Galatians

Chapter 4

February 15, 2015

Outline

• Introduction (1:1-10)

• Defense of Paul’s Apostleship(1:11 – 2:21)

• Defense of Justification by Faith (3:1-4:31)

• Defense of Christian Liberty (5:1-6:10)

• Conclusion (6: 11-18)

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.

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”fn 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us —for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 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.

Escaping the Curse of the Law

• It is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham• All who rely on works of the law are under a

curse• Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by

becoming a curse for us• As many of you as were baptized into Christ

have put on Christ• If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s

offspring

Galatians 4

• You are sons and heirs – Already, without the works of the Law

• I am worried about you– You are going back to the Law which cannot

save– You oppose me where once you supported

me

• Choose freedom over slavery

Summary

• Date – Historical context

• Audience

• Purpose

• Outline

1st – AD 47

2nd – 49-52

3rd – 52-57

When Was Galatians Written?

• Paul - Not in prison – Before the prison years of 58-63

• “so soon removed” (Gal. 1:6)

• After the “Jerusalem Council” (Gal. 2: 1-10)• Possibilities

– Athens 51-52AD (a short time: Acts 17:15)– Antioch 53-54 AD – Ephesus 54-57 (during Paul’s third journey)

• 3rd book of the New Testament after 1 and 2 Thessalonians

Audience

• Galatia – a Roman province • Churches (visited 3 times by Paul):

– Antioch (Pisidia)• Paul and Barnabas first turned to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46)

– Iconium• Stayed “a long time” (Acts 14:3)

– Lystra• Paul stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19)

– Derbe• Paul and Silas Joined by Timothy on second journey (Acts

16:1)

Chapter 1

• Introduction– Salutation (1:1-5)– Denunciation (1:6-10)

• Defense of Paul’s Apostleship– Received by revelation (1: 11-12)– Independent of Jerusalem Apostles

• Paul’s conversion and early Christian years (1:13-17)

• Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem (1:18-24)

Chronology of Saul’s Life

• 2 AD – born in Tarsus– Israelite family of tribe of Benjamin (Phil. 3:5)– Circumcised on the eighth day (Phil. 3:5)

• 12-15 AD – Religious training in Jerusalem– Taught by Gamaliel (Acts 22:3)

• 32 AD – Participates in Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58)

• 32 -33 AD – persecutes the church• 33 AD – converted (Acts 9)

Chronology Continued

• 33 – 36 AD – taught by Jesus in Arabia (Gal 1: 11-12; 15 – 18)

• 36 AD –Leaves Arabia– Visits Damascus (Gal. 1:17)– Stays two weeks in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26 – Gal. 1: 18-19)– Sent back to Tarsus via Caesarea (Acts 9:30)

• 36-40 AD – At home in Tarsus• 40 - 44 AD – Growth in the Antioch church (Acts 11: 20-

21)– Barnabas brings Saul back to Antioch (Acts 11: 25-26)– They escort food to Jerusalem and return to Antioch (Acts 12:25)

• 44 AD – First missionary journey

Ca 54 – 57 : writes Galatians

Here let us pause to look at the question: When was Galatians written? Galatians was written when Paul was not in prison and when neither Silas or Timothy were with him (Galatians 1:1). It was written after the council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-32 and Galatians 2:1-10) and after Paul's second visit to the region on his second journey in about 51 AD (Acts 16:1-6). Since they were "so soon removed" from grace (Galatians 1:6), it must have been before the prison years of 58-63 AD. So it could have been written when Paul was alone in Athens in the winter of 51-52 AD, which would make it Paul's first letter. But this is unlikely, since Paul was only in Athens a short time (Acts 17:15). Or it could have been written from Antioch between Paul's second and third journeys in the winter of 53-54 AD (Acts 18:22-23). But this is also unlikely because Paul would have probably mentioned that he would be coming to them soon on his third journey. It could have been written from Corinth in the winter of 57-58 where Paul wrote Romans. But most likely, it was written from Ephesus during Paul's 3 years there from 54-57. Paul had recently passed through the region of Galatia "... strengthening all the disciples ..." (Acts 18:23) and spent far more time in Ephesus where he could have gotten the unfavorable report about the churches in Galatia (Galatians 1:6) which was relatively nearby.