sample study guide on galatians
TRANSCRIPT
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DISCOVERGalatians, an early epistle by the Apostle Paul that...Helped define first-century Christianity
Was a pivotal text for the Protestant Reformation
Holds earth-shaking implications for Christianity today, and
Can radically change your life!
The path to that end is a penetrating case study in biblical interpretation. It
explores timeless controversies and essential background issues that challengedthe early church and will shed light on just about every New Testament passage
youll ever read. This is a how-to class for intermediate-to-advanced Bible
loversor for anyone who wants to become one!
Dave Leigh holds an M.A. in theological studies from Wheaton College. Hisvaried ministry experiences include having served as an editor and freelance
writer for a number of Christian publications, and more than a decade in pastoral
ministries. Ive learned more from my many failures than from books, he says.But my greatest life-lesson has been that Gods grace is big enough even forme. Dave brings academic and experiential dimensions to his classes in a way
that will make you smile and bring you insight.
Copyright 2008 David R. Leigh. Revised 2012. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for class purposes.
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Class Objectives:
1. Learn how to hear God's Word to the original recipients of this epistle.
2. Then hear, understand, and apply God's Word to USthrough God's Word to them.
3. Discover and explore key underlying background issues that will help us better
understand Galatians and the rest of the New Testament.
4. Therefore becoming better self-feeders as Christ-followers.
Recommended Reading:
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart (especially chp 3)
Genius of GenresAn Overview(Dave's hand-out/study companion to Fee & Stuart, above)
How to Read the Bible Book By Book, Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart (pp. 340-346)
Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament, J. Julius Scott
The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible, Scot McKnight
The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited, Scot McKnight
Outside Assignment: Read the epistle through in three different translations (one sitting each).
If you don't own three translations, you can read many online at www.BibleGateway.com.Ideally you should choose one from each of the following categories:
a dynamic equivalent translation (e.g. TNIV, NIV, NLT)
a formal/literal translation (e.g., NASB, NKJV, NRSV)
a paraphrase (e.g. The Message, The Living Bible, J.B. Phillips' NT in Modern English).
Remember: The proper stance toward the Bible as the Word of God is always one of prayerful
humility and expectation. As the Holy Spirit must be our Teacher, remember to pray before
reading, while reading, and after reading!
Copyright 2008 David R. Leigh. Revised 2012. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for class purposes.
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Introduction
The Two Horizons
1. Exegesis: Their questions
2. Hermeneutics: Our questions
The epistles were written to address first-century problems. The theology we pull from them for
our questions is sometimes incidental to the writer's central purpose.
For example, when we come to passages about things like slavery, meat sacrificed to idols, and
circumcision we often do one of three things:
1. Skip over it (not for us)
2. Spiritualize it (treating particulars as symbolic)
3. Draw tenuous parallels (cf. slavery and employment), throwing away the heart of
the content
What weshoulddo is get ourselves inside the horizon of the first readers. Once we get God's
Word to them, we can discern God's Word to us and make applications.
Concerns Raised In Galatians
Galatians may be Paul's earliest epistle and certainly one of his angriest.
1. Note Galatians 1:8-9 (curse = damned)
2. Note Galatians 5:12, where Paul suggests the troublemakers should go all the way and
castrate themselves!
3. Yet Paul stands in the solid tradition of the prophets and Jesus (cf. Matthew 23:15).
At issue [in Galatians] is the question, Who are the true children/seedof
Abraham and thus true heirs of thepromises made to Abraham. -- Fee & Stuart,
How to Read the Bible Book By Book, p 342
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While slaying the dragon of legalism is certainly a central concern of Paul in Galatians, the more
fundamental issue he faces has to do with the nature and essence of the Messianic Kingdom of
God, specifically:
How are God's covenant, blessings, and promises toward Abraham fulfilled with respect
to the nations/Gentiles who are specifically noted in those covenant promises?
How do Gentiles relate to Israel and become one people with them in the Messianic age?
As two peoples (cf. clubs) become one, whose customs and rules (etc.) prevail?
And therefore, how are Jews and Gentiles to relate to the Law of the Old Covenant, along
with the additional layers of customs and conventions that emerged as sacrosanct in the
legacy of Second-Temple Judaism?
In other words, as Israel's Messianic movement progressed toward Israel's God-intended
goal of being a light for the nations (Gentiles) and fulfillment of the Abrahamic
Covenant, how were the Gentiles to fit into that restored and corrected Israel of covenantpeople? And by implication, how were believing Jews to accommodate this expansion of
the Kingdom and the inclusion of these new citizens with respect to their understandingof orthodoxy and orthopraxy? This affected not only initiation (circumcision) but also
ongoing practice.
