Galatians Introduction
Galatians, written by
Paul. It was probably written in the mid
to late 50’s A.D., perhaps around 57 A.D.
This epistle was
addressed to the Galatians. Galatia was
a group of churches that is located in Asia Minor, or what is now known as the
center of modern day Turkey.
The people back then were
fickle and curious and investigated new things on whims.
Paul visited Galatia on
his first journey, Acts 13:51; 14:8, 20, and on his third journey, Acts 18:23.
On his second journey, he
was forbidden from preaching there by the Holy Spirit, Acts16:6.
At the time of this
letter, the people there were burdened with the concepts of the purity of doctrine
and the purity of ones conduct. They
were trying to add works to salvation and the spiritual life, thus perverting
the scriptures.
Paul counters this idea
with his clarification that Abraham was justified by faith, several centuries
prior to the writing of the law by Moses, and teaching that the sanctifying
power of the Holy Spirit and the riches of the spiritual life come when the
Holy Spirit rules the life of the believer, whom He indwells.
Earthly rules established
by man tend to bind and imprison people with the burdens of ritual and rules of
social works, when they think that that are free, but on fact are not.
The true spiritual life
sets free the individual in the truest sense of freedom, when the individual
voluntarily submits himself to the will of God through the scriptures. Thus the subject of Galatians is ‘independence.’
Galatians Outline (New Unger's Bible Dictionary)
Galatians
I. Introduction (1:1-5)
II. The apostolic vindication (1:6-2:21)
A.
The occasion (1:6-7)
B.
The authenticity of his gospel (1:8-10)
C.
The divine origin (1:11-24)
D.
The official endorsement (2:1-10)
E.
The explanation of his conduct (2:11-21)
III. Doctrinal justification (3-4)
A.
The faulty conduct of the Galatians (3:1-5)
B.
Abraham's example (3:6-9)
C.
Legal deliverance by Christ (3:10-14)
D.
The purpose of the law (3:15-18)
E.
Law related to the promise (3:19-22)
F.
Superiority of the condition under faith compared with that under law (3:23-4:11)
G.
Paul and the Galatians (4:12-20)
H.
The two covenants (4:21-31)
IV. The practical application (5:1-6:10)
A.
Warning of the right use of freedom (5:1-15)
B.
The way to spiritual growth (5:16-26)
C.
Exhortation to patience and brotherly love (6:1-5)
D.
Exhortation to liberality (6:6-10)
E.
Warning against Judaizers (6:11-16)
V. Conclusion (6:17-18)
