Galatians 1:1-10
Lesson 358
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
"The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians"
Authorship:
Galatians was written by the apostle Paul (1:1) in AD 48-53. It is believed to be the oldest book in The New Testament.
Galatians was a circular letter meant for all the churches in Galatia (and all Christians to come). Paul, Hebrew name Saul (Acts 13:9), was born a Roman citizen (Acts 22:27-28) in the small but wealthy city of Tarsus, Cilicia (Acts 21:39; 22:3) in modern-day Turkey. Born to Jewish parents around the time of Jesus' birth, Paul/Saul was from the Hebrew tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1) and was named after King Saul (Israel's first monarch). He was profoundly religious and possessed a keen intellect. Paul was chosen to study the Hebrew Canon in Jerusalem under the renowned Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) at the tender age of thirteen, a high honor. Paul was "a Hebrew of Hebrews" (Philippians 3:5), the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), and a strict Pharisee himself (Acts 26:5). He was a fierce opponent of Christianity (Galatians 1:13). When we first met Paul, he was watching the executioner's coats as they stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr, to death (Acts 7:58; 22:20). After Stephen's murder, Paul made it his mission to find and persecute Christians (1 Corinthians 15:9). He gladly hunted down believers, beat them, and threw them into prison (Acts 8:3; 26:10), where many were "put to death" (22:4). Paul went from city to city chasing Christians and forced many to renounce their faith (26:9-11). His reputation for cruelty was well known (Acts 9:13). After his conversion to Christianity (Acts 9:1-9;
22:6-11; 26:12-18), Paul joined the Christians he had been persecuting and spent the rest of his life traveling the vast Roman empire, teaching the word of God. Paul's contributions to the fledgling Christian church cannot be overstated. Following Jesus' instructions to spread the word (Acts 22:21), it is estimated that he walked over 10,000 miles on three separate evangelical tours and wrote thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament. Before Paul, little had been done to bring the Gospel to Gentiles. He endured many privations and hardships during the decades he spent spreading the Gospel, all the time supporting himself on donations and working as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). Preaching earned Paul many enemies (1 Corinthians 16:9) who repeatedly tried to kill him (Acts 19:23-41; 20:3; 23:12). Paul was persecuted in almost every city he visited. He was driven out of Antioch (Acts 13:50) and forced to flee Berea (Acts 17:13-14). His enemies rose up and put him on trial in Achaia (Acts 18:12). Paul was whipped five times, beaten with rods three times, and was once stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19). He was arrested, whipped, and placed in stocks (Acts 16:23-24). As a prisoner on his way to Rome, he was shipwrecked and lost at sea (2 Corinthians 11:24-25). He was reviled (1 Corinthians 4:12) and in constant danger from thieves he passed on the road and from brethren he trusted (2 Corinthians 11:26). Paul was often sick (Galatians 4:13-14), hungry, thirsty, beaten, and homeless (1 Corinthians 4:11). He was insulted (Acts 17:17-18; 17:32), called "the filth of the world" (1 Corinthians 4:13), treated "shamefully" (1 Thessalonians 2:2), and more than once forced to flee for his life (Acts 9:28-30; 17:10; 2 Corinthians 11:33). The years on the road left Paul in despair (2 Corinthians 1:8), weary, used up, and often in pain (2 Corinthians 11:27). Finally, he was chained and imprisoned for two years while he waited for his accusers to testify against him (Acts 23:35). After being released and arrested again, Paul was found guilty of a capital offense and beheaded. Called "the Apostle to the Gentiles," "the Apostle of Grace," and "a servant of God" (Titus 1:1), it is difficult to name a person more responsible for spreading Christianity.
Galatia was a Roman province in central Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). It was primarily populated by displaced Gaul's (from modern-day France) and Greeks. The Galatia Gaul's were descendants of the ancient Gaul's who were forced from their land. Galatia was incorporated into the Roman empire after the death of their king in 25 BC. When Paul arrived in Galatia on his missionary tour (Acts 16:6), he found the people worshipping idols and various pagan gods. After Paul left Galatia, the Judaizers went to work on the new Christian converts and falsely taught them that they had to convert to Judaism and follow the old Mosaic Law with all its rites and ceremonies to be saved. Paul responded to this dangerous doctrine in this epistle (letter) to the Galatians. "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians" addressed the freedom found in Christ and the way to salvation, faith in Christ. Paul returned to Galatia on his third missionary journey to tend to and strengthen "the disciples" (Acts 18:23).
