Paul’s letter to the
Galatians
The Charter of Christian Liberty
Where is Galatia?
Chronological order of the Epistles
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
Galatians
I Thessalonians
II Thessalonians
I Corinthians
II Corinthians
Romans
Colossians
8) Philemon
9) Ephesians
10)Philippians
11) I Timothy
12)Titus
13)II Timothy
14) Philemon
Outline of the Epistle
Four parts
1. 1:1-9
Greetings & Introduction
2. 1:10 – 2:14
Paul’s experiences
3. 2:15 – 5:6
Doctrinal Defence
4. 5:7 – 6:17
Warnings, exhortation, instruction
Galatians chapter 1
 Amazed –
fallen away so soon!
 Anxiety –
at perversion of Gospel
 Angels –
not authorised to preach
 Anathema – 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
 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
 http://bible.org/seriespage/womenleadership-part-2