Paul’s letter to the Galatians The Charter of Christian Liberty

Where is Galatia?

Chronological order of the Epistles 1)Galatians8)Philemon 2)I Thessalonians9)Ephesians 3) II Thessalonians10)Philippians 4)I Corinthians11)I Timothy 5)II Corinthians12)Titus 6)Romans13)II Timothy 7)Colossians14)Philemon

Outline of the Epistle Four parts 1.1:1-9Greetings & Introduction 2.1:10 – 2:14Paul’s experiences 3.2:15 – 5:6 Doctrinal Defence 4.5:7 – 6:17 Warnings, exhortation, instruction

Galatians chapter 1  Amazed –  Anxiety –  Angels –  Anathema – fallen away so soon! at perversion of Gospel not authorised to preach curse on those who teach error

Galatians 2  Jerusalem visit – cf. Acts 15  14 years from when?  Peter – not so perfect after all!  Yet Peter later endorsed Paul’s writings (cf. II Pet 3:15-16)

Galatians 3  Law, legalism & grace  Example of Abraham – faith, not works  Blessings of Abraham – Gen 12, 13, 15  Gal 3:15 – confirmed covenant  3:29  Seed of Abraham – Rom 4:1-12; Col 2:11  No Jew/Gentile, slave/free, male/female

Galatians 4  Child versus slave  Law as paedagogue  v. 13 Paul’s “illness” / weakness / infirmity  v. 19 Paul’s intercession in Spirit

Galatians 5  5:7 ~ Who hindered you?  5:10 ~ Was there a particular “bad egg”?  5:13 ~ liberty, not licence - antinomianism  5:16 ~ flesh/spirit vs. Law/Spirit

Galatians 6  Who bears whose burden? vv. 2 & 5  Principle of sowing & reaping  Link back to fruit of spirit in 5:22  Walk in (by) spirit/Spirit

Paul’s thorn in the flesh Paul’s thorn in the flesh  Gal 6:11 – large letters = eye problems?  II Cor 12:7-10 : who or what?  In OT, “thorn” = metaphor for enemy  Cf. Num 33:55, Josh 23:13, Judg 2:3  “Satan's messenger”

For Further Study  The Untold Story of the New Testament Church  The Pulpit Commentary (e-Sword)  The Bible Exposition Commentary. © 1989 by Chariot Victor Publishing  Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc 