new testament survey: book of galatians street in the modern city of damascus
Post on 25-Dec-2015
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TRANSCRIPT
The Author
• Paul’s authorship of this book to the Galatian churches is certain
• Salutation (1:1)
• First two chapters are an autobiography of Paul’s life—from his conversion to the writing of the letter
• 14 years between visits to Jerusalem; the first in Acts 9; 3 years in Arabia
Date of Writing
• Paul was converted sometime between 31 and 36 AD
• 17-year interval (2:1)
• Subsequent to the Jerusalem meeting regarding the circumcision problem (Acts 15)
• Followed Peter’s visit to Antioch (2:11-14)
• Written between 55 and 57 AD
To Whom Written
• Galatia was originally in the northeastern part of Asia Minor
• Mixed population of Greeks, Romans, and Jewish people
• Quick to give up and easily influenced
• Paul visited the area twice: Acts 16:6; 18:23
• Letter written after 2nd visit (4:13-16)
• In 25 BC, the original Gaulic region was designated the new province of Galatia
• Paul preached in south Galatia on his first tour—Pisidia, Lyconia, Phrygia
• Paul preached in north Galatia on his second visit
• Letter addressed to all the churches in the Roman Province of Galatia
To Whom Written
Purpose of the Epistle
• The churches had begun well; after Paul’s departure, they were drawn away (5:7)
• Judaizing teachers caused problems over circumcision of Gentile converts
• They had redemption in Christ, Judaizers sought to bind Moses’ Law on them
• Justification determined by works of the Law
• No flesh can be justified by works of the Law
• Parallels arguments in the book of Romans
• Expressed with warmth and vehemence
• Tactic of Judaizing teachers—attack Paul’s apostleship
• Destroy confidence in Paul—convert the Galatians to their false teaching!
Purpose of the Epistle
Contents and Character
• First part mainly historic (chapters 1,2)
• Charged Paul not one of the original 12 apostles—should not be accepted as an apostle
• What he had learned about the gospel came from men—not God (false charge)
• Arrayed Paul against Peter and other apostles regarding circumcision
• This explains why Paul spent time discussing his own credentials
• Paul affirmed his work was not of men (1:1)
• Did not receive the gospel from men (1:11,12)
• After his conversion, Paul went to Arabia for three years (1:15-17)
• Brief 15-day visit to Jerusalem seeing only Peter and James (1:20-24)
• After 14 years, he went up to Jerusalem, by “revelation,” to confer about preaching to the Gentiles (2:1-10)
Contents and Character
• No dependence on other apostles
• Withstood Peter to face when his hypocrisy had caused a problem (2:11-14)
• Letter’s second part argues that God makes men righteous by faith in Christ—not works of the Law!
• Abraham was justified by faith before the Law (3:6-9,18)
• The Law cannot justify sinners; it only condemns (3:10-12)
Contents and Character
• In His own time, God sent His Son (4:4,5)
• Paul warned of the danger in following the Old Law (4:6-11)
• Paul knew of their love for him—how could he now be their enemy (4:14-16)
• Warned them of the false teachers and their dishonest intentions (4:17-21)
• The allegory—free woman and the bond woman (4:22-31)
Contents and Character
• Requiring circumcision binds them to keep the whole law—and they are fallen from grace! (5:4)
• Third part of letter is of practical character
• Exhorts the Galatian Christians to use Christian liberty in a worthy manner—putting to death their fleshly lusts (5:17-21)
• Must seek to bear one another burdens (6:1-5)
• Duties they have as brethren (6:6-10)
Contents and Character
• Hold steadfastly to the liberty that can be found only in Christ!
• Reject being bound to the Law of Moses or to fleshly lusts—walk after the Spirit (5:1-26)
• The basic theme is clearly summed up with this exhortation… (5:1)
• Some have called the Galatian Epistle the “Magna Carta of Christian Liberty”
Contents and Character
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