Bible Overview: Galatians
Notes
Transcript
Author: Paul
Author: Paul
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
Recipients: the churches of Galatia
Recipients: the churches of Galatia
2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
(Acts 16:6, 18:23; 1 Corinthians 16:1 all refer to Galatia and the churches there)
(modern-day Turkey)
Date: A.D. 48-49
Date: A.D. 48-49
Probably written before the Jerusalem council, recorded in Acts 15, which took place in A.D. 49. Otherwise, it seems likely Paul would have referenced the conclusion of the Jerusalem council since he addresses the same issue (the Gentile relationship to the Jewish ceremonial laws).
What was the conclusion of the Jerusalem council?
Themes & Key Verses
Themes & Key Verses
Harsh Words for those who forsake the Gospel and those teaching a false gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
Paul’s personal testimony and qualifications for apostleship
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.
12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
(most of chapters 1-2 is his personal testimony and defense of his apostolic ministry)
Justification by grace through faith
16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
All of the Christian life by faith
2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
The Unity of Jewish and Gentile believers through faith in Christ
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Faith unites us to Christ and to all his people, and it is by faith that we live all of the Christian life.
A clear focus on the Gospel - on Christ and who he is and what he’s done for us - will keep us from both the pride of self-righteousness and the laziness of self-indulgence. We must always keep our eyes on Christ and his cross, and this will keep us away from both legalism and worldly behavior.