The Strand Study Bible

GALATIANS

Author: Paul Theme: Salvation by Grace (justification by faith) and Christian Liberty About the Author: See introduction to Romans

About the Book : Paul reminded the Galatian Christians that there is no other Gospel that saves (Gal 1:6-8 & 2:16,21 & 3:11). Apparently, certain Jewish Christians were teaching the Galatian Christians that salvation was faith in Christ plus “works” (Gal 3:1-3). Paul’s response to them was the same response that he gave to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 15) – faith in the gospel of Christ is all a person needs to get him to Heaven. It was all Abraham needed and he lived 400 years before the Law was ever given (Gal 3:6-8). Galatians was written from Ephesus in AD 54, during Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (Acts 19:7). Helpful Background : Paul started the churches of Galatia while on his First Missionary Journey (from AD 45-47) (Acts 13:13- 14:25). He then revisited those same churches on his Second and Third Missionary Journeys (from AD 50-54) (Acts 15:40-16:6 & 18:23). Having just passed through Galatia for the third time (Acts 18:23), and witnessing the condition of the churches he started, his heart was broken and troubled because of the Galatians’ adoption of Judaism (salvation plus works). Earnestly desiring to correct the legalistic error that some Jewish Christians had insisted upon, Paul immediately sent back a letter ( Galatians ) bitterly protesting the false doctrine. In his letter he defended both his apostleship (Gal 1-2) and the Gospel (Gal 3-6). Notes of Interest: 1. Galatians quotes the OT 10 times. 2 of those 10 OT quotations refer directly to CHRIST . 7 of the 10 OT quotations refer directly to the Pentateuch. Note - Genesis is the OT book most often quoted in Galatians ( 4 quotations) 2. There are no prophecies referred to in Galatians . 3. There are 5 different OT characters referred to in Galatians Note - Abraham is the OT character most often referred to in Galatians ( 9 times) 4. There is 1 inset map used in the book of Galatians . It is numbered chronologically (#51). Outline of Galatians : 1. Paul’s Gospel (Gal 1) 2. Paul remembers Peter’s folly (Gal 2)

3. Justification by faith (Gal 3) 4. The Law verses faith (Gal 4,5) 5. Christian responsibilities (Gal 6) Galatians 1 Greetings from Paul to the churches in Galatia Date Written - c. AD 54 1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but 1 by Jesus Christ, and God the Fa- ther, who raised him from the dead;) 2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the 2 churches of Galatia: 3 3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 4 WHO gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of 5 CHRIST unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the 6 GOSPEL OF CHRIST .

1. Acts 9:6 2. Acts 13:13 - 14:25 & 15:40 - 16:6 & 18:23 3. Phile 3 4. Gen 22:8 & Isa 53:1-12 & Jn 1:29, 36 & I Pet 2:24 & Rev 5:6 & 13:8 5. I Pet 1:10 6. I Cor 15:1-4

1:6a Paul was “amazed” ( I marvel ) that so many of the Galatian Christians, having received salvation by grace, had deserted their liberty and freedom in Christ and returned once again to the bondage of religiosity ( Judaism - Acts 15:1-11 and Rom 11:6). 1:6b This word ( another ) is the Greek word ‘ε τ ερ ο ν ( heteron ), and means, “ another of a different sort .” Heteron is a perversion of the true Gospel, and has many seductive forms, and in the main teaches that “faith’ is not sufficient to salvation, nor able to keep and perfect, and so emphasizes “good works.” NOTE – Heteron is different from the word D λλος ( allos ), which is also translated “another” ( Jn 14:16 and Gal 1:7 ). Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words notes: Paul speaks of “a different gospel ( heteros ), which is not another” ( allos , another like the one he preached), Gal 1:6,7. 1 1:7 This word ( another ) is the Greek word D λλο ( allo ), not heteron (vs 6). Paul said there is no other Gospel ( Which is not another ).

1 Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words . Old Tappan, NJ, Fleming H. Revell Co., 1940. Print. 1950