Galatians

1
Galatians

• Introduction and Theme

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Background

• A Roman province
• Included cities of
• Pisidian Antioch
• Iconium
• Lystra
• Derbe
• Paul and Barnabas started churches there during
  first missionary journey

3
A letter

• A letter is meant to be read in its entirety
• A letter is written with a purpose
• A Roman letter is written in a style
• A socially polite letter begins with a
  thanksgiving
• Paul skips the thanksgiving
• Only acceptable in a letter of rebuke
• Limits the number of sub-styles which could be
  used

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Introduction (11-5)

• Paul, an apostle
• Identifies self by name and position
• apostle one sent with a commission
• Not writing on his own authority
• His authority is that of an agent for Christ
• If they accept Christs authority, then they must
  accept his authority as that of Christs agent
• The brethren with him Barnabas, etc.
• Churches in Galatia the ones they started

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Introduction (11-5)

• Grace and peace to you
• Pauls own variation of a common salutation
• From the Father and the Lord
• Paul traces the authority of those who sent him
• Jesus authority as Lord (ruler)
• Came from providing our salvation
• Came from the will of the Father
• The Fathers authority
• Came from His eternal nature (God)
• Came from His creation (Father)

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Theme (16-10)

• Next would come thanksgiving
• Skipping thanksgiving makes this a rebuke
• I am amazed
• Not a statement of wonder or puzzlement
• An expression of extreme anger and blame
• Very rare in preserved ancient letters
• One of the harshest acceptable rebukes

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Theme (16-10)

• Gospel good news
• Salvation was available by and through Jesus
• Another gospel
• Salvation through Jesus and law of Moses
• Not really another gospel because there is only
  one gospel
• Yet some were teaching this other gospel

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Gospel

• First proclaimed by Peter (Acts 214-42)
• Included belief in Jesus as Lord and Christ
• Included repentance from sins
• Included baptism for forgiveness of sins
• Resulted in a salvation
• Resulted in a changed and obedient lifestyle
• As Christ had commanded (Mk 1615-16)
• Same for Gentiles (Acts 10-11)

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Theme (16-10)

• Not apostles or even angels could change that
  gospel
• Repeated for emphasis
• Other gospels
• Adding to the one gospel
• Taking away from the one gospel
• Changing any or all of the one gospel

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Examples of other gospels

• Gospel plus the Book of Mormon
• Gospel plus Watchtower writings
• Gospel plus church traditions
• Gospel plus modern revelations
• Gospel without baptism
• Gospel without belief (infant baptism)
• Gospel but baptism changed to sprinkling
• Gospel rejected for the Koran

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Theme (16-10)

• Not going to make people happy
• Paul must fulfill his commission
• By implication, Pauls detractors must be
  men-pleasers
• At the end of the letter (612-16), Paul makes
  his earlier implication into a direct charge

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Summary

• God provided salvation
• That salvation is taught through the gospel
• There would be NO changes to that gospel
• Paul would proclaim that gospel no matter the
  opinions of his listeners
• If you have a problem with that gospel
• Then your argument is with God

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