Galatians

1. Galatians

2. Galatians:Facts Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey The only epistle that addressed to a number of churches (of Galatians) Was Written From Antioch (Syrian)

3. New testament Paul wrote 14 of them 27 Books

4. Chronological order of the Epistles

5. The Pauline Epistles Categories: • Eschatological Epistles: 1- 1st Thessalonians • [our believe & eternal life are based on the Second coming (Christ return)] 2- 2nd Thessalonians • [Signs of Christ return] b) Stereological (Chief) Epistles: 3- 1st Corinthians • [Church unity in Christ] 4- 2nd Corinthians • [Reconciliation through Christ] 5- Galatians • [Freedom in Christ] 6- Romans • [The righteous of God through Christ Salvation]

6. The Pauline Epistles Categories: d) Captivity ( Prison) Epistles: 7- Ephesians [Christ is the head of His united body 8- Philippians [Joy in Christ] 9- Colossians [Sufficiency in Christ] 10- Philemon [in God, we all are one family]

7. The Pauline Epistles Categories: c) Pastoral Epistles: 11- Hebrews [Superiority of Christ over Judaism] 12- 1st Timothy [Affirmation of truth in Christ] 13- 2nd Timothy [Faithfulness to Christ] 14- Titus [Standards for serving Christ]

9. Galatians:Authorship • External Evidence • Traditional view : • Paul wrote Galatians  • Early support by Polycarp, Marcion  • 2. Even 19th century German criticsaccept Pauline authorship. • Internal Evidence • Galatians explicitly notes Paul as its author (1:1; 5:2) • Paul probably departed from his usual practice of dictating his letters to a secretary by penning the epistle himself (6:11) • Chapters 1 and 2 are autobiographical with many Pauline themes (grace, law). Both the external and the internal evidence point to Paul's authorship

10. Paul’s 1st & 2nd Missionary Journeys

11. 142 Where were the Galatians? North South

12. Galatians:Date and Recipients The issue of date is closely related to the letter’s destination. The North Galatian Theory (Later date) The South Galatian Theory (Earlier date) Gallic believers in the territory of Galatia (ethnic Galatia, including the cities of Ancyra, Pessinus, and Tavium) – 2nd missionary journey (Acts 16:6). Greek believers in the Roman province of Galatia (political Galatia, including the cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe) – 1st missionary journey (Acts 13–14). Arguments for both dates and recipients are inconclusive, although the best evidence supports the South Galatian Theory and the earlier date of about fall AD 49.

13. The Problem in Galatia • Freedom and unity in Christ are central themes of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. • His letter addresses Christians, whose preoccupation with keeping the Law was splitting their churches along racial lines, separating Jews from Gentiles. • The false teachers were teaching that faith alone cannot save, but you also need works of the law.

14. Galatians 1.Turning from true gospel 2. Hypocrisy found in Peter 3. Example of Abraham’s Faith 4. Law versus true liberty 5. Attitudes from Spirit’s leading 6. Win back erring believers Barry Huddleston, The Acrostic Summarized Bible

15. The 3 cultures Paul faced in Galatia Roman culture Greek culture Jewish culture

16. Jews (unbelievers) Gentiles (unbelievers) Church (Jew & Gentile believers) Judaizers Who are these false teachers? • Paul actually never gives them a name. • However, since they emphasize on returning to the Jewish law, they have been given the term “Judaizers”.

17. Principles of Judaism • Emphasizes procedures that we must do to be saved • Motivated by a work/payment system: “I do, therefore I earn” • Not motivated by love!

18. Simple example of Judaism • A husband and wife do family Bible readings together after dinner. • The husband reads quickly, thinking about what he wants to do when the readings are over.” • The wife considers each reading, looking for lessons and answers to solve issues she’s facing in her life. • Both satisfied the requirement to read the word, one as a legal requirement, the other out of love for God’s ways.

19. Galatians balances James Liberals: Christ did it all, so I don’t need to do anything or change Judaizers: I must work to earn my salvation Galatians corrects this James corrects this “Faith working through Love”(Gal 5:6)

20. Paul versus the Judaizers Justification by Faith

21. Key Word Justification (Gospel of Liberty) Key Verse Galatians 2:16 “ knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith is Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, for the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

22. Summary Statement Paul defends his apostleship and justification by faith so that the Galatians would not seek salvation through adherence to the law.

23. Outline of the Epistle Four parts 1:1-9 Greetings & Introduction 1:10 – 2:14 Paul’s experiences 2:15 – 5:6 Doctrinal Defence 5:7 – 6:17 Warnings and instruction

24. Issue #1: Legalism Definition: “Legalism” is attempting to win God’sfavor by our own determined effortsof dedication and obedience. In Galatians: Try to win God’s approval by strict adherenceto the law. Today: Try tolive up to God’s andother people’sexpectations of how Christians shouldbe—obedience, dedication, fulltimeChristianservice, academic study,and volunteer work. Lesson: We must obey and serve freely out oflove and gratitudeto Christ. The HolySpirit must empower us. Ourdedicatedservice cannot remove sin or obtainsavinggrace.

25. Issue #2: Labelism Definition: “Labelism” is pride of ownership for havingthe “right”religion. In Galatians: Take pride in observing the “right” religious activities (e.g. food laws, circumcision). Today: Take pride in having the right doctrine, being in the right church, practicing the right ministry strategies. Lesson: We are who we are by God’s grace, and not because of ourselves or what we have done.