Lesson 1
INTRODUCTION TO GALATIANS
GALATIA was a province of Asia Minor, having Pontus on the east, Bithynia and Paphlagonia north, Cappadocia and Phrygia south, and Phrygia west. It was probably about two hundred miles in its greatest extent from east to west, and varied in breadth from twelve to an hundred and fifty miles. It was one of the largest provinces of Asia Minor, and covered an extent of country almost as large as the State of New Jersey.
The name Galatia is derived from the word Gaul, and was given to it because it had been conquered by the Gauls, who, having subdued the country, settled in it.
The Purpose of the Epistle: “The Judaizers in Galatia both discredited Paul and proclaimed a false gospel. It was necessary that Paul vindicate his apostleship and message, a task he undertook in the first two chapters. In chapters 3 and 4 Paul contended for the true doctrine of grace, that is, for justification by faith alone. Finally, to show that Christian liberty does not mean license the apostle, in chapters 5 and 6, taught that a Christian should live by the power of the Holy Spirit and that when he does he manifests in his life not the works of the flesh but the fruit of the Spirit.” —The Bible Knowledge Commentary.
Outline
Galatians chap. 1 & 2 = Christian Experience = Personal
Chap. 3 & 4 = Christian Doctrine = Doctrinal
Chap. 5 & 6 = Christian Character = Practical
Read Acts 13, 14, & 15, which tell of Paul’s first missionary journey and the founding of churches in Galatia. Iconium Lystra, Derbe and other communities who were touched with the gospel on this journey.
Paul and Barnabas were Holy Spirit called and sent, through the Church at Antioch, Acts 13:1-4.
Other preachers from Judea were not Holy Spirit called nor church sent. Their doctrine was false, Acts 15:1, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Acts 15:24, “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment.”
Paul’s message was unchanging, the same everywhere. This letter was written in approximately 55 to 60 AD from Antioch of Syria most likely. It was written to refute the two-headed error of the judaizing preachers who had “bewitched” many of the Galatians.
This error was:
1) That a person must be circumcised and obey the law. “Living right” must be mingled with faith in order for one to be saved.
2) The saved person must “live up to” the law if he is to stay saved. These errors are still popular in the 21st Century!!!
–Lesson by E. L. Bynum