History of circumcision from Abraham to the Jerusalem Council
I. Why Circumcision?
A. The Abrahamic Covenant:
i. Genesis 12:1-3
ii. Genesis 15
iii.Genesis 17
B. Circumcision and the Wilderness Wanderings:
i. Joshua 5:2-9
C. Circumcision's Intended Symbolism:
i. Deuteronomy 10:16
ii. Deuteronomy 30:6
iii. Jeremiah 4:4iv. Jeremiah 9:25-26
v. Romans 2:29
vi. Colossians 2:11-12
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II. Circumcision's link to Jewish identity, expectations of Messianic Kingdom and how the
Gentiles relate
A. History of Political Influence
i. Intertestamental/Second Temple developments
a) Babylonian Captivity (Judah) 605-538 BC
b) Persian Period 539-331 BCc) Hellenistic Period 331-164 BC
d) Hasmonean Period 164-63 BC
e) Roman Period 63 BC AD 135
ii. Jewish Response to the crises of the 6th and 4th centuries BC
a) Destruction of Temple
b) Hellenism
Note: Factions among the Jews found their way into the church as it wasoriginally made up of Jews.
iii. As in every controversy, there are non-rational factors at work; the Jews had
strong emotional commitments to deal with regarding circumcision (cf. Woman'sissue & happy slaves, civil rights, etc.)
a) Note the strong emotions present from the start of their return to the land(Ezra 3:12-13; 10:1; Nehemiah 8:9) as in the exile (Psalm 137:1)
b) After taking a beating via exiles, etc., many Jews did not want to repeat thepast by angering God
c) They wanted to preserve their identity as the chosen people and just as apeople! (cf. Ecumenism v. Assimilation)
d) Many zealously longed for purity and holiness, for themselves and their nation
e) Many nurtured a mystical and spiritual love of ritual
f) Spiritual, cultural, and ethnic pride was as work, as well as patriotism andracism
g) Now back in the land, they wanted to see the Kingdom happen and thought itdepended on them.
iv. First-century Judaism was not monolithic (meaning you can't always generalize as
to what all Jews thought or believed or practiced at the time). Consider:
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a) Hellenism v. Hebraic (cf Acts 6:1, 9)
b) Phariseesc) Zealots
d) Sadducees
e) Essenesf) Fourth Philosophy
g) The masses
(The early church inherited many of the problems, questions, and divisions reflected in
this diversity.)
III. The Jewishness of the Early Church
A. Salvation is from the Jews Jesus in John 4:22
B. Restoration of the Kingdom to Israel Acts 1:6
C. They continued in the Temple courts while they could Acts 2:46; 3:1
D. Peter's perspective is representative of the early church's predicament
i. Messiah was to rule fromDavid's throne Acts 2:30-31
ii. Disturbed by vision regarding including Gentiles Acts 10 (cf. 11:18)
E. The Jerusalem council, led by James, affirmed the Gentile mission and their inclusion
without circumcision Acts 15
i. The council of apostles and elders, addressed objections raised by some of the
believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees v. 5
ii. James saw the inclusion of Gentiles as a restoration of David's kingdom as
predicted by the prophets vv. 14-19
iii. The council wrote a letter, to be delivered by Paul and Barnabas, acknowledgingthat circumcision was not an appropriate imposition on the Gentiles vv. 22-35
F. For his second missionary journey, Paul takes Timothy, a half-Jew/half-Greek fromLystra (in southern Galatia) and circumcises him! Acts 16:1-5
G. As late as Acts 21, James points out that thousands of Jews in Jerusalem havebelieved, and all of them are zealous for the law. -- v. 20
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i. He asks Paul to prove to these Jewish believers that the following charges were
false (vv. 21-24). They charged that Paul teachesJews of the dispersion to:
ii. turn away from Moses
iii. not circumcise their children
iv. not live according to Jewish customs
v. His plan would also show the Jews that Paul himself was living in obedience to
the law -- v. 24
vi. Paul agrees and complies! vv. 26-36
H. Paul continued to identify himself as still being an exemplary Jew and Pharisee
throughout his ministry (cf. Acts 23:6)
The Gospel Message that Paul preached to the Galatians
I. Pisidian Antioch (in Galatia)Acts 13:13-43
A. Reviews Israel's history of Messianic hope vv. 16-23
i. Note Paul is speaking in a synagogue (cf. vv. 14,15,42)
ii. Paul addresses both Jews and Gentiles in the same audience (vv. 16,26,43)
B. Describes contemporary events of their day (i.e. News):
i. John the Baptist's Ministry vv. 24-25
ii. Jesus' reception, death, and resurrection vv. 26-31
C. Application Good News!
i. The Messianic promise of the Scriptures has been kept vv. 32-37
ii. Therefore, forgiveness of sin is proclaimed and offered to you vv. 38-39
a) If you will but believe, then justification (cleansing/becoming righteoused)
is yours.
