NT Survey IINT Survey II

GalatiansGalatians

Paul’s Third Journey Paul’s Third Journey (Acts 18:23 – 21:17)(Acts 18:23 – 21:17)

Galatians &Romans writtenfrom Corinth (Acts20:1-3).

2 Corinthians written from Macedonia,after Paul receives report from Titus.

1 Corinthians written from Ephesus.

Introductory Matters for Introductory Matters for GalatiansGalatians

Author:Author: The Apostle Paul, written with his own hand The Apostle Paul, written with his own hand (Gal 6:11).(Gal 6:11).

Audience:Audience: This is a significant issue for this letter. This is a significant issue for this letter. Was Paul writing to North Galatia ( as a geographical Was Paul writing to North Galatia ( as a geographical region, which is the way Luke uses the term in Acts) region, which is the way Luke uses the term in Acts) or South Galatia (as a Roman province)? The or South Galatia (as a Roman province)? The arguments are stronger for South Galatia, arguments are stronger for South Galatia, particularly in light of Paul’s habit when describing particularly in light of Paul’s habit when describing churches founded by him to use the titles of the churches founded by him to use the titles of the provinces in which they were situated (Macedonia, provinces in which they were situated (Macedonia, Achaia, Asia; see 1 Cor 16:1, 5, 15, 19).Achaia, Asia; see 1 Cor 16:1, 5, 15, 19).

Date:Date: Either immediately after Paul’s first missionary Either immediately after Paul’s first missionary journey in the late 40s AD (Benware and others), or journey in the late 40s AD (Benware and others), or on his third missionary journey during a 3 month on his third missionary journey during a 3 month stay in Corinth, in 55 or 56 AD. The latter stay in Corinth, in 55 or 56 AD. The latter coordinates better with the book of Acts.coordinates better with the book of Acts.

Character of the book:Character of the book: Polemical; Paul is defending Polemical; Paul is defending his ministry and his message against the attacks his ministry and his message against the attacks and influence of Judaizers. A classic letter on and influence of Judaizers. A classic letter on justification by faith.justification by faith.

Galatians and the Character of Galatians and the Character of PaulPaul

This is a letter that reveals a great deal This is a letter that reveals a great deal about the personal character of Paul, about the personal character of Paul, including his courage, his tenderness, his including his courage, his tenderness, his earnestness and sincerity, and his burning earnestness and sincerity, and his burning devotion to Christ and the Gospel.devotion to Christ and the Gospel.

It is markedly different in tone from Paul’s It is markedly different in tone from Paul’s other letters:other letters: The readers are never addressed as “saints in The readers are never addressed as “saints in

Christ.”Christ.” There is no praise for the readers, not even an There is no praise for the readers, not even an

expression of thanksgiving to God for them.expression of thanksgiving to God for them. Yet there are expressions of tender affection Yet there are expressions of tender affection

for his readers.for his readers.

Occasion for the Epistle to the Occasion for the Epistle to the GalatiansGalatians

The occasion for the Epistle was a response to The occasion for the Epistle was a response to outsiders who had come in and made definite inroads outsiders who had come in and made definite inroads in these churches. Though unnamed, it is clear that in these churches. Though unnamed, it is clear that these were Judaizers from Palestine. They created these were Judaizers from Palestine. They created problems in regard to the relationship between problems in regard to the relationship between Gentile Christians and the Mosaic Law by insisting Gentile Christians and the Mosaic Law by insisting that Gentiles needed to be circumcised in order to be that Gentiles needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. They held that the Law was a divine saved. They held that the Law was a divine institution and could not be neglected. The Messiah institution and could not be neglected. The Messiah was the Messiah of the Jews and anyone who wanted was the Messiah of the Jews and anyone who wanted to enter his kingdom must become a Jew. So Paul to enter his kingdom must become a Jew. So Paul responds to their three lines of teaching:responds to their three lines of teaching: They undermined Paul’s apostleship, and he responds to this They undermined Paul’s apostleship, and he responds to this

in chapters 1 and 2. in chapters 1 and 2. They elevated Judaism to the same level as Christianity. They elevated Judaism to the same level as Christianity.

Paul defends against this teaching in chapters 3 and 4. Paul defends against this teaching in chapters 3 and 4. They insinuated that liberty means license. Paul defends They insinuated that liberty means license. Paul defends

against this attack in chapters 5 and 6.against this attack in chapters 5 and 6.

