Drawing on a range of ancient background for which the author is known, this commentary helps readers today to grasp the real issues that paul was addressing. The churches in galatia were comprised of both jewish and gentile converts. A background study on the book of galatians by nathaniel parker for luther rice college and seminary. The cross is complete, nothing can be added to it, to think you can add something to the cross is to insult the spirit of grace because grace means underserved favor. Galatia encompassed some areas of southern asia and the central portion of asia minor. An introduction to the book of galatians related media. Gauls were a gallic celtic people of the hellenistic period that dwelt mainly in the north central regions of asia minor or anatolia, in what was known as galatia, in todays turkey. There is an old debate as to whether pauls letter was directed to northern galatia, where the ethnic galatians lived, or to southern part of the galatian province, where cities such as iconium are located. The outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Galatians highlights the gospel of grace that produces righteous living galatians 3. Epistle to galatians encyclopedia of the bible bible. Watch our overview video on the book of galatians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
The historical context of pauls letters to the galatians. Galatians is likely the first new testament book to be written, composed sometime soon after ad 49. Visit the web site to browse or download additional material for church or personal use. A versebyverse study of the book of galatians 3 galatians free. Background of galatians inner sheet gospel grace church. He is a former editor for christianity today and lifeway christian resources. Indeed, romans may well be an expansion of galatians. Christocentric commentary series a commentary on the epistle to the galatians the gospel versus religion james a. I would like to see the spirit of god move in our land today. According to this view, galatians was written to churches in the southern area of the roman province of galatia antioch, iconium, lystra and derbe that paul had founded on his first missionary journey. Landscape of the book of galatians galatia was a province in the roman empire, in central asia minor. Background of galatians in the course of about thirty years between his conversion outside damascus and his imprisonment in rome, the apostle paul traveled widely through the empire as an ambassador of jesus.
Their false gospel had a detrimental effect on the galatians. In this lesson we look at some of the circumstances behind pauls letter to the galatians. Pauls purpose in writing to these churches was to confirm them in the faith. The quality of living is determined by whether or not an. Galatians introduction commentary commentary critical. In regard to being under the law, paul clearly includes gentiles as being under the law in some sense.
I have been helped learning many cultural things by having this book. Externally and internally the evidence has been overwhelming in critical scholarship in favor of pauline authorship of this letter. Because of its teaching of salvation by gods grace, the letter to the galatians was the cornerstone of the protestant reformation. Constable historical background galatians has been the least disputed of any of pauls epistles.
These were the regions that were inhabited by celtic tribes known as galatia. Some have suggested the epistle is specifically addressed to jewish christians who want to. The name comes from the greek for gaul which was repeated by latin writers as galli. Paul passionately defends the gospel of grace, fervently declaring that it is only by faith in god that can save. Galatians is a key teaching on christian freedom which separated christianity from the laws and customs of judaism. The epistle to the galatians concludes with a description of the kind of life that a person will live who is filled with the spirit of god, a life that sharply contrasts to the kind of life a person will live who has carnal desires. Pauls letter to galatians is an ancient letter, written mid first century ad, which makes it almost 2000 years old. The epistle to the galatians sermon outlines this material is from, a web site containing sermon outlines and bible studies by mark a. Paul didnt mince many words in the first portion of his letter to the galatians, and he continued speaking frankly in chapter 2. Book of galatians overview insight for living ministries. It included christian churches in the cities of iconium, lystra, and derbe. This book is helpful in giving cultural backgrounds like the book says it does. When readers understand galatians concrete setting, and thus the reasons that he wrote it, we better understand its relevance.
Paul wrote to the churches in southern galatia after having a hand in starting them on his first missionary journey to asia minor. But if the book just stuck to giving cultural background like it says it is about then i would have given 5 stars and recommend it to lots of people. Pdf historical background for the book of galatians. Defection by galatian christians from the gospel back to the old law.
Galatia is not a city but a providence, that is a territory. The personal and cultural implications of galatians by. In the book of galatians, it is impossible to understand the writings of paul without having an understanding of his pharasaic rabbinic judaism background. The background for the epistle is contained in acts.
Although acts 21 may seem to be anachronistic to a discussion of galatians, it is apparent through the book of acts that paul is not against jews practicing judaism acts 16. Introduction to galatians background to pauls letter to. At the time, the galatian churches were being troubled by a group of christian jews who were insisting that gentile believers be circumcised. Paul doesnt really in the book of acts ever specifically establish churches in what we would call the north galatian area, but in 18. The superscription, and allusions to the apostle of the gentiles in the first person, throughout the epistle, establish the same truth galatians 1. And, my friend, it will be the background for other revivals. Intro to galatians biblica the international bible society. Galatians 1 background information with maps and images.
Author, date, and recipients the apostle paul wrote this letter about a. Galatians has always been among those pauline epistles least challenged on the issue of authorship. This quite possibly could have been pauls first letter. The book of galatians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. In their origin they were a part of the great migration. Paul is more critical of his audience here than in any of his other letters. The books of galatians and james deal with two complementary aspects of christianity. Outline of the book of galatians paul defends his credentials as an apostle, cites the jerusalem apostles acceptance of his gospel teaching, and tells of his challenge to peter to teach the true gospel galatians 1. The apostle paul counteracted false teachings about the law, identified abrahams offspring, and contrasted the works of the flesh with the fruitage of gods spirit.
As christians, our own sinful nature plays a little trick on us. The celts were offered the region by the king of neighboring bithynia, nicomedes i r. Galatians is the strongest declaration and defense of the doctrine of justification by faith in or out of. This was the unanimous view of the early church, and even those modern critics who challenge the authorship of many of the new testament books concede that galatians is truly pauline. They went into a synagogue and paul stood up and gave a message recorded for us in acts. Galatians, it is maintained, was written between a. Although his stay among them was brought about or affected by a weakness of the flesh 4. The key personalities of this book are the apostle paul, peter, barnabas, abraham, titus, and false teachers. The galatians felt pressured to seek salvation from the law of moses, even though they had already accepted the grace of christ. Historical context for galatians by paul the core curriculum. Id rather feel like my savior loved me because im so loveable. Many have characterized the letter as a short romans.
Galatians is one of the four letters of paul known as the hauptbriefe, which are universally accepted as authentic. In galatians, paul challenges the galatian christians to stop allowing. It contains in substance what the apostle taught and which he had received by divine revelation gal 1. I would like to hear the epistle to the galatians declared to america. Galatians and romans context and purpose page 5 jewish believers, rather than the readers. The epistle to the galatians is my own little epistle. Introduction to galatians background to pauls letter. The internal and external evidence for pauls authorship is conclusive. Pdf background study on galatians nathaniel b parker. The galatians are probably believers in the churches of the southern region of the roman province of galatia. The most uncontroverted matter in the study of galatians is that the letter was written by paul, the christian apostle whose ministry is portrayed in the acts of the apostles. A brief introduction to the possibly audience, dates and purpose for pauls letter to the galatians.
Sam oneal is the coauthor of bible stories you may have forgotten and the bible answer book. On his three famous missionary journeys he preached the gospel and planted churches in the provinces of galatia. James highlights the righteous living that proves faith. Nine of these book are letters to local churches like the ones in galatia. In pauls day, the word galatia had two distinct meanings. The galatian region had been a roman province since 189 b.
The epistle to the galatians is one of pauls greatest and most important letters. Galatia was a region in northcentral anatolia modernday turkey settled by the celtic gauls c. Our pride starts us to thinking, well, yes, i need a savioryes, im a sinnerbut id rather not feel like such a loser. Paul and barnabas first came to antioch in pisidia.