Galatians Summary Outline I. I. Ch 1-2: Defense of Message and Messenger II. II. Ch 3-4: Grace-Faith versus Law-Works III. III. Ch 5-6: New Life in the Spirit

Ch 3-4: Grace-Faith versus Law-Works A. 3:1-9The Preeminence of Faith B. 3:10-14The Curse of Works C. 3:15-18The Precedent of Promise D. 3:19-25The Purpose of the Law E. 3:26-4:7Sons and Heirs through Christ F. 4:8-18The Emptiness of Legalism G. 4:19-31Law and Grace Cannot Coexist

“elements of the world” The elementary stages of religious experience common to all men.

“the fullness of the time” Howard Vos “Perhaps at no other point in world history could Christ and the church so effectively have swept onto the human stage. Culturally, the Greeks had prepared the way for the coming of Christ and the church by providing a culture and a language which were adopted by Rome and spread throughout the Mediterranean world. Greek was the lingua franca [common language] of the Empire and could be understood by those who had access to New Testament literature and preachers of the gospel. “Politically Rome had prepared the way by uniting the Mediterranean world under one government and one citizenship. Ease of movement in that part of the world, facilitated by the marvelous Roman road system, is readily appreciated by the contemporary traveler who has no end of trouble with passports and visas; in fact, some countries in the Mediterranean area are periodically closed to him.”

“the fullness of the time” Howard Vos (cont) “Religiously the Jews had made preparation by their preaching of monotheism in some one hundred fifty synagogues located throughout the Empire and by their anticipation of a Messiah who would solve the world’s problems. Within Judaism, too, a preparation for the coming of Christ occurred as the law did its work and it became increasingly evident that no one could keep the commandments; the law ‘concluded all under sin.’ “The philosophers made a religious contribution too, in a negative sort of way. They cast doubts on the old pagan systems of religion and looked for some sort of unifying power behind all of the old polytheistic systems of the day. At the most opportune time “God sent forth His Son.’”

“redeem” evxagora,zw (EXAGORADZŌ) Vine’s “denotes to buy out, especially of purchasing a slave with a view to his freedom”

“redeem” ui`oqesi,a (HUIOTHESIA)

“redeem” ui`oj (HUIOS)“a son” qesi,j (THESIS)“a placing” lit. “a placing as a son”

“redeem” ui`oqesi,a (HUIOTHESIA) ui`oj (HUIOS)“a son” qesi,j (THESIS)“a placing” lit. “a placing as a son” Vine’s “signifies the place and condition of a son given to one to whom it does not naturally belong”

Galatians 4:4-5 James Boice “It is striking how much of the important Christian teaching about Jesus is revealed in these two verses (vv. 4, 5). He is divine, for He is God’s “Son.” … He is human, for He was ‘born’ of a woman. He was ‘under law’; that is, he was born into Israel and thus within God’s historical stream of salvation. It may even be, as some have suggested, that Paul here alludes to the virgin birth—born ‘of a woman.’”