Purpose and Theme:
Paul founded the churches in Galatia while on a missionary journey (circa AD 45-48). The church was made up mainly of Gentile (non-Jewish) believers. After leaving Galatia, other teachers (Jewish converts) arrived and taught the Galatians a false path to salvation (1:6-7). They were called Judaizers, and they believed it was necessary for Gentiles to become Jews, place themselves under the Mosaic Law, be circumcised, and practice all the rites and ceremonies of Judaism
before becoming Christians. This created unnecessary hurdles for non-Jews to overcome in order to follow Christ. Paul wrote to the Galatians to refute this false doctrine and to vindicate his apostleship. Paul teaches that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not faith plus obeying the old Mosaic Law (5:2-12). If the Mosaic Law could save us, then there was no need for Jesus to die on the cross. The Mosaic Law was meant to show humanity that we are sinners. The Mosaic Law is perfect and holy. We are imperfect and unholy. The Law is just. We are unjust. Therefore, we cannot keep the Law. Believing in Jesus liberates us from the Mosaic Law, its impossible standards, its traditions, and rites and ceremonies (5:1). The argument between the Judaizers and Paul was eventually resolved in Paul's favor by the
Jerusalem council (Acts 15). But the dispute lingered for years, with many Judaizers questioning Paul's authority as an Apostle. Galatians also covers Paul's conversion to Christianity and defends his credentials as an apostle.
Galatians was written by the apostle Paul (1:1) in AD 48-53. It is believed to be the oldest book in The New Testament.
Galatians was a circular letter meant for all the churches in Galatia (and all Christians to come). Paul, Hebrew name Saul (Acts 13:9), was born a Roman citizen (Acts 22:27-28) in the small but wealthy city of Tarsus, Cilicia (Acts 21:39; 22:3) in modern-day Turkey. Born to Jewish parents around the time of Jesus' birth, Paul/Saul was from the Hebrew tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1) and was named after King Saul (Israel's first monarch). He was profoundly religious and possessed a keen intellect. Paul was chosen to study the Hebrew Canon in Jerusalem under the renowned Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) at the tender age of thirteen, a high honor. Paul was "a Hebrew of Hebrews" (Philippians 3:5), the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), and a strict Pharisee himself (Acts 26:5). He was a fierce opponent of Christianity (Galatians 1:13). When we first met Paul, he was watching the executioner's coats as they stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr, to death (Acts 7:58; 22:20). After Stephen's murder, Paul made it his mission to find and persecute Christians (1 Corinthians 15:9). He gladly hunted down believers, beat them, and threw them into prison (Acts 8:3; 26:10), where many were "put to death" (22:4). Paul went from city to city chasing Christians and forced many to renounce their faith (26:9-11). His reputation for cruelty was well known (Acts 9:13). After his conversion to Christianity (Acts 9:1-9;
22:6-11; 26:12-18), Paul joined the Christians he had been persecuting and spent the rest of his life traveling the vast Roman empire, teaching the word of God. Paul's contributions to the fledgling Christian church cannot be overstated. Following Jesus' instructions to spread the word (Acts 22:21), it is estimated that he walked over 10,000 miles on three separate evangelical tours and wrote thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament. Before Paul, little had been done to bring the Gospel to Gentiles. He endured many privations and hardships during the decades he spent spreading the Gospel, all the time supporting himself on donations and working as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). Preaching earned Paul many enemies (1 Corinthians 16:9) who repeatedly tried to kill him (Acts 19:23-41; 20:3; 23:12). Paul was persecuted in almost every city he visited. He was driven out of Antioch (Acts 13:50) and forced to flee Berea (Acts 17:13-14). His enemies rose up and put him on trial in Achaia (Acts 18:12). Paul was whipped five times, beaten with rods three times, and was once stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19). He was arrested, whipped, and placed in stocks (Acts 16:23-24). As a prisoner on his way to Rome, he was shipwrecked and lost at sea (2 Corinthians 11:24-25). He was reviled (1 Corinthians 4:12) and in constant danger from thieves he passed on the road and from brethren he trusted (2 Corinthians 11:26). Paul was often sick (Galatians 4:13-14), hungry, thirsty, beaten, and homeless (1 Corinthians 4:11). He was insulted (Acts 17:17-18; 17:32), called "the filth of the world" (1 Corinthians 4:13), treated "shamefully" (1 Thessalonians 2:2), and more than once forced to flee for his life (Acts 9:28-30; 17:10; 2 Corinthians 11:33). The years on the road left Paul in despair (2 Corinthians 1:8), weary, used up, and often in pain (2 Corinthians 11:27). Finally, he was chained and imprisoned for two years while he waited for his accusers to testify against him (Acts 23:35). After being released and arrested again, Paul was found guilty of a capital offense and beheaded. Called "the Apostle to the Gentiles," "the Apostle of Grace," and "a servant of God" (Titus 1:1), it is difficult to name a person more responsible for spreading Christianity.
