Understanding Galatians

A. Lecture 1 – Galatians
Word Count: 550

1. What is the most important historical background for understanding Galatians and why does it matter?

A survey of the evidence indicates that Paul writes (48-49 A.D) to the Christians in south Galatia—he mentions no churches or acquaintances in the north— after having established churches there but prior to the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). Both the letter and the council deal with Jewish Christians instructing gentle converts to observe the Mosaic Law (Judaizers). The gravity of the matter is evident in Paul’s opening as he dispenses the usual salutations to forcibly establish his apostleship, “not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the

Luther was “indebted” to the books of Galatians and Romans for his conversion—since understood the idea of justification by faith alone—from Roman Catholicism as he struggled to keep a righteous life as a monk. But he went a step further (a mistake) and thought Paul was as frustrated with the Law. However this is not Paul’s self-understanding as he thought of himself as “blameless” (Phil. 3:6) and worthy of imitation (1 Cor. 11:1). If anything, Paul was self-righteous and maybe that is why he required a “Damascus experience” to convert.
4. Combining the evidence of Acts and Galatians, what was the heart of the Judaizers’ argument against Paul?

The argument from Judaizers was that the Law was to be obeyed to be right with God along with belief in Christ, but belief in Christ is a necessary though not a sufficient reason for salvation. This included circumcision and dietary laws. Paul opposed this argument forcefully even to the point of confronting the Apostle Peter and his hypocrisy, as he would share meals with the gentles in Antioch, but as soon as the Judaizers came along, he separated himself from them “fearing the circumcision party.” Paul would have none of this, even from a lead Apostle and eyewitness of the resurrection.
5. Chapter 3, verses 10-14 is convoluted on anybody’s reading, but do your best job at paraphrasing the interpretation given in the

Due to persecution, Paul had to leave Thessalonica abruptly, leaving the young church with many unanswered questions, especially related to the final destiny of some recently-deceased brothers there. Paul then explains eschatological issues related to the final resurrection of the death, and Christ’s return in glory. In 2 Thessalonians Christ’s return is also emphasized, believers are reassured of Christ’s impending return, and Paul indicates that those dead before His return are no “second class” Christians. But 2nd Thessalonians is also addressed to those who think that Christ has already come or those who stopped working due to the immediacy of Christ’s