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Paul’s LetterPaul’s Letterto theto the

GalatiansGalatians

Class 1Class 1

BackgroundBackground

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Class OutlineClass Outline

Who?Who? Did Paul write Galatians?Did Paul write Galatians?

How?How? Did Paul use an Did Paul use an amanuensis?amanuensis?

To Whom?To Whom? North Galatia vs. South GalatiaNorth Galatia vs. South Galatia

When?When? Timing in relation to Paul’s journeysTiming in relation to Paul’s journeys

Why?Why? The “Circumcision Party”The “Circumcision Party”

Yes!Yes!

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Did Paul use an Amanuensis?Did Paul use an Amanuensis?

2Thess. 3:172Thess. 3:17 I, Paul, I, Paul, write this greeting with my own handwrite this greeting with my own hand, and this is a , and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.

2Cor. 16:212Cor. 16:21 The greeting is The greeting is in my own hand-in my own hand-- Paul.- Paul.

Col. 1:1; 4:18Col. 1:1; 4:18 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and and Timothy our brother…Timothy our brother…

I, Paul, I, Paul, write this greeting with my own handwrite this greeting with my own hand. Remember . Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.my imprisonment. Grace be with you.

Rom. 16:22Rom. 16:22 I, Tertius, who write this letterI, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord., greet you in the Lord.

1Pet. 5:121Pet. 5:12 Through SilvanusThrough Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard , our faithful brother (for so I regard him)him), , I I have written to you brieflyhave written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this , exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!

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11stst Journey – Acts 13 & 14 Journey – Acts 13 & 14

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22ndnd Journey – Acts 16:1-18:22 Journey – Acts 16:1-18:22

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Galatia – 280-25 BCGalatia – 280-25 BC

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Galatia – 25 BC - 137 ADGalatia – 25 BC - 137 AD

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Galatia – 137 AD+Galatia – 137 AD+

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Northern Galatia - ReasonsNorthern Galatia - Reasons1) 1) Acts 16:6; 18:23Acts 16:6; 18:23 say Galatia, Acts 14 does not.say Galatia, Acts 14 does not.

• Different use of languageDifferent use of language– Luke tends to use geographic and ethnic descriptions such as Lycaonia Luke tends to use geographic and ethnic descriptions such as Lycaonia

(14:6), Pisidia (13:14, 14:24), Mysia (16:7-8)(14:6), Pisidia (13:14, 14:24), Mysia (16:7-8)– Paul tends to use Roman provincial names such as Macedonia, Asia, Paul tends to use Roman provincial names such as Macedonia, Asia,

AchaiaAchaia

• Greek of Greek of Acts 16:6; 18:23 Acts 16:6; 18:23 could meancould mean “Phrygo-Galatic territory”“Phrygo-Galatic territory” or “the part of Galatia inhabited by Phrygians”or “the part of Galatia inhabited by Phrygians”

• Acts 16:6 could imply no preaching done hereActs 16:6 could imply no preaching done here

• No ecclesias named in Northern GalatiaNo ecclesias named in Northern Galatia

• North Galatia rather isolatedNorth Galatia rather isolated

2)2) Gal. 2:1-10 is about Jerusalem conferenceGal. 2:1-10 is about Jerusalem conference• Some connections, but many differences too…Some connections, but many differences too…• No mention of the result of the conference in Galatians!No mention of the result of the conference in Galatians!

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Northern Galatia - ReasonsNorthern Galatia - Reasons3)3) Gal 4:13 implies 1Gal 4:13 implies 1stst of 2 visits of 2 visits

• Perhaps, though it also could just mean “previously”Perhaps, though it also could just mean “previously”

4)4) Gauls were known to be a fickle people by ancient writersGauls were known to be a fickle people by ancient writers• Very weak argument, lots of people are fickleVery weak argument, lots of people are fickle• People of Lystra were fickle too – regarding Paul first as a god, and People of Lystra were fickle too – regarding Paul first as a god, and

then stoning himthen stoning him

5)5) Style and subject matches 3Style and subject matches 3rdrd Journey letters (2Corinthians and Journey letters (2Corinthians and Romans)Romans)

• Many points of contrast too – another weak argumentMany points of contrast too – another weak argument

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Southern Galatia - TimelineSouthern Galatia - TimelineDateDate ReferenceReference EventEvent

28-3028-30 Public Ministry of JesusPublic Ministry of Jesus

3333 Acts 9:1-18Acts 9:1-18 Conversion of PaulConversion of Paul

33-3533-35 Gal. 1:15-17Gal. 1:15-17 3 years in Arabia3 years in Arabia

3535 Acts 9:19-25Acts 9:19-25 Damascus PreachingDamascus Preaching

3535 Acts 9:26-30Acts 9:26-30

Gal. 1:18-19Gal. 1:18-19

1st Jerusalem Visit1st Jerusalem Visit

15 days with Peter15 days with Peter

35-4535-45 Gal. 1:21-22 Gal. 1:21-22 11 years in Syria and Cilicia (Tarsus)11 years in Syria and Cilicia (Tarsus)

