Dynamic Studies in Galatians

Background to the Book of Galatians

There are twenty-seven books in the New Testament, over half of which were written through one man: Saul of Tarsus, aka Paul.
The book of Galatians is regarded by many as one of Paul’s greatest and most important letters.
Dr. Merrill Tenney, writing in Galatians: The Charter of Christian Liberty speaks about the importance of this epistle:
Few books have had a more profound influence on the history of mankind than this small tract, for such it should be called. Christianity might have been just one more Jewish sect, and the thought of the Western world might have been entirely pagan had it never been written. Galatians embodies the germinal teaching on Christian freedom which separated Christianity from Judaism, and which launched it upon a career of missionary conquest. It was the cornerstone of the Protestant Reformation, because its teaching of salvation by grace alone became the dominant theme of the preaching of the Reformers.
Paul’s conversion is perhaps most effectively referenced in Galatians 1:11-17. As a result of his new life in Christ, his former friends became his fiercest enemies and tried to kill him.
In the book of Galatians, Paul addresses the problem with the Judaizers. These legalists, gained their moniker from the Latin word Judaizo, which means “to be or live like a Jew.” The term is a religious designation and has nothing to do with nationality. These Judaizers were opponents of early Christian missionaries. This may be surprising since the Judaizers were themselves believers in Yeshua Ha-Maschiah, Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah.
Prior to the coming of Christ, if a person wanted to become godly, he or she converted to Judaism and began to follow Jewish ceremonial laws. Even after Jesus was born, murdered, and rose from the dead, the Judaizers erroneously believed one must first convert to Judaism.
In the minds of the Judaizers, the Gentiles represented corruption—false gods, drunkenness, fornication, dishonesty, hatred, conflict, arrogance, evil, unfaithfulness, violence, and foolish impulsiveness. In their minds, one had to first leave these practices behind and turn toward the “good” practices found in Judaism.
However, God made it clear to them, through Paul, that the good news of Jesus Christ was not an addendum to Judaism. Instead, it was the end and fulfillment of the Law. Through the gospel of Christ, the grace of God would extend beyond Israel and beyond the Jewish religion and race. Blind to this truth, the Judaizers replaced the heart of Christianity with one of stone: legalism. God used Paul to not only oppose this fallacy, but to expound upon the truth of the gospel and the joy and freedom that goes with it.
As you begin to read the book of Galatians, you can immediately see that something is very wrong in this particular church. False teachers are spreading a false gospel and Paul is engaging them in a battle for the vitality, veracity, and freedom of the faith.
In some ways the book of Galatians is best studied as part of a trilogy. This trilogy relates specifically to one very important verse from the Old Testament, which Jewish scholars call the Tanakh. In particular we should take a look at Habakkuk 2:4 which says:
“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith.” (NLT)
“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.” (KJV)
This quote from Habakkuk could be said to tie directly into the New Testament books of Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews.
Romans tell us who is considered just or righteous.
Galatians tells us how they shall live.
Hebrews teaches us about the faith and obedience of these people.
With this perspective, one can gain a deeper appreciation of the book of Galatians. By reading it together with the New Testament books of Hebrews and Romans we gain a better understanding about how a follower of God should live.

Preface

Welcome to what I hope you will find to be a most enjoyable study of the book of Galatians, part of the Judeo-Christian document which we have come to know as the Bible. Many believers claim Galatians as one of their favorite portions of scripture because of its powerful message about the grace of God and the true freedom a believer has available through Jesus Christ. When studied with the book of James, we come away with innumerable practical applications to a vital and victorious everyday life.
As we consider how this book fits into the whole of the New Testament and the Tanakh (the name used by Jews for the Old Testament, used here to emphasize the Jewishness of the Scriptures), we need to realize a number of things. We should stand in awe of this collection of 66 books, written over thousands of years by at least 40 different authors. Every detail of the text is there by design. It explains history before it happens, and comes to us from outside the dimension of time. It is, in short, the most amazing, most authenticated, and most accurate book available in the world.
If this claim is not strong enough, add to it the indisputable fact that the words contained therein have changed more lives than any others now in existence.
Week 1
The Battle Begins
Galatians 1:1-10

Opening Prayer

Group Warm-up Question
How would you start a letter to a loved one if you had something difficult to share that required a change in their behavior?

Read: Galatians 1:1-10
Reread: Galatians 1:1-3
How did Paul identify himself as he opened his letter?

Who joined Paul in sending this letter to the Galatians?

Why was Paul’s position as an apostle so unique and important?
Read: Acts 26:15-18 and comment.

After identifying his position in Galatians 1:1, why does Paul transition directly to the subject of the resurrection?
Read: 1 Corinthians 15 and comment.

Reread: Galatians 1:3
The word “grace” in Greek appears as charis, and in the sense of the New Testament means “unmerited favor.” The word Paul uses for “peace” is shalom, a Hebrew greeting and wish for personal peace.

How does experiencing the grace of God enable one to then experience the peace of God?

Reread: Galatians 1: 4
How did Paul describe the work of Jesus Christ in this verse?

Read the following verses to see the masterful way in which this was summarized in….. Galatians 1:4:
Psalm 49:7-8
Matthew 20:28
2 Corinthians 5:21
Galatians 3:13
Isaiah 53:10

How did Paul speak of the purpose of God’s grace toward us in Galatians 1:4?

How did he describe the source of this grace?

Reread: Galatians 1:5
How does this verse help us understand the reason for God’s grace?

Read the following verses for additional insight into the purpose, workings, and result of God’s grace toward us:
2 Timothy 1:9
1 Samuel 2:6-9
Romans 11:6