1. Chapter 3 –
Galatians

2. Situating the Vision: An Introduction to Galatians
The issue at the forefront of the letter – circumcision
Galatians – presents a “raw Paulinism”

3. Situating the Vision
The Contest for the Theological Allegiance of Galatian Followers of the Messiah
Paul’s relationship to the Galatians
The role of the agitators
How Paul construes the influence of the agitators
Mutating the gospel (1:6–7)
Connects them with false believers (2:4–5)
They have “bewitched” (injured with the evil eye) the Galatians (3:1)
Trying to “win over” the Galatians “for no good” (4:17)
They are self-interested (6:12–13, 15)

4. Situating the Vision
The Contest for the Theological Allegiance of Galatian Followers of the Messiah
The Agitators
Finishing the work Paul began
Hostile toward Paul
Circumcision and the Mosaic Law
The larger issue, obedience to the law (4:21; cf. 3:10. quoting Deut 27:26)
The agitators possibly taught a form of gradualism
Paul points to the weaknesses of obeying the law (5:3; 6:13)
Paul’s freedom from the law and its dangers (2:17; cf. Rom 3:7–8; 6:1, 15)

5. Situating the Vision Other Galatian Issues
Location of addressees: southern Galatia or northern Galatia
Date of the letter: late 40s to mid-50s
Jerusalem visit (Gal 2:1–10) and its relationship to Acts 11:27–30 and 15:1–29
Identity of agitators and motives for proposing circumcision: local Jews or Jewish Christians with connections to Jerusalem-based Jesus groups

6. Situating the Vision
South Galatia: Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (see Acts 13:14–15; 14:1; 16:3)
North Galatia: Region around modern day Ancyra (see Acts 16:6; 18:23)

7. Centering the Vision of Galatians: The Apocalyptic Christ Comes Alive
The Story of Jesus
Paul merges this story with the story of his own life (see 1:15–16; 2:20; cf. 6:17 )
Paul merges this story with the story of Galatian Jesus- followers (see 4:19; cf. 3:27)
The ethical vision – “crucified with Christ” and “Christ in me”
Self-giving love – it marks out the Jesus story (1:4; cf. 2:20) and is to mark out the story of Jesus-followers (5:6, 14)
The Fruit of the Spirit – package of divine character (5:22–23)
The role of the Spirit and Paul’s argument against the necessity of being circumcised (see 4:6; 5:14)

8. Centering the Vision of Galatians
The Apocalyptic Framework of Galatians
Two systems
The Flesh (5:17)
Life/love
The triumph of God in the death and resurrection of Christ
God’s invasion and redemption (1:4)
The identity of Jesus-followers (6:14, 15)

9. Tracking the Vision of Galatians
1:1–5: Letter Opening
1:6–2:21: Paul’s Apostleship and the Truth of the Gospel
3:1–5:1: Reading Scripture in Light of the Truth of the Gospel
5:2–6:10: Living Out the Truth of the Gospel
6:11–18: Summarizing the Essentials of the Letter

10. Tracking the Vision of Galatians
The Opening (1:1–5)
Three themes: Paul’s apostolic legitimacy, the self-giving of Jesus, and the apocalyptic schema of two spheres of life
Historical Survey (1:10–2:14)
Divine origin of Paul’s gospel
Confirmation of Paul’s gospel by those in Jerusalem
Paul’s affirmation of the truth of the gospel in the face of those who have attempted to water it down
Against those promoting the circumcision of Gentile Jesus- followers
Against those Jewish Jesus-followers who separated from Gentile Jesus-followers in corporate gatherings

11. Tracking the Vision of Galatians
Theological Articulation of the Gospel (2:15–21)
Basis for rejecting the attempts of those watering down the gospel he preaches
The insufficiency of the law to effect God’s plan of salvation
The “works of the law”
Traditional view since Reformation – earning salvation by works
New Perspective on Paul – maintaining the covenant identity of the Jewish people

12. Tracking the Vision of Galatians
Experience of the Spirit (3:1–3)
Link to Abraham’s story (3:4–9, see Gen 15:6)
Scriptural depiction of observing the law and enjoying God’s righteousness (3:10–14)
Life and condemnation promised to observers of the law (Lev 18:5; Deut 27:26)
No one can observe it worthily and so they are under its curse (see Gal 3:10)
The path to enjoying God’s righteousness is through faith (Hab 2:4), reinforcing the Abraham story
Christ was cursed by the law and liberates others from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13–14)

13. Tracking the Vision of Galatians
The promise to Abraham and the giving of the law (3:15–18)
The purpose of the law (3:19–23)
The law as a pedagogue (3:24–25)
Funeral stele honoring
two sons and their pedagogue

14. Tracking the Vision of Galatians
The Ethos of those in the family of God (3:26–4:7)
Those baptized into Christ and clothed with Christ enjoy intimacy with God.
Those in the family of God are drawn from all parts of humanity.
Those who “belong to Christ” are incorporated into “Abraham’s seed,” to whom the Spirit had been promised.

15. Tracking the Vision of Galatians
Those living under the law are presented as living in slavery (4:8–11)
Under the stoicheia tou kosmou
Paul’s initial visit to the Galatians and their enlivenment by spiritual forces, which is in question now (4:12–20)
Allegorically interpreting the story of Hagar and Sarah through the lens of slavery and freedom (4:21–5:1)

16. Tracking the Vision of Galatians
That which really matters – “faith working through love” (5:6)
Freedom and responsibility
The battle between the flesh and the life of love that the Spirit generates
Keeping in step with the Spirit and the law of Christ
Jesus washing his disciples’ feet

17. Tracking the Vision of Galatians
Paul’s reiteration of the main themes of the letter (6:11– 18)
Paul’s large letters (6:11)
Questionable character of the agitators (6:12–13)
What matters – living a cruciform life (6:14–15)
Paul’s life lived in such a manner (6:17)