The Epistles The Epistles &&

the Practical Christian Lifethe Practical Christian Life

Galatians as an Example of Genre

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

The QuestionThe Question

How does one become right with God?

Faith in Christ alone

Faith in Christ plus

circumcision

Key Points in Paul’s PurposeKey Points in Paul’s Purpose

• To establish his apostleship as being independent of Jerusalem and the other apostles.

• To demonstrate that a man is justified through faith alone.

• To establish the method of Christian living that is not according to the keeping of the Law, but through the Spirit’s work in our lives as we live in faith and in love.

GalatiansGalatiansChapters 1-2 Chapters 3-4 Chapters 5-6

History Doctrine Practice

Vindication Exposition Application

Paul’s apostleship andvindication come

from the Lord

Man is justifiedthrough faith

alone

We are to walkby faith and love

Source of thegospel

Defense of thegospel

Application ofthe gospel

Style of Writing

• I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him (1:6).

• If any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! (1:9).

• You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? (3:1).

• Are you so foolish? (3:3). • I wish that those who are troubling you would

even mutilate themselves (5:12).

This epistle is short and to the point. Its style is abrupt, passionate and full of strong emotion.

RomansRomans• Calm reflection • Passionate, emotional

GalatiansGalatians

• 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

Galatians 1:1-3 Paul, an apostle (not sent from

men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God 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 God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…

Past Tense

Who gave Himself for

our sins

Present Tense Future Tense

So that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father

To whom be the glory

forevermore

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.

Paul and JerusalemPaul and Jerusalem

• 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

Antioch

Who hasBewitched

You? Did you receive the Spirit by the

works of the Law, or by

hearing with faith?

Are youso foolish?Having begun by

the Spirit, are you now being perfected

by the flesh?

Did you sufferso many things

in vain?

Does God givethe Spirit and

Miracles by theLaw or by Faith?

Salvation isSalvation isthrough faiththrough faith

Appeal toof Abraham

Appeal tothe Law

Appeal tothe Tutor

Appeal toAdoption

Appeal to the Covenant

Promise

Appeal tofriendshipAppeal to

Scripture

If you are free…If you are free…

Don’t be entangledin a yoke of bondage Don’t turn your

Freedom into anOpportunity for

The flesh

Walk bythe Spirit

Bear oneanother’sBurdens

Share allgood things

Do good toall men

Galatians 6:14-16Galatians 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 God.

Three Steps in Bible Three Steps in Bible StudyStudy

Observation

Interpretation

Application

Galatians 1:8-9Galatians 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!

Principles of Biblical Principles of Biblical InterpretationInterpretation

• Consider the Genre

• Consider the Author– His purpose in writing– His relevant background– His use of words

• Consider the Context– The immediate context– The overall argument of the book– The context of the rest of the Bible

Examine Galatians 5:2-12

• If you were to teach this passage to an adult Sunday School class, 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.

Share one or two favorite Share one or two favorite verses from Galatians and verses from Galatians and

explain why they are so explain why they are so significant to yousignificant to you