Sermon Tone Analysis

The Author of Galatians

The Apostle Paul

Depending upon the date one assumes for this letter, it may be the first letter Paul wrote.

The Recipients of the Letter

Where are the “churches of Galatia?” and who are the “Galatians?”

Who are the Galatians?

Galatians 3:1

At one point there was a kingdom of Galatia (situated in modern day Turkey) surrounding the city of Ancyra.

Following Roman conquest, a larger territory was named as the region of Galatia.

Thus, the northern area of this province was home to ethnic Galatians, but they whole area was known as Galatia in Paul’s day.

At one point there was a kingdom of Galatia (situated in modern day Turkey) surrounding the city of Ancyra.

Following Roman conquest, a larger territory was named as the region of Galatia.

Thus, the northern area of this province was home to ethnic Galatians, but they whole area was known as Galatia in Paul’s day.

North Galatia Theory

Southern Galatia was

Some believe that since Paul refers to his readers as “Galatians” he must be referring to ethnic Galatians, and thus the congregations are in cities in the northern part of Galatia - the area where historically the actual kingdom of Galatia was.

The difficulty is Acts does not record Paul’s trips to this area of the world specifically.

The trip would have had to be during his second missionary trip.

It is possible, but unknown.

If Paul did travel through this part of the world and establish congregations there, Luke records none of the details of such a visit.

Two verses in acts mention Paul visiting Galatia, but no details are provided.

Further, Luke could be referring to any portion of Galatia, not just northern Galatia.

Acts 16:

South Galatia Theory

Most commentators believe Paul is writing to congregations located in southern Galatia.

While not ethnic Galatians, they were citizens of the province of Galatia.

Strengthening this idea is the fact that we know from Acts Paul did establish congregations in this part of the world.

Paul’s first missionary journey was heavily focused in southern Galatia and he established congregations in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.

Thus, many commentators believe Paul is writing to these very congregations when he writes to the “churches of Galatia.”

If this is the case, then that allows for Galatians to have been written very early during Paul’s work, possibly at the end of his first missionary journey or early during his second missionary journey.

On the other hand, if one takes the North Galatian view, then he would have almost certainly had to have written the letter after his second missionary journey.

One his first missionary journey, Paul established the congregations of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe in Southern Galatia.

During his first missionary journey, Paul travelled through southern Galatia and established congregations in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.

The Galatian Problem

Paul’s letter to the Galatians is one of the strongest and most combative of all his letters.

Theologically it is very similar to Romans, but in tone it is most similar to 2 Corinthians, especially the final few chapters of that letter.

A Different Gospel

Paul had received word that some teachers had come to the churches in Galatia and were teaching a gospel that was at odds with what Paul had preached.

This “different gospel” seems to be the gospel but with requirements from the Old Covenant Law added, particularly the practice of circumcision.

Essentially, it seems that Jewish Christians were teaching Gentile converts that in addition to obeying the gospel of Jesus, they also had to be circumcised as the Law of Moses required.

It is possible they required other things like keeping certain days and dietary laws, but Paul primarily focuses on circumcision in his letter.

Paul says that even if an apostle or an angel from Heaven preaches a different gospel, they are to be accursed.

The primary problem is judaizing teachers were insisting that salvation and belonging to the community of God’s people hinged on practices that were not a part of the gospel of Christ.

Even if such practices came from something as honorable as the Law of Moses, they were man-made additions, and lead to a gospel that was a false-gospel void of saving power, for it did not come from God

Paul’s Apostleship

Along with teaching a different gospel, it seems the false teachers also sought to discredit Paul.

Apparently they painted hims as something less than an apostle.

Similar to his letters to the Corinthians, Paul spends a great deal of time proving his apostleship.

His apostleship is a divine appointment

His message was from God, not other men

Gal.

1:11-

While not getting his message from the apostles, Paul was approved of by the apostles

Gal.

2:6-

Paul rebuked Peter when needed

Why did Peter stand condemned and need to be rebuked?

He stopped eating with Gentile brethren

Paul perceived the situation among the churches in Galatia to be a very dangerous one, so he wrote an urgent and sharp letter to address the problems there.

He proved his apostleship, shined the light on the falsehood of this new teaching, and reminded the Galatians of the true gospel message.

Themes in Galatians

Justification and Righteousness

These two terms are found 13 times in the letter.

Justification is a legal term that means one is acquitted, set free, or has had guilt removed.

Righteousness is similar concept, but has to do with being right or in right standing toward God.

The basic idea is how can sinful man have his guilt removed, and come to be in and remain in a right standing before God?

The gospel message is that it is faith in Christ which justifies and makes one right.

This faith is an obedient faith, or “faithfulness.”

For example, it is through Baptism that one is put in Christ and one puts on Christ.

This is not an act of law, but a response of obedient, saving faith.

Gal.

3:

Judaizing teachers were trying to add elements of the Law of Moses to gospel message of faith in Christ, and thus teaching that works of the Law were required for one to be justified, righteous, and a part of God’s people.

Just as that was false, adding any traditions or commands of any sort to the gospel turns one’s religion into a false gospel.

What does it mean to be justified?

To be acquitted, set free, or have one’s guilt removed

What does it mean to be righteous?

To be in a right standing before God.

The Law

Because the false doctrine was based on adherence to parts of the Mosaic Law, the Law is a central aspect of the letter of Galatians.

Law is mentioned 32 times in Galatians.

The important thing to note is that when Paul discusses law in Galatians, he is almost always referring to the Law of Moses.

While we could take Paul’s words to apply to any man-made law that might be imposed on Christianity, Paul is not denying that there is a law of God Christians are still to follow.

There is freedom in Christ, but that is not a freedom to live however we choose or a freedom to partake in sinful living.

We have been freed from the Law of Moses, and we have been freed from the curse of the Law, which is death, but our freedom comes through the law of Christ.

When Paul speaks of law in Galatians, to what is he normally referring?

The Law of Moses

The Spirit

While not always a focus of studies on Galatians, Paul says a great deal about the Spirit in the letter (mentioned 18 times).

Paul speaks of receiving the spirit, having begun in the spirit, God sending the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, being born according to the Spirit, walking by the spirit, living by the spirit, and bearing the fruit of the spirit just to name a few occurences.

How many times is “spirit” mentioned in Galatians?

18 times

God’s Promise

God’s promise is an important theme that makes up the focus of chapters 3 and 4. Paul argues against the perpetuity of the Mosaic Law by going to an earlier event - God’s promise to Abraham.

Which came first, the Law or the Promise?

The promise

Freedom and Christian Living

The Christian has been called to freedom (, ) but that is not a license to sin.

On the contrary, our freedom from the Law and it’s curse is a call to righteous living.

We don’t just seek to become right before God, we seek to continue to live in a right relationship with God.

This what it means to live the Christian life.

It is a life contrary to the desires of the flesh, and is instead a life guided by the Spirit.

This leads to a live of service and love.