Galatia was a Roman province in central Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). It was primarily populated by displaced Gaul's (from modern-day France) and Greeks. The Galatia Gaul's were descendants of the ancient Gaul's who were forced from their land. Galatia was incorporated into the Roman empire after the death of their king in 25 BC. When Paul arrived in Galatia on his missionary tour (Acts 16:6), he found the people worshipping idols and various pagan gods. After Paul left Galatia, the Judaizers went to work on the new Christian converts and falsely taught them that they had to convert to Judaism and follow the old Mosaic Law with all its rites and ceremonies to be saved. Paul responded to this dangerous doctrine in this epistle (letter) to the Galatians. "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians" addressed the freedom found in Christ and the way to salvation, faith in Christ. Paul returned to Galatia on his third missionary journey to tend to and strengthen "the disciples" (Acts 18:23).
Purpose and Theme:
Paul founded the churches in Galatia while on a missionary journey (circa AD 45-48). The church was made up mainly of Gentile (non-Jewish) believers. After leaving Galatia, other teachers (Jewish converts) arrived and taught the Galatians a false path to salvation (1:6-7). They were called Judaizers, and they believed it was necessary for Gentiles to become Jews, place themselves under the Mosaic Law, be circumcised, and practice all the rites and ceremonies of Judaism
before becoming Christians. This created unnecessary hurdles for non-Jews to overcome in order to follow Christ. Paul wrote to the Galatians to refute this false doctrine and to vindicate his apostleship. Paul teaches that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not faith plus obeying the old Mosaic Law (5:2-12). If the Mosaic Law could save us, then there was no need for Jesus to die on the cross. The Mosaic Law was meant to show humanity that we are sinners. The Mosaic Law is perfect and holy. We are imperfect and unholy. The Law is just. We are unjust. Therefore, we cannot keep the Law. Believing in Jesus liberates us from the Mosaic Law, its impossible standards, its traditions, and rites and ceremonies (5:1). The argument between the Judaizers and Paul was eventually resolved in Paul's favor by the
Jerusalem council (Acts 15). But the dispute lingered for years, with many Judaizers questioning Paul's authority as an Apostle. Galatians also covers Paul's conversion to Christianity and defends his credentials as an apostle.
Galatians is broken down into five segments:
1) Chapters 1:1-10 - Introduction.
2) Chapters 1:11-2:21 - Paul defends his apostolic credentials and rebukes Peter (2:11-21).
3) Chapters 3:1-5:1 - Salvation is based on faith, not on the Mosaic Law of The Old Testament (3:1-24); Slavery or freedom (3:25-5:1)?
4) Chapters 5:2-6:10 - Freedom in Jesus Christ; Application of the Gospel; Only God can lead us away from sin.
5) Chapters 6:11-18 - Summary and farewell.
1) Chapters 1:1-10 - Introduction.
2) Chapters 1:11-2:21 - Paul defends his apostolic credentials and rebukes Peter (2:11-21).
3) Chapters 3:1-5:1 - Salvation is based on faith, not on the Mosaic Law of The Old Testament (3:1-24); Slavery or freedom (3:25-5:1)?
4) Chapters 5:2-6:10 - Freedom in Jesus Christ; Application of the Gospel; Only God can lead us away from sin.
5) Chapters 6:11-18 - Summary and farewell.
Study Tip:
As you read ask yourself;
"What point is being made with this passage?"
"How does it affect me?"
As you read ask yourself;
"What point is being made with this passage?"
"How does it affect me?"