b) This surpasses what the Law was able to provide or accomplish (Note: Old
Testament sacrifices were only for unintentional sins. Intentional sins required
additional restitution by the sinner.)
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c) Therefore, BE SET FREE from every sin NOW!
iii. Warning: Those who scoff at this message will perish vv. 40-41
II. Other Key Examples of Paul's Gospel:
A. 1 Corinthians 15:1-18
B. Romans 10:8-13
C. Galatians 3:7-11
Copyright 2008 David R. Leigh. Revised 2012. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for class purposes.
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BREAK-OUT GROUPS: STUDY & DISCUSSION GUIDE
Appoint a spokesperson for your group to share your findings with the larger class at the end of this exercise.
Read the passage(s) assigned to your group (from the three below) and discuss the following questions.
The Abrahamic Covenant[ ] Genesis 12: 1-9 [ ] Genesis 15 [ ] Genesis 17:1-19
1. What promises does God give to Abraham in this passage?
2. What commands does God give Abraham?
3. What does God reveal to Abraham about other nations (Gentiles)?
4. Why do you think God said these things?
5. If you were a believing Jew in the first century, what would you conclude about God's
expectations of you, based on these findings?
Copyright 2008 David R. Leigh. Revised 2012. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for class purposes.
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The Abrahamic CovenantGENESIS 12 Promises [] I will make you a great nation,
[] I will bless you,
[] I will make your name great;
[] So you shall be a blessing;
[] I will bless those who bless you,
[] The one who curses you I will curse[] In you all the families of the earth will be blessed. (vv. 2-3)
[] To your descendants I will give this land (v. 7)
Commands & Conditions [] None
GENESIS 15 Promises [] Do not fear, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great. (v. 1)
[] One who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir (v.4)[] Look to the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them. So
shall your descendants be (v. 5)
[] To your descendants I have given this land, from the Wadi of Egypt as far as
the great river, the river Euphratesthe land of the Kenite and the Kenizzite
and the Kadmonite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim and the
Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite (vv. 18-21)
Commands & Conditions [] None
The Circumcision CovenantGENISIS 17 Promises [] You will be the father of many nations.
[] No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have
made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful. I will makenations of you, and kings will come from you.
[] I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you
and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God
and the God of your descendants after you.
[] The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give asan everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you
[] And I will be their God (vv. 4-8)
Commands &Conditions [] "I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will
make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase yournumbers." (vv. 1-2)
[] You must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the
generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants; the
covenant you are to keep:
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[] Every male among you shall be circumcised
[] You are to undergo circumcision
[] It will be the sign of the covenant between me and you
[] For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old
must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought withmoney from a foreignerthose who are not your offspring
[] Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must becircumcised.
[] My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.
[] Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be
cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant." (vv. 9-14)
[] As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be
Sarah.[] I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her.
[] I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations;
kings of peoples will come from her." (vv. 15-16)[] Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac.
[] I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant
for his descendants after him (v. 19)
Copyright 2008 David R. Leigh. Revised 2012. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for class purposes.
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Background Notes on Paul
Acts 21:37-22:29
Born Saul, a Roman citizen in Tarsus of Cilicia (probably therefore of wealthy parents)
Raised in Jerusalem
Trained under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel
Spoke Greek and Aramaic
Acts 6:8-15; 7:58-8:1
Probably belonged to a Hellenistic synagogue
May have been a rabbi or a leader there
May have belonged to the Sanhedrin
He was a tentmaker by trade (Acts 18:3)
Acts 9
Cooperated with the Sanhedrin in seeking Christians to bring charges against
Was not converted by missionaries or evangelists, but by Jesus himself
Came to be called an apostle (like Barnabas), though not one of the Twelve.
