GALATIANS

Theme: Christian Liberty

Author: Paul

Time: 57 AD

• Not written to a particular local church but a province of Galatia, Asia Minor.

• General epistle because it’s not addressed to a specific church

Key Words:

Law 32

Faith 22

Flesh 18

Spirit 18

Key Scripture:

Galatian 1:6-8 ESV

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

Structure:

Chapter 1:1-2:21: Paul’s story of finding grace in Jesus

Chapter 3:1-5:12: Paul’s principles: law or grace?

• What it meant to have grace versus the Jewish understanding. The Jewish people were perverting the gospel by merging Judaism

Chapter 5:13-6:10: Paul’s Practice: Liberty or License?

• How does the gospel work itself into the life of the believer

• Starts with justification and sanctification

Purpose of the Book:

1. To prove the authenticity of the gospel according to Paul

2. To refute the legalism of Judaizers under the Old Covenant

3. Establish the doctrine of Christian liberty under the New Covenant

4. To show the superiority of the Abrahamic and New Covenant over the Mosaic Covenant

* Judaism is considered Old Covenant and now we’re in the New

Message of the Book:

1. 1. True liberty in Christ is neither the legalism of the Old Law nor the license of the Old Flesh

2. Life and righteousness come only by grace through faith

3. Having received the Spirit we must also walk in the Spirit

• The source and sustainer of all grace