4646 Acts 11:25-26Acts 11:25-26 Barnabas brings Saul from Tarsus to Barnabas brings Saul from Tarsus to AntiochAntioch

4646 Acts 11:27-30; 12:25Acts 11:27-30; 12:25Gal. 2:1-10Gal. 2:1-10

2nd Jerusalem Visit2nd Jerusalem Visit

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Southern Galatia - TimelineSouthern Galatia - TimelineDateDate ReferenceReference EventEvent

47-4847-48 Acts 13-14 Missionary journey to Galatia Missionary journey to Galatia

4848 Acts 14:26-28 Paul returns to Antioch Paul returns to Antioch

4848 Acts 15:1Acts 15:1Gal. 2:11-14Gal. 2:11-14

Judaizers in Antioch – Paul withstands Peter Judaizers in Antioch – Paul withstands Peter

4848 Galatians Paul hears that Judaizers are in Galatia tooPaul hears that Judaizers are in Galatia tooWrites epistle Writes epistle

4949 Acts 15:2-29 3rd Jerusalem Visit3rd Jerusalem Visit

The Jerusalem conference The Jerusalem conference

4949 Acts 15:30-35Acts 15:30-35 Paul returns to Antioch Paul returns to Antioch

49-5049-50 Acts 16:1-6Acts 16:1-6 Paul commences 2nd Missionary journey in Paul commences 2nd Missionary journey in GalatiaGalatia

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Southern Galatia - ReasonsSouthern Galatia - Reasons1) 1) Gal 1:20 – Paul is emphatic he is telling the truthGal 1:20 – Paul is emphatic he is telling the truth

• He mentions only 2 Jerusalem visitsHe mentions only 2 Jerusalem visits– Gal. 1:18-19Gal. 1:18-19 = = Acts 9:26-30Acts 9:26-30– Gal. 2:1-10Gal. 2:1-10 = = Acts 11:27-30; 12:25Acts 11:27-30; 12:25– If written after Acts 15, he has omitted either Acts 11 or Acts 15If written after Acts 15, he has omitted either Acts 11 or Acts 15

2)2) No mention of results of Acts 15 conferenceNo mention of results of Acts 15 conference• Whole problem in Galatia was circumcisionWhole problem in Galatia was circumcision

3)3) They knew Barnabas (2:1, 9, 13)They knew Barnabas (2:1, 9, 13)• v13 (“even Barnabas” indicates they knew Barnabas!v13 (“even Barnabas” indicates they knew Barnabas!• Barnabas not with Paul on 2Barnabas not with Paul on 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd journeys journeys

4) 4) Timothy not mentioned Timothy not mentioned • In every letter but Titus and EphesiansIn every letter but Titus and Ephesians• Timothy with Paul on 2Timothy with Paul on 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd journeys, but not first journeys, but not first

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Southern Galatia - ReasonsSouthern Galatia - Reasons5) 5) Depiction of Peter in Gal. 2:11-14Depiction of Peter in Gal. 2:11-14

• Incredible to believe that Peter would cave in to the Judaizers after Incredible to believe that Peter would cave in to the Judaizers after the conference.the conference.

6)6) Paul founded these ecclesias (1:8, 11; 3:1; 4:13-20; 6:17)Paul founded these ecclesias (1:8, 11; 3:1; 4:13-20; 6:17)• Matches descriptions in Acts 14Matches descriptions in Acts 14• 3:1; 4:13-15 & 6:173:1; 4:13-15 & 6:17 appear to be references to Paul’s appear to be references to Paul’s

suffering/illness in those cities (e.g. suffering/illness in those cities (e.g. Acts 14:19-20Acts 14:19-20))• Also Also 4:144:14 could be a reference to could be a reference to Acts 14:11-12Acts 14:11-12??????

7)7) Emphasis of Titus not being circumcised (2:3)Emphasis of Titus not being circumcised (2:3)• Timothy was circumcised after the conference Timothy was circumcised after the conference (Acts 16:3)(Acts 16:3) – an – an

obvious counter-argument if Galatians written at a later date.obvious counter-argument if Galatians written at a later date.

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Acts 11:27-30 & Gal 2:1-10Acts 11:27-30 & Gal 2:1-10a)a) A private meeting – Gal. 2:2A private meeting – Gal. 2:2

• Not public like Acts 15Not public like Acts 15

b)b) Remember the poor – Gal. 2:10Remember the poor – Gal. 2:10• Acts 11 visit to provide a contributionActs 11 visit to provide a contribution• NIV: “continue to remember the poor”NIV: “continue to remember the poor”

c)c) Previously in Syria and Cilicia – Gal. 1:21Previously in Syria and Cilicia – Gal. 1:21• This cannot mean the first missionary journey – equates to This cannot mean the first missionary journey – equates to Acts Acts

11:25-2611:25-26

d)d) Confusion in Antioch – Gal. 2:11-14Confusion in Antioch – Gal. 2:11-14• Corresponds to the “men coming down from Judea” in Corresponds to the “men coming down from Judea” in Acts 15:1Acts 15:1• Situation was clear after the conferenceSituation was clear after the conference

e)e) Barnabas and Paul’s dispute – Gal. 2:13Barnabas and Paul’s dispute – Gal. 2:13• This is not the same event or cause as This is not the same event or cause as Acts 15:37-39Acts 15:37-39