Remained a Jew and a Pharisee, even as an apostle (Acts 22:3; 23:6)
His home base of operation and his sending church was in Syrian Antioch (Acts 11:19-30;12:25-13:3)
Autobiographical passages:
2 Corinthians 6:3-10; 11:21-12:10 Galatians 1:13-24
Philippians 3:4-14
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Copyright 2008 David R. Leigh. Revised 2012. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for class purposes.
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BREAK-OUT GROUPS: STUDY & DISCUSSION GUIDE
Appoint a spokesperson for your group to share your findings with the larger class at the end of this exercise.
Read the passage(s) assigned to your group (from the three below) and discuss the following questions.
Paul's Gospel[ ] Acts 13:13-41 [ ] 1 Corinthians 15:1-18 [ ] Romans 10:8-13 and Galatians 3:7-11
1. What Jewish elements or Jewish/Gentile concerns do you notice in this passage?
2. What does Paul say his gospel/message is?
3. What are the implications of this message for its first recipients?
4. What are the implications for you?
Copyright 2008 David R. Leigh. Revised 2012. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for class purposes.
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BREAK-OUT GROUPS: STUDY & DISCUSSION GUIDE
Appoint a spokesperson for your group to share your findings with the larger class at the end of this exercise.
Read the passage below and discuss the following questions.
Galatians1:11-241. How did Paul get his Gospel? (1:11-12)
2. What do you learn about Paul's former life in 1:13-15?
A. He intensely ____________________ the church
B. and tried to _____________ it.
C. He was _____________ in Judaism beyond ______________________
D. and was extremely zealous for the ________________ of his fathers.
3. What was God's real plan for Paul? (1:15-16)
Why do you think Paul did not consult others upon learning this?
4. Read 1:17-24.
A. Where would you expect Paul to go, upon learning he was to preach the gospel?
Why?
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B. When Paul finally went to Jerusalem, who did he see and for how long?
C. What was the effect of Paul's activities after that?
5. Bottom Line: Why is Paul making an issue of these things?
Copyright 2008 David R. Leigh. Revised 2012. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for class purposes.
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Flesh & The Sinful Naturein Galatians
sarx - Has a wider range of meaning in the NT than in the OT. Its uses in the NT may be analyzed as follows:
"(a) "the substance of the body," whether of beasts or of men, 1Co. 15:39; (b) "the human body," 2Co. 10:3; Ga.2:20; Php. 1:22; (c) by synecdoche, of "mankind," in the totality of all that is essential to manhood, i.e., spirit, soul,
and body, Mt. 24:22; Jn. 1:13; Ro. 3:20; (d) by synecdoche, of "the holy humanity" of the Lord Jesus, in the totality
of all that is essential to manhood, i.e., spirit, soul, and body, Jn. 1:14; 1Ti. 3:16; 1Jo. 4:2; 2Jn. 1:7; in Heb. 5:7, "the
days of His flesh," i.e., His past life on earth in distinction from His present life in resurrection; (e) by synecdoche,
for "the complete person," Jn. 6:51-57; 2Co. 7:5; Jas. 5:3; (f) "the weaker element in human nature," Mt. 26:41; Ro.
6:19; 8:3; (g) "the unregenerate state of men," Ro. 7:5; 8:8,9; (h) "the seat of sin in man" (but this is not the samething as in the body), 2Pe. 2:18; 1Jn. 2:16; (i) "the lower and temporary element in the Christian," Ga. 3:3; 6:8, and
in religious ordinances, Heb. 9:10; (j) "the natural attainments of men," 1Co. 1:26; 2Co. 10:2,3; (k) "circumstances,"1Co. 7:28; the externals of life, 2Co. 7:1; Eph. 6:5; Heb. 9:13; (l) by metonymy, "the outward and seeming," as
contrasted with the spirit, the inward and real, Jn. 6:63; 2Co. 5:16; (m) "natural relationship, consanguine," 1Co.
10:18; Ga. 4:23, or marital, Mt. 19:5." * [* From Notes on Galatians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 111,112.] In Mt. 26:41;
Ro. 8:4,13; 1Co. 5:5; Ga. 6:8 (not the Holy Spirit, here), "flesh" is contrasted with spirit; in Ro. 2:28,29, with heart
and spirit; in Ro. 7:25, with the mind; cp. Col. 2:1,5. It is coupled with the mind in Eph. 2:3, and with the spirit in
2Co. 7:1. Note: In Col. 2:18 the noun sarx is used in the phrase "(by his) fleshly mind," lit., "by the mind of his
flesh" [see (h) above], whereas the mind ought to be dominated by the Spirit. -- Vines Expository Dictionary of Old
and New Testament Words
Galatians 1:16 - to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediatelyconsult with flesh and blood,
Galatians 2:16 - nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ
Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of
the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Galatians 3:3 - Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Galatians 4:23 - But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free womanthrough the promise.
