Galatians
1. Social History of Galatians
2. Paul's Message about Christian
Faith and the Jewish Law
Copyright 2001 by Caroline T. Schroeder
Please read important bibliography,
copyright, and intellectual property information
1. Social History of Galatians
Galatians is written to multiple churches in the region
of Galatia (see Ehrman, 304-5 for more on the location of "Galatia"):
To the churches of Galatia... (1:2)
Most of the Galatian Christians were Gentiles.
Paul founded churches in Galatia when he was ill, and
some people in Galatia cared for him:
You know that it was because of a physical infirmity
that I first announced the gospel to you; though my condition put you to
the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel
of God, as Christ Jesus. (4:13-14)
At some point, Paul left Galatia and continued on his
missionary journeys. After his departure, some other Christians arrived
in Galatia preaching a gospel that contradicted Paul's gospel message.
Some Galatians seem to have followed the instructions of the newcomers,
rather than those of Paul. Paul claims that this "new" gospel being
preached is a perversion of the true gospel, and he curses his opponents.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the
one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different
gospelónot that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing
you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an
angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed
to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now
I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received,
let that one be accursed! (1:6-9)
The nature of the conflict or problem in Galatia, according
to Paul, is that his opponents insist that male Gentile converts must be
circumcised in order to be righteous before God. Paul also claims
that they insist that converts must also follow other practices required
by the Jewish law:
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...[Y]et we know that a person is justified not by the works
of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. (2:16)
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You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?
It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified!
The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive
the Spirit by doing the works of the law or believing what you heard? (3:1-2)
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Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves
be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. (5:2)
2. Paul's Message
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2. Paul's Message about Christian Faith and the
Jewish Law
At the heart of the problem, for Paul, is the notion that
the core of the Christian faith is belief in Christ crucified and resurrected.
If Gentiles have to follow the law in addition to having faith in
Christ, then Christ died for nothing.
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And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might
be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law,
because no one will be justified by the works of the law. (2:16)
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I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes
through the law, then Christ died for nothing. (2:21)
Moreover, Paul argues, this is an issue that was settled
back when Paul met with the other apostles in Jerusalem at the so-called
"Jerusalem Conference." The other apostles agreed, he claims, that
Gentiles would not have to be circumcized:
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem
with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up in response
to a revelation. Then I laid before them...the gospel that I proclaim
among the Gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not running, or had
not run, in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled
to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. But because of false
believers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on the freedom we
have in Christ Jesus, so that the truth of the gospel might always remain
with you. And from those who were supposed to be acknowledged leaders
(what they actually were makes no difference to me; God shows not partiality)óthose
leaders contributed nothing tome. On the contrary, when they saw
that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as
Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised (for he who
worked throu Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked
through me in sending me to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and
John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been
given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship,
agreeing
that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
(2:1-9)
Study your notes regarding class discussion of this
passage. Also compare to Acts 15.
Review your notes in class on 10/25 for our small discussions
on the following verses:
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3:6-17: Why does Paul use Abraham as an example for
his argument about Christian faith & the Jewish law? What is
his point in this passage?
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3:19-29: What is the purpose of the law, according
to Paul?
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In 5:1, Paul speaks of the "freedom" that comes from faith
in Christ and in chapter 4 likens the law to slavery. Read 5:13-26.
What is this "freedom"? Does it mean that there are no longer laws
or rules Christians have to follow? (Does this sound like anything
Paul has written to other churches?)
-
Does Paul ever denounce the Jewish law for Jews who are born
Jews? Is the Jewish law inherently bad? Or does his argument
against the law only apply to Gentiles?
1. Social history of Galatians
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Bibliography, Copyright, and Intellectual Property
Information
This study guide is the intellectual property of Caroline
T. Schroeder (adjunct instructor in Religious Studies at Elon University),
produced solely for the use of students in Rel 112-C3, Fall 2001.
For permission to otherwise use, reproduce, or distribute
this study guide, contact Caroline
T. Schroeder
The sale of this study guide is prohibited.
Bibliography
Ehrman, Bart D. The New Testament: A Historical
Introduction to the Early Christian Writings. 2d ed. New York:
Oxford University Press, 2000.
Duling, Dennis C., and Norman Perrin. The New
Testament: Proclamation and Paranesis, Myth and History.
3rd ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1994.
Meeks, Wayne A., ed. The HarperCollins Study
Bible, New Revised Standard Version. New York: HarperCollins,
1993.
Copyright 2001 by Caroline T. Schroeder
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