The Book of Galatians

Introduction

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Author

Born of a Roman (Gentile) father and a Jewish mother in the city of Tarsus of Cilicia in Asia Minor, the Apostle Paul was given the Hebrew name of Saul.  He grew up as a Jew under the Law of Moses and the strict Oral Law of the Elders under his mother, but was raised as a tent maker's son under his father.  He grew up being trained as a Jew in the local synagogue, living and practicing the Jewish way of life.  As a Jewish boy, when he became of age (13-14), his education ended and was now considered a man, understanding and being responsible for good and evil.  The Jewish custom was that the son then went to work for his father as an apprentice, learning the trade of his father and that would be his lot in life.  Saul, however, was a brilliant young man, and his parents were able to send him away to be trained under a Jewish rabbi to learn to be a leader in the Law, meaning the Law of Moses and the traditional Oral Law of the Elders.  Thus, Saul traveled to Jerusalem to be trained as a talmidin (disciple or student) under the highly acclaimed Gamalial, being given the most prestigeous rabbinical instruction.  There Saul remained as a talmidin until the age of 30, at which age, according to the Jewish Law, a talmadin was able to enter into the ministry.  At the age of 30, Saul was then qualified to go out on his own into ministry.  As such, he became a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin Council.

Saul became a devout Pharisee, with all of its extra laws and rituals of the Oral Law, and he adamently came against the followers of Christ who were rapidly expanding throughout the Holy City.   Largely due to Saul the Pharisee, persecution began to rise in Jerusalem and Saul played an active part in its persecution of these believers in Jesus.  It began by Saul overseeing the stoning of Stephen, the 1st Christian martyr, with him believing these Christ followers were a cult who needed to be irradicated.   He then went from house-to-house arresting and imprisoning believers in Christ with the intent of working toward their extinction.  Instead, persecution caused Christianity to grow and spread as persecuted believers fled away from Jerusalem to distant cities.  Some scattered to Damascus in hopes of living in peace.

• About a year after Christ's death on the cross, Saul, driven by his hatred, and with letter in hand from the Sanhedrin Council, was given permission to go to and seek out any Christ follower in Damascus.  He left with soldiers and chains, intending to arrest these believers and bring them back to prison in Jerusalem.  As he was traveling on the road nearing Damascus, he had a spiritual visionary encounter with Jesus Christ (Acts 9) that changed not only his life, but affected the whole world for Christianity.  He personally had an encounter with Jesus, and his life was radically changed from being a Christ hater to a Christ lover and follower.  From that day forward, Saul was no longer considered a Jewish Pharisee living under the Law of Moses and its Oral Traditions, but he became an ambassador, apostle and missionary for the Gospel of Christ Jesus. 

Shortly after his conversion to Christ, God took Saul away to Arabia for three years to spend time alone with Jesus through the "School of the Holy Spirit."  We will discuss that in detail a little later.


But for now, let me say that after the completion of three years being tucked away in the mountains of Arabia, Saul ministered Christ briefly in Jerusalem, but because of fear and threats, the disciples sent him back to his hometown in Tarsus.  There he spent the next several years away from any of Jesus disciples.  The Bible is silent on what he did during those years back in his home town; however, it is speculated that he ministered to the people in Tarsus about the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

• Eventually, Barnabus, a well respected believer in the Church needed ministerial help at the Antioch church.  As such, he brought Paul out of obscurity to help the believers in that city.  
• That then led Saul and Barnabus to be later sent out to become missionaries to the Gentile world throughout Asia Minor and beyond to bring the message of hope of God's love through Jesus Christ to them. 
• As such, Saul chose to use the Greek meaning of his name (Paul) to better identify himself with the Greek speaking audience of the Gentiles.  I may note right here that Tarsus - his home town was filled with Greeks, Romans, and Jews, so he probably was used to being called Saul or Paul, depending on whom he was with at the time.

Paul claimed himself as the writer of the Book of Galatians, of which there is no doubt among biblical scholars that he wrote this letter to the Galatian believers throughout the region of Galatia which grew into many churches.  He claimed himself as an ambassador and apostle of Jesus Christ; however, in other scriptures, Paul acknowledged himself as a Pharisee and was trained under Rabbi Gamaliel (Phil 3 & Acts 22:2-5).  He claimed he did not get his understanding of the Scriptures from his Jewish rabbinical teaching, however, but from Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God while he spent three years with Him in Arabia in the "School of the Holy Spirit."