Galatians 4:29 - But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born accordingto the Spirit, so it is now also.
Galatians 5:13 - For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for theflesh, but through love serve one another.
http://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=1&verse=16&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=2&verse=16&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=2&verse=20&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=3&verse=3&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=4&verse=23&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=4&verse=29&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=5&verse=13&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=1&verse=16&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=2&verse=16&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=2&verse=20&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=3&verse=3&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=4&verse=23&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=4&verse=29&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=5&verse=13&version=49&context=verse -
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Galatians 5:16 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Galatians 5:17 - For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in
opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Galatians 5:19 - Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Galatians 5:24 - Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 6:8 - For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to
the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:12 - Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply
so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Galatians 6:13 - For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you
circumcised so that they may boast in yourflesh.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 byThe LockmanFoundation
Copyright 2008 David R. Leigh. Revised 2012. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for class purposes.
http://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=5&verse=16&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=5&verse=17&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=5&verse=19&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=5&verse=24&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=6&verse=8&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=6&verse=12&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=6&verse=13&version=49&context=versehttp://www.lockman.org/http://www.lockman.org/http://www.lockman.org/http://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=5&verse=16&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=5&verse=17&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=5&verse=19&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=5&verse=24&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=6&verse=8&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=6&verse=12&version=49&context=versehttp://passage/%3Fbook_id=55&chapter=6&verse=13&version=49&context=versehttp://www.lockman.org/http://www.lockman.org/ -
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The Choice In GalatiansFLESH/LAW/SINFUL NATURE/HUMAN EFFORT SPIRIT/FAITH/PROMISE/JUSTIFICATION
1:1 Human authority Divine authority
1:3-5 The present evil age Rescue by Christs sacrifice,by Gods will to Gods glory
1:6-9 Another (different) gospel
Brings a curse
The one who called you
1:10 Human approval/pleasing people Gods approval/truly serving Messiah
1:11-12 The false gospel has a human source
and relies on human authority
Pauls gospel, directly from Messiah, not
derived from human teachers or authorities, not
even the Apostles.
1:13 Pauls old way of life:
Second-Temple Judaism/ReligionPersecuted the Church
Zeal for human traditions
Gods calling on Paul
By grace to reveal his Son in mePreached gospel to the nations (Gentiles)
Obeyed without consulting authorities or
Jerusalem Apostles
2:3-5 Circumcision
False Believers
Slavery
The truth of the gospel
Freedom
2:12-14Hypocrisy
Separatism
The Circumcision Party
Forcing religious customs on people
The truth in line with the gospel
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FLESH/LAW/SINFUL NATURE/HUMAN EFFORT SPIRIT/FAITH/PROMISE/JUSTIFICATION
2:15-16Seeking acceptability (justification)
with God by observing laws
Being justified by faith in Jesus the Messiah
apart from observing laws
2:17-18 Rebuilding what I destroyed (i.e. going
back to Law as the basis for right standing with
God),
which is actually the true lawbreaking
Seeking to be justified in Messiah while being
found among sinners
2:19 The Law (of Moses)
Death
Dead to the Law
Living for God
2:20-21Not the place to live/Not a source of
life
No righteousness to be gained here
Messiahs death does not have value to those
who choose to live here.
Crucified with Messiah, Messiah lives in me.
Life in the body now lived by faith
Counted righteous by the grace of God
The reason Messiah died
3:1-6Bewitched (misled/deceived) Receiving the Holy Spirit by believingNew beginning
Continuation of what began (On same basis as
we began: in the Holy Spirit, not in flesh or by
human effort)Righteousness crediting by believing like
ABRAHAM
3:7-12 Reliance on keeping laws/rules
All cursed
Law is NOT of faith
Children of Abraham
The gospel that was given Abraham regarding
the Gentiles
All blessed with Abraham on same basis, by
faith
Justification and life
3:13-14Curse on everyone under the Law Redemption from the curse of the Law
The blessing promised to Abraham given to
believers
The promise of the Spirit also given to thosewho have faith
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3:15-18 The Law, 430 years after The Seed
was promised
Abrahams Covenant (430 years earlier than the
Law)
The promise and inheritance given AbrahamInheritance based on promise given by grace
3:19-22 The Law, a temporary provision until
Messiah/Seed
Required angels and a mediator
Cannot impart life or righteousness
Locks everyone under the control of sin
What was promised to Abraham is given and
received on basis of faith in Messiah
3:23-25 The Law was a custodian prior to faith
Was in charge of us
The awaited faith is revealed in this column
Law is no longer in charge of us
Messiah has justified us (made us right withGod) and freed us from the supervision of the
Law.
