Insights into St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians

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The Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians provides a historical backdrop of the region of Galatia in modern-day Turkey, specifically the churches in Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. St. Paul's missionary trips to Galatia and the diverse congregation of Gentiles and Jews, along with the challenges faced in spreading the word of the Lord, are highlighted in this epistle.

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The Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Galatians

The Epistle to the Galatians The Region of Galatia: + Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of Anatolia in modern Turkey of Asia Minor. + It was named so after the immigrant Gauls from Galia, comprising present-day France. Those immigrants settled there about 280 B.C. + The Galatians expanded it by bringing in more states forming: the semi independent Galatia, where Ancyra (modern Ankara) is one of its famous cities. + It is the only epistle that St. Paul addressed to a number of churches: To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:2-3)

The Epistle to the Galatians + It is most commonly believed that those churches included the geographic Galatia adding to it all the areas that St. Paul visited in his 1st missionary trip, including Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (i.e. the Politically expanded Galatia). St. Paul s Visits to Galatia: 1. St. Paul, in his 1stmissionary trip (A.D. 45-50), visited and founded the churches of Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe: (Acts 13,14) 2. St. Paul re-visited the same churches in the beginning of his 2nd missionary trip, together with Silas and Timothy: Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia (Acts 16:6)

The Epistle to the Galatians 3. He visited them for the third time, during his 3rdmissionary trip: After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples (Acts 18:23) The Galatian Congregation: + The majority of the believers were from the Gentiles while it had some minority of the Jews. + The Gentiles sought after the truth and gladly accepted the word: So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath (Acts 13:42)

The Epistle to the Galatians Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48) + While the Jews were divided: a) Some accepted the word from St. Paul: Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed (Acts 14:1) b) Others rejected with envy: But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and

The Epistle to the Galatians contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul (Acts 13:45) + St. Paul pointed out to many faith related problems associated to both Gentiles and the Jews: - So we see him sometimes talking to the Jews: But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed (Galatians 3:23) - And some other times talking to the Gentiles: But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods (Galatians 4:8)

The Epistle to the Galatians - Or he addresses both: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28) Time and Place of Writing: + There are 2 opinions: 1. Some believe St. Paul wrote it from Ephesus in the beginning of his 3rd missionary trip, shortly after departing from Galatia, around A.D. 55. 2. Most commonly others support that the epistle was written from Corinth, after departing Ephesus, towards the end of St. Paul s 3rd missionary trip, in A.D. 58. This date agrees with the date of writing the

The Epistle to the Galatians epistle to the Romans, which was sent as well from Corinth, adding to this that both epistles raised many common issues. Purpose of Writing: + After St. Paul has preached salvation among the Galatians, a number of teachers of Jewish origins came to them. These teachers didn t contest Christianity, but taught that who believes in Christianity should follow Judaism first by following the Law of Moses regarding circumcision and other virtues. + This teaching contradicted with the teaching of St. Paul, so these teachers opposed St. Paul and created suspicion in St. Paul s apostolic rights. They claimed that he was not called directly by our Lord Jesus Christ and hence, he is less than the twelve disciples.

The Epistle to the Galatians + Therefore, St. Paul wrote this epistle to: 1. Defend his Apostolic Rights: Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me (Galatians 1:1-2) 2. Warn Against these Unorthodox Teachings: But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8) 3. Explain that Justification is through Faith in Christ and Highlighting the Power of His Cross:

The Epistle to the Galatians Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified (Galatians 2:16) + This is considered as one of the most epistles that is rich in explaining the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. The Crucifixion in the Epistle: + In contradiction with those who believe in following the Law by word to attain salvation, St. Paul highlighted the importance of God s grace and the power of the cross in Jesus Christ upon which worthiness to salvation relies:

The Epistle to the Galatians 1. The Power of the Cross in Remission of sins: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Galatians 1:3-4) 2. The Power of the Cross in Redemption from the Curse of the Law: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written: Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree) (Galatians 3:13) 3. Through the Cross, we Live a New Life in Christ: I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ

The Epistle to the Galatians 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 for me (Galatians 2:20) 4. Sharing in the Sufferings of His Cross: For I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus (Galatians 6:17) 5. Persecution due Preaching the Cross; Not Circumcision: And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased (Galatians 5:11) 6. Glory Only in the Cross:

The Epistle to the Galatians But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Galatians 6:14) 7. Witnessing by Detailing the Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ: Before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified (Galatians 3:1) Contents: I. Introduction: (Ch. 1) I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another, but there

The Epistle to the Galatians are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-7) II. Confirming his Apostolic Rights: (Chs. 1-2) 1. The Origins of his Call, Mission and Teachings: (Ch. 1) But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood (Galatians 1:15-16)

The Epistle to the Galatians 2. His Service and Mission Confirmed by the Disciples: (Ch. 2) a) Agreement among him and the Disciples Regarding his Service and his Call: And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised (Galatians 2:9) b) The Originality of his Service and his Position from St. Peter who was to be Blamed: Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and

The Epistle to the Galatians separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all: If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? (Galatians 2:11-12,14) III. Between the Law and the Gospel: (Chs. 3-4) 1. The Law brings a Curse but Blessing is through Faith: (Ch. 3) a) The Experience of the Galatians: Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3)

The Epistle to the Galatians b) Abraham was Justified by Faith: Just as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham (Galatians 3:6-7) c) The Old Testament Made Faith a Condition for Salvation: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for the just shall live by faith (Galatians 3:10-11) 2. Not through Law but promises we Receive Blessings: (Ch. 3)

The Epistle to the Galatians a) The Promises given to Abraham was Not Through the Law: For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise (Galatians 3:18) b) The Law Leads us to Christ: Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor (Galatians 3:23-25) c) Sons and Heirs Through Faith in Christ: For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:26-27)

The Epistle to the Galatians And if you are Christ s, then you are Abraham s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29) 3. Those who were Enslaved by the Law are Set Free through Faith: (Ch:4) a) Christ Freed us from Being Slaves to the Law: But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out: Abba, Father! Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ (Galatians 4:4-7)

The Epistle to the Galatians But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? (Galatians 4:9) b) The Sons of Abraham resemble Two Covenants: For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all (Galatians 4:22-26)

The Epistle to the Galatians Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free (Galatians 4:28-31) IV. Christian Liberty: (Ch. 5) 1. It is Not Right to Trade Liberty with Captivity: Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1)

The Epistle to the Galatians For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:13-14) 2. Walking in the Spirit: I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish (Galatians 5:16-17) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)

The Epistle to the Galatians V. Practical Advises: (Ch. 6) 1. The Spirit of Gentleness: Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-2) 2. Be Generous and Do Good: For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:7-9)

The Epistle to the Galatians Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10) VI. Closure: (Ch. 6) 1. In Conclusion: For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh (Galatians 6:13) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation (Galatians 6:15)