this present evil world

All this was “according to the will of All this was “according to the will of God and our Father”God and our Father”– ““To whom be glory for ever and ever, and To whom be glory for ever and ever, and

Amen”Amen”

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And the Next Lesson…And the Next Lesson…

There is no other gospelThere is no other gospel Paul’s ministry of the true gospelPaul’s ministry of the true gospel

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