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Introduction to Galatians
Keith Sharp
I. Author
The inspired apostle Paul is
the writer (1:1,13-14; 5:2).
II. To Whom Written
The author addresses his book
to "the churches of Galatia"
(1:2). The name "Galatia"
was used in two senses in the first century: to denote a geographical region
in North-Central Asia Minor where ethnic Gauls had settled and to designate the Roman Province of
Galatia, which encompassed a much larger area, including cities where the
apostle Paul preached on each of his three evangelistic journeys.
Luke
uses the name in both senses in the record of Acts of the Apostles. Paul
preached in south Galatia
on his first tour. South Galatia included the churches in Pisidia,
Lycaonia and Phrygia, but the second visit recorded
in Acts 16:6 evidently refers to his going into north Galatia. The
natural conclusion would be that Paul addressed the letter to all of the
churches in the entire Roman Province of Galatia (Roy E. Cogdill,
The New Testament: Book By Book. 68-69)
III. Background for Letter
Paul and Barnabus
established the churches in south Galatia on their first preaching
journey to the Gentiles (Acts 13:14 - 14:23). Paul visited here again with
Silas on his second journey, strengthening the churches (Acts 16:1-5). On the
second journey, Paul and Silas also preached in north Galatia (Acts
16:6). On his third journey, Paul again preached in Galatia (Acts
18:23; 19:1). After Paul had left, judaizing
teachers, came in, trying to get the Galatians to be circumcised and to keep
the law (Galatians 1:6,7; 3:1; 4:9-11; 5:7). Paul
desired to come to Galatia
personally to combat this heresy but was unable (Galatians 4:19-20).
IV. When Written
The apostle wrote to the
Galatians after the apostles and elders met to consider circumcision and the
law (2:1-5; cf. Acts 15) and after Paul's second visit to Galatia
(4:13; cf. Acts 16:6).
V. Purpose
Paul purposed to defeat the
false teachers and their corrupted gospel, which demanded that Gentiles
Christians be circumcised and keep the law of Moses (1:6-7; 2:3-5,11-14;
3:1-2; 4:9-11; 5:1-6; 6:12-13; cf. Acts 15:1-5,22-29
VI. Theme
The theme of Galatians is justification
by faith apart from the law. This theme is stated in Galatians 2:16 (cf.
Romans 3:21-31, especially verse 28). Galatians is the inspired declaration
of freedom in Christ - freedom from the law, i.e., the Old Testament, and
freedom from man made religious laws. Galatians and Romans are closely
parallel in theme.
VII. Outline
A. Paul introduces the letter.
- 1:1-5
1. Paul salutes the Galatians
and asserts his apostolic authority. - 1:1-2
2. He blesses the Galatians. -
1:3
3. He praises God. - 1:4-5
B. Paul defends his
apostleship. - 1:11 - 2:14
1. The problem of the
Galatians was corrupting the gospel. - 1:6-10
2. Paul's gospel was from
Christ, not from man. - 1:11 - 2:14
a. Paul was called to the
apostleship by Christ, not by man. - 1:11-24
b. Paul's apostleship was
endorsed by Peter, James, and John. 2:1-10
c. Paul confronted Peter with
the truth about the law. - 2:11-14
C. Justification is by faith
apart from the law. - 2:15 - 5:12
1. Paul states his
proposition: Justification is by faith apart from the law. - 2:15-16
2. Paul proves his
proposition. - 2:17 - 5:12
a. If righteousness is by the
law, Christ died in vain. 2:17-21
b. The Spirit came by faith,
not by the law. - 3:1-5
c. Abraham was justified by
faith apart from the law. - 3:6-9
d. Christ redeemed us from the
curse of the law. - 3:10-14
e. The promise is by faith,
not by the law. - 3:15-18
f. The law was a schoolmaster.
- 3:19-25
g. you are children of God by faith. -
3:26-29
h. Under the law you were in
bondage, but by faith you are sons. - 4:1-11
i. Paul appeals to their personal
relationship to him. - 4:12-20
j. Paul compares the two
covenants to Hagar and Sarah. - 4:21-31
k. To attempt to be justified
by the law is to fall from grace. - 5:1-6
l. Cut off the false teachers.
- 5:7-12
D. Liberty from the law is not license to sin.
- 5:13 - 6:10
1. Love fulfills the law. -
5:13-15
2. If we walk by the Spirit,
we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. - 5:16-26
3. Let us do good to all men. - 6:1-10
E. Paul concludes the letter.
- 6:11-18
A. Paul wrote to them with his
own hand. - 6:11
B. Judaizers
glory in the flesh. - 6:12-13
C. Paul glories in the cross
of Christ. - 6:14-16
D. The "marks of the Lord
Jesus" are Paul's only fleshly glory. - 6:17
E. Paul blesses the Galatians.
- 6:18
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