3:26-4:7Under-aged heirs no different from
slavesSubject to guardians
Enslaved to elemental spiritual forces of the
world
Were all sons of God by faith (with all the
rights of sons)All baptized in Messiah regardless of race,
class, or gender
All clothed in Messiah
No Jew/Gentile, slave/free, male/female
distinctions; all one
We belong to Messiah
We are Abrahams seed
We are heirs of the Promise
We have been adopted to sonship
The Spirit of God is now in our hearts causing
us to call out to call God as Daddy (Abba)
We are no longer slaves; we are full heirs.
4:8-16Unable to know God
Slaves to gods and to weak, miserable forces
Observing customs, days, months, years, etc.
Weakness of this column is like illness
Known by God
Knowing God
Truth
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4:17-18 Misdirected zeal
Alienation from Paul
Proper zeal
Relationship with Paul likened to the intimacy
of a mother giving birth to her child.Messiah is formed in us.
4:21-31 HAGAR: Slave under the Law SARAH: The Free Woman
Son born by human effort/flesh Son from divine promise
Covenant of Mt. Sinai
Resulted in children who are slaves
Jerusalem
New Covenant
Free Woman is our mother
The Jerusalem of above
Gladness - v. 27Joy (shouting and crying it out!)
More children than the slave woman
Son born by human effort persecuted the son
born by the Spirit - v. 29
We are like Isaac, children of promise and
persecuted
We are born by the same Spirits power - v. 28
No share in the inheritance with the free
womans son - v. 30We share in the full inheritance of the free
womans son
We are her children (sons)
5:1-6Burdened by a yoke of slavery Freed in order to be FREE!
Circumcision resulting in the obligation to keep
the whole Law
Alienation from Jesus the Messiah
Fallen (i.e., far from) grace
Faith that awaits in hope the righteousness that
comes only from the Holy Spirit
Circumcision or not is irrelevant; all that
matters here is faith expressing itself in love!
5:7-11 Circumcision and Law = NOT obeying
the Truth
Not from the One who calls you
A spreading yeast (sin/false teaching of the
Pharisees)
Penalty
The real obedience to God
(via being led by, walking in step with, living by
the Spirit)
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5:12 Circumcisers likened to Pagan Castrators
5:13-15 The sinful nature/fleshDevouring and destroying each other
Sinful nature desires what is contrary to Gods
Spirit
Here you cannot do what you really want.
Under Law
Called to freedom, which is not for indulgingthe sinful nature!
Serving each other in love; the Law is fulfilled
in love!
Walking in Spirit keeps us from
gratifying/feeding sin nature.
Here you find your fulfillment.
Led by the Spirit
5:19-26The Outworking/results of this side: The Outworking/results of this side:
Acts of the Flesh/Sinful Nature/Human Effort
Sexual immorality
Impurity Overindulgence
Idolatry
Witchcraft
Hate
Discord
Jealousy
Fits of rage
Selfish ambitionDissensions
Factions/Divisiveness
Envy
Drunkenness
Orgies
And the like
Ungodly passions and desires - (v. 24)Conceit, provoking and envying each other (v.
25)
These are characteristic of those missing the
Kingdom of God
The Fruit of the Spirit
Love
JoyPeace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Belonging to Christ
The sinful nature (flesh) is crucified along with
ungodly passions and desires.
Here we have Life and the means by which weexperience it.
Therefore, were to keep in step with (i.e.keep living by) the Spirit instead of by rules,
laws, customs, etc.
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6:1-10 Caught in sin
Temptation
Restoring fallen Christ-followers with
gentleness
Carry each others burdens and thereby fulfillthe law of Messiah (i.e. love!) Watching
ourselves to avoid temptation.
Sowing to this column reaps destruction. Sowing to this side means to please the Spirit
and reaps eternal life (in harvest proportions!)
6:11-18 Impressing others with circumcision
and displays of legalistic righteousness is done
to avoid persecution.
On this side: the cross of Christ: the only thing
to boast about; through it the world is crucified
to us and us to the world.
We are a new creation! Peace, mercy, grace in
our spirits, as the true Israel of God!
Copyright 2008 David R. Leigh. Revised 2012. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for class purposes.