1. Christian Church Epistles Part 2
BA 301 Christian Church
Christian Church Epistles Part 2
Carolina University of Theology
© John Stevenson, 2009

2. Epistle
What is an Epistle?

3. What does it mean to you that the Bible contains personal letters to various churches?

4. Foundational Epistles
Pauline Epistles
Foundational Epistles
Romans
1st & 2nd Corinthians
Galatians
Prison Epistles
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
Prophetic Epistles
1st & 2nd Thessalonians
Pastoral Epistles
1st & 2nd Timothy
Titus
Philemon

5. The Primary Theological Themes presented in Paul’s Epistles

6. Galatians: THE GOSPEL AND THE LAW “
Galatians: THE GOSPEL AND THE LAW “...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Galatians 2:16) Ephesians: THE GOSPEL AND THE CHURCH “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22,23) Philippians: THE GOSPEL IN THE CHURCH “...that you may approve the things that are ex­cellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:10,11)   Colossians: THE GOSPEL AND CHRIST “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

7. Galatians Chapters 1-2 Chapters 3-4 Chapters 5-6 History Doctrine
Practice
Vindication
Exposition
Application
Paul’s
apostleship
& vindication
come from
the Lord
Man is justified
through faith
alone
We are to walk
by faith and
love

8. Galatians Romans Calm reflection Passionate, emotional
Christianity in the study
Christianity on the battlefield
Later Epistle
Earlier Epistle
Justification by faith set forth systematically
Justification by faith defended from attacks
Our Constitution
Our Declaration of Independence

9. Galatians 1:1-3
Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and G-d the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from G-d our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…

10. Who gave Himself for our sins
Past Tense
Present Tense
Future Tense
Who gave Himself for our sins
So that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our G-d and Father
To whom be the glory forevermore

11. Galatians 1:6-9
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

12. Galatians 1:8-9
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

13. Paul and Jerusalem 
Antioch
Paul’s Gospel did not come from Jerusalem (Chapter 1)
Paul’s Gospel did not change in Jerusalem (2:1-10)
Paul’s gospel was not changed by Jerusalem when they came to Antioch (2:11-16) 
Jerusalem

14. Who has
Bewitched
You?
Does G-d give
the Spirit and
Miracles by the
Law or by Faith?
Did you receive
the Spirit by the
works of the
Law, or by
hearing with
faith?
Did you suffer
so many things
in vain?
Are you
so foolish?
Having begun by
the Spirit, are you
now being perfected
by the flesh?

15. Salvation is through faith Appeal to of Abraham Appeal to friendship
Scripture
Appeal to
the Law
Appeal to
Adoption
Appeal to
the Tutor
Appeal to
the Covenant
Promise

16. If you are free… Don’t be entangled in a yoke of bondage
Don’t turn your
Freedom into an
Opportunity for
The flesh
Do good to
all men
Walk by
the Spirit
Share all
good things
Bear one
another’s
Burdens

17. Galatians 6:14-16
But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of G-d.

18. Examine Galatians 5:2-12 Group Activity
If you were to teach or preach from this passage to a group of adults, how would you apply it to them, based on the meaning of the text?
Present both your application as well as how you arrived at that application.

19. Discuss the following questions:
Group Activity
Discuss the following questions:
What has been your own experience in coming to understand the gospel?
What are the various errors into which people fall in their understanding of the gospel?