Bible 107, 305

Introduction to Galatians

Author: Paul

Date and Audience:

Date\Audience Northern Galatia Southern Galatia
Before Jerusalem Conference N/A X
After Jerusalem Conference X x

Simple Outline:
1-2 Biographical Argument
3-4 Doctrinal Argument
5-6 Practical Argument

Readings from Galatians

Galatians was written to the churches of Galatians which were primarily Gentile. They had been convinced that besides accepting Christ, they needed to also keep the law of Moses. Paul advances three main arguments against this: chapters 1-2 show from his personal history that his gospel came from God; chapters 3-4 show from the Old Testament that justification by faith in Christ was God's plan all along; and chapters 5-6 show that only faith in Christ allows a person to live righteously.

Read the following highlights:

1:1-12  the different gospel
     vv. 8-9 the curse
     v. 12 the origin of Paul's gospel

2:11-21 Paul's confrontation with Peter
     v. 16 justified not by works of law
     v. 20 crucified with Christ

3:10-14 curse of the law
     v. 13 Christ became a curse for us

3:23-4:7 the custodian and the child
     v. 27 baptized into Christ
     v. 28 one in Christ
     v. 4 fulness of time

5:1-25 the argument from practical Christian Living
     v. 3 bound to keep whole law
     v. 4 fallen away from grace
     vv. 19-21 works of the flesh
     vv. 22-23 fruit of the Spirit

6:11-15 Paul's personal postscript in his own handwriting

http://www.bterry.com/actstorev/galaread.htm hosted at http://bible.ovu.edu/terry/actstorev/galaread.htm

Date\Audience	Northern Galatia	Southern Galatia
Before Jerusalem Conference	N/A	X
After Jerusalem Conference	X	x