Some Comments about Paul’s Some Comments about Paul’s OpponentsOpponents

““We conclude, therefore, that Paul’s opponents We conclude, therefore, that Paul’s opponents were Jewish Christians – or, more accurately, were Jewish Christians – or, more accurately, Christian Jews – who came from the Jerusalem Christian Jews – who came from the Jerusalem church to Paul’s churches in Galatia with a church to Paul’s churches in Galatia with a message stressing the need for Gentiles to be message stressing the need for Gentiles to be circumcised and to keep the rudiments of the circumcised and to keep the rudiments of the cultic calendar, both for full acceptance by God cultic calendar, both for full acceptance by God and as a proper Christian lifestyle. Undoubtedly and as a proper Christian lifestyle. Undoubtedly they presented their message as being they presented their message as being theologically based and claimed to be only theologically based and claimed to be only interested in Gentiles being fully integrated into interested in Gentiles being fully integrated into the chosen people of Israel, and so full recipients the chosen people of Israel, and so full recipients of the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant. of the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant. Probably, as well, they claimed not to be opposing Probably, as well, they claimed not to be opposing Paul but to be completing his message, and so Paul but to be completing his message, and so bringing the Galatian Christians to perfection” bringing the Galatian Christians to perfection” (Longenecker in WBC, p. xcv).(Longenecker in WBC, p. xcv).

These Jewish Christians were also seeking to avoid These Jewish Christians were also seeking to avoid persecution from non-believing Jews (Gal 6:12-13).persecution from non-believing Jews (Gal 6:12-13).

Major Themes in GalatiansMajor Themes in Galatians

Attacks against PaulAttacks against Paul Circumcision vs. UncircumcisionCircumcision vs. Uncircumcision The GospelThe Gospel The Cross/CrucifyThe Cross/Crucify LawLaw Flesh and SpiritFlesh and Spirit Justify/RighteousnessJustify/Righteousness GraceGrace

Purpose Statement for Purpose Statement for GalatiansGalatians

Paul declared and defended the Paul declared and defended the Gospel of justification by faith, Gospel of justification by faith, without any requirement to be without any requirement to be subject to the Mosaic Law, and the subject to the Mosaic Law, and the implications of that Gospel for the implications of that Gospel for the Galatian believers.Galatian believers.

Survey of GalatiansSurvey of Galatians Prologue (1:1-11)Prologue (1:1-11)

Paul’s opening salutation and expression of amazement Paul’s opening salutation and expression of amazement over the Galatians’ desertion of the gospel.over the Galatians’ desertion of the gospel.

The Vindication of Paul’s Ministry and Gospel (1:12 The Vindication of Paul’s Ministry and Gospel (1:12 – 2:21)– 2:21) Responding to the influence of the Judaizers, Paul defends Responding to the influence of the Judaizers, Paul defends

his apostolic authority and the source of His message as his apostolic authority and the source of His message as Christ Himself.Christ Himself.

The Explanation of Paul’s Gospel (3:1 – 4:31)The Explanation of Paul’s Gospel (3:1 – 4:31) Paul explains the Gospel of justification by faith which he Paul explains the Gospel of justification by faith which he

personally held to and which he had taught the Galatians.personally held to and which he had taught the Galatians. The Application of Paul’s Gospel (5:1 – 6:10)The Application of Paul’s Gospel (5:1 – 6:10)

The life of Christian liberty does not mean a life of The life of Christian liberty does not mean a life of lawlessness or license. Paul exhorts the Galatians to lawlessness or license. Paul exhorts the Galatians to maintain their liberty in Christ (5:1), to beware of those maintain their liberty in Christ (5:1), to beware of those who would seek to destroy that liberty (5:2-12), and to live who would seek to destroy that liberty (5:2-12), and to live their lives governed by love and guided by the Holy Spirit their lives governed by love and guided by the Holy Spirit (5:13-25). Justification by faith leads to a life of right living.(5:13-25). Justification by faith leads to a life of right living.

Epilogue (6:11-18)Epilogue (6:11-18) Paul’s contrast between himself and the “circumcisers;” Paul’s contrast between himself and the “circumcisers;”

benediction.benediction.

Next Week: RomansNext Week: Romans