“You foolish Galatians!” Galatians

 Galatia: a Roman province in central Anatolia (modern-day Turkey)  When? (48–50s CE)  Rival Teachers Jews who preached salvation through Christ is only for Jews (followers of Torah) Gentiles must commit to Jewish law and circumcision to correctly follow Christ Date and Place

 Salutation and Opening (1:1–10) NO THANKSGIVING! ANGER INSTEAD!  Body of Letter in 3 Parts Paul’s autobiographical defense of himself (1:11- 2:21) Theology of justification by faith (3:1 to 5:12) Ethics: Freedom for service, life in Spirit, sharing in community (5:13 to 6:10)  Closing (6:11 to 6:18) Outline

 Paul’s authority vs. rivals Rivals claim Paul is new to the gospel They say Galatians should therefore follow James and Peter Paul claims his authority is directly from God  Christ and the law  Justification by faith(fulness)  God’s universal favor  Fullness of time has come in Christ  Spirit realizes what law cannot Theological Themes

 Paul appeals to experience “Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?” (3:2)  Paul appeals to Abraham’s example God promised Abraham through faith, before circumcision Like Abraham we “receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (without circumcision, 3:14)  Paul appeals to sociocultural values Law enslaves; Spirit frees and makes us children; “For freedom Christ has set us free” (5:1) Spirit and the Law

 "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 gospel--not 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!" (1:6-8) Quotable Quotes

 "For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (1:11- 12) Quotable Quotes

 "Yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. 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) Quotable Quotes

 "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified!" (3:1)  "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." (3:27) Quotable Quotes

 "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (3:28) Quotable Quotes

 "And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God." (4:6-7) Quotable Quotes

 "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (5:1)  "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love." (5:6) Quotable Quotes

 "For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' " (5:13-14) Quotable Quotes

 "Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (6:2)  "May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (6:14) Quotable Quotes