Introductions to Galations

Introduction to Galatians References: - Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, Kenneth S. Wuest From Wuest, three questions: 1. Where were the Galatian churches located? 2. Who were the Galatians? 3. Who were the Judaizers and what did they teach? 1) Location a) North Galatian Theory b) South Galatian Theory - Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe c) Dr. Henry Clarence Thiessen, B.D., Ph.D., D.D., chairman of the Department of Bible, Theology, and Philosophy at Wheaton College wrote Introduction to the New Testament: i) Southern Galatia on his first missionary journey with Barnabas, as they traveled through Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe (Acts 13:1 - 14:28). ii) Northern Galatia (Acts 16:6, Luke using the term in its geographical sense) on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:36 - 18:22) iii) Northern Galatia on his third missionary journey, visiting the disciples he made on his second journey (Acts 18:23). (1) “Disciples” in the north (2) “Churches” in the south 2) Who were the Galatians? a) Methods of evangelism i) Persecution. Acts 8:1-4 ii) Paul established churches around the capitals of Roman provinces b) How Paul lands in Galatia i) 1st missionary journey / Paul gets sick in Antioch / teaches along trade route c) Galatian religious tension i) Oriental mysticism vs Greek / Roman schools of philosophy. ii) The Jewish synagogue provided an appealing system of legalistic compliance. d) The Galatians were: i) Primarily comprised of Gentiles who observed Christ as the savior of the world. ii) The Galatians of the churches of Galatia were for the most part Greeks and Jews in flourishing cities situated along primary routes of trade and government. - Wuest. 3) Who were the Judaizers and what did they teach? a) Adam taught his sons the requirement of the blood sacrifice. i) Cain rejected salvation by faith in a substitutionary sacrifice, substituted personal merit. ii) Abel accepted the sacrificial, substitutionary death of Chris on the cross. b) Israel vs Remnant c) At the 1st Advent both the parties were represented: i) Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary, the disciples, etc represented the remnant ii) The priests, Pharisees, Sadducees represented the other group, who still followed the Mosaic Law d) Two pronged attach on Christianity i) Substitute good works for faith in Christ - answered by Galatians ii) Invalidate the work of Christ and go back to Law - answered by Hebrews e) The Judaizers were unsaved people trying to maintain the Jewish national religion over Christianity. f) Teaching of the Judaizers. i) Judaizers have confidence in the flesh. V.4 “Have come to a settled persuasion” ii) Phil 3:5, Human accomplishments: (1) (2) (3) (4) Circumcision as a requirement for salvation, Acts 15:1 “Of the stock of Israel” - opposed by John in Matt 3:9, Christ in John 8:39 Ecclesiastical position (Pharisee) provides acceptance by God. Faithful observance of Law provides acceptance with God. Opposed in Rom 9:30-10:3, Israel failed in obtaining righteousness because it rejected God’s righteousness - Christ. Paul says that someone without sin could reach righteousness by keeping the whole law, Rom 10:5-6. But no sinner can keep the whole law - so the law cannot produce the righteousness of God. Paul seeks the righteousness found in Christ, not the law, Phil 3:9. (5) Paul says he could rely on all the things that the Judaizers were claiming, but he rejects them in favor of Christ. - The Judaizers were unbelievers - . iii) Rom 2:17-3:8 salvation is not based on Jewish ancestry, law or circumcision iv) Rom 4, salvation not by: (1) Works, v.1-8 (2) Ordinances, v.9-12 (3) Observing law, v.13-25. (4) Abraham saved prior to circumcision, v.9-10. v) Phil 1:14-18 Paul, in a Roman prison, teaches that many gained courage vi) The Book of Hebrews teaches us that the 1st century Jewish attack on Christianity desired to return to the Levitical sacrifices. The writer shows from the Old Testament that the Messiah is better than: Prophets of Israel / Angels of God / Moses, Joshua and Aaron vii) Observance of the feasts, Gal 4:10-11 “You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.” viii) The Judaizers did not push the sacrifices because the Galatians were only attracted to the pure monotheism and high precepts of the Jewish synagogue - they rejected the teaching of salvation by substitutionary sacrifice. g) Judaizers tried to undo Paul’s work: i) Show that Paul was not really an apostle. They argued that he: (1) Was not one of the original 12 apostles (2) Not listened to Christ’s voice (3) Not seen Christ’s face (4) Not attended Christ’s ministry (5) Not sent out by Christ in His express command (6) Not received the gospel by direct revelation from Christ rather that he got it second-hand from the other apostles ii) The Judaizers exchanged pure grace with salvation-by-works h) Paul answers all the questions by writing the letter to the Galatians: i) Personal; Ch 1 & 2, defends his Apostolic authority ii) Doctrinal; Ch 3 & 4 Salvation by grace before Mosaic Law given iii) Practical; Ch 5 & 6 Emphasizes the ministries of the Holy Spirit in life of believers Analysis of the Letter Personal 1) Paul defends his apostolic authority as having divine origin. Ch. 1 and 2 2) Salutation and claim of direct commission from God. Paul contests doctrinal errors (1:1-5) 3) Galatian christians rebuked and Judaizers denounced (1:6-10) 4) Paul says that the gospel came to him directly from God (1:11-2:21) a) Special Revelation (1:11, 12) b) Paul’s education as a Pharisee was not the source - conflicted (1:13-14) c) Paul did not learn the gospel from the 12 Apostles because he kept away from them for such a long time (1:15-17) d) First trip to see Peter and James was brief with no public recognition (1:18-24) e) Years later he went back to Jerusalem but kept his distance and remained on equal footing with the other Apostles - not in debt to them for anything (2:1-10) f) Paul’s independence was also seen when he rebuked Peter of hypocrisy and not being truthful to the gospel (2:11-21) Doctrinal Paul defends his doctrine of justification by faith alone without works against that of the Judaizers who taught a person’s works make them acceptable to God (Ch. 3 and 4) 1) Holy Spirit given based on faith in Christ, not by obedience to the law (3:1-5) 2) Abraham was justified by faith not works. We are as well (3:6-9) 3) Judaizers: law was a means to justification. Paul: law is a means of condemnation (3:10-14) 4) Abraham saved by faith prior to law to the law, law did not undo that (3:15-18) 5) If the law does not save, then why was it given? (3:19-4:7) a) Show that sin is a direct violation of the laws of God (3:19-23) b) Show requirement of faith in a substitutionary sacrifice for sin (3:24-29) c) Sinner was like a young child to be dealt with accordingly (4:1-7) 6) Galatians want to return to being slaves under law (4:8-11) 7) Paul encourages the Galatians to maintain freedom from the law (4:12-20) 8) Illustration of Hagar vs Sarah / son of bondwoman vs son of free woman. Law has now been replaced by grace (4:21-31) Practical 1) Paul encourages the Galatians to maintain their freedom and not be caught up in law (5:1-12) 2) Freedom from law is not license to sin. Now live under the control of the Holy Spirit (5:13-26) a) Freedom from law should result in motivation from love (5:13-15) b) Victory over sin is achieved by the control of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (5:16-26) i) Trust the Holy Spirit and He will change you - Sanctification (5:16-21) ii) Holy Spirit produces His fruit (5:22-26) 3) Faithful Galatians encouraged to restore the other believers to a life of grace (6:1-5) 4) Deceived Galatians need to listen to correct teachers, else they will be disciplined (6:6-10) 5) Final warning to Judaizers; closing comments (6:11-18)