Date, Origin and Audience

Most biblical scholars support that this book was written from Antioch shortly after the Apostle Paul founded churches in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe in Southern Galicia on his 1st missionary journey.  Based on that information, the date of this epistle writing would have been in 48 A.D. - again, right after the Apostle Paul's first missionary journey.  The apostle addressed this letter to these churches in Galatia which was founded by him and Barnabas (Acts 14:1-23), and this could have been the Apostle Paul's first written epistle.

Theme of the Book of Galatians

This study on the Book of Galatians is a foundational study in that it teaches us that there are two laws in operation in which the believers of the 1st century had to face.  Which law was which was self explanatory in the 1st century, but very confusing to us today.  The question arises then - which is the one to follow to receive the promises of Christ.   

In this study, we will look at the 1st century people 2000 years ago through their cultural, sociological, political, and religious environment, with the hopes of entering into the heart of the Apostle Paul as he wrote this letter regarding the Gospel to these Galatian believers.  By looking through the proper lenses, we can then have a much greater trust that our understanding is as accurate as possible to reach the true meaning of this book, just as the Apostle Paul wrote it almost 2000 years ago.

Two Laws

The Book of Galatians continuously refers to "two laws," meaning the Written Law of Moses as seen in the Torah (first five books of the Bible) AND the Oral Laws of the Fathers, meaning the  laws that had been orally and traditionally passed on down throughout the centuries as far back as Adam.  This understanding is vital in knowing these foundational differences between the "two laws" in order to live a life of freedom in our faith in Jesus Christ.

• The Hebrew word "Torah" is means law, and in its broader sense means teaching, instruction or guidance.  The most well-known of the Written Law is the Decalogue, or more commonly known as the Ten Commandments.
• The Torah also contains 613 laws explaining the Ten Commandments, along with covering many aspects of daily life, including family, personal hygiene and diet while the Israelites wandered through the wilderness. 

Over time, however, many man-made laws were added to the traditional Oral Law, which gave re-explanations upon re-explanations of the Decalogue, which even contradicted the Written Law of Moses, or the Ten Commandments, as God instructed Moses back on Mt. Sinai some 1450-1500 plus years prior to this letter written to the Galatian churches.

The beginnings of the Oral law were passed down through the centuries and were eventually put to writing.  The Mishnah was the first major written record of the Oral Traditions (or laws) of the rabbis, explaining how to apply the commandments as set up in the Torah.  They were originally, however, considered supplemental to the Scriptures.   In time, however, the Orthodox Jew came to believe that God gave Moses the Written AND the Oral Law on Mt. Sinai.

Later the Talmud came into being, which became the discussions of the Mishnah and other rabbinical literature.

Neither the Mishnah nor the Talmud are claimed to be were written by any prophets of God, but a collection of traditions and laws as set up by various rabbis.

These Israelites had just come out of Egypt - being slaves, under bondage in a pagan nation filled with idolatry.  To honor and fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant, these Israelites needed to come back to God.  God then used Moses and the Written Law, containing the Ten Commandments (Decalogue) to reach the Israelites shortly after they came into the wilderness.  In other words, God gave Moses rules or guidelines to bring these Israelites back to God and discover the best way of living after being in bondage for over 400 years.  They needed some laws to live by coming out of the pagan idolatry of the Egyptians.  These Ten Written Laws was then put into the Torah, which means law, which are the writing of Moses, along with explanations of the Decalogue given to the Israelites.  These explanations added up to be 613 explaining the ten laws of the Decalogue. 

• Over time, however, other laws of explanation and re-explanations were added, but were considered part of the traditional Oral Law that had been in operation since the time of Adam.  They were not part of the Written Law of Moses.  These explanations did not come into print until the 3rd century A.D. and were entered into the Talmud.

These laws, or Ten Commandments can be compared to a compass to show us whether we are on the right track with living a righteous life before God.  How are we measuring up?  These laws were for the protection of the Israelites then and are for our protection even today.  

The Apostle Paul tells us in  Gal. 3:24 that the Law, meaning these Ten Commandments were given to mankind as a teacher to teach us right from wrong - how to live in righteous living.  As such, the compass of the Ten Commandments in the Written Law is like a compass for us today as well, showing us how we are living and if we need to change our direction in life.

While the 1st century believers knew which law (written or oral) the Apostle Paul was referring to throughout his writings, the challenge for us 21st centuries believers is to know which law the apostle was referred to as he writes throughout the Book of Galatians.  Was it the Written Law of Moses (Torah), as set down by the Ten Commandments, or was it the Oral Law which were added traditional laws of Judaism that were so strong in the 1st century A.D.? 

Again, the Written Law of Moses, as set down by the Torah teaches one how to live by faith.  It is our compass showing to help us find our way.  That has never changed.

• The Oral Law, on the other hand, was the compilation of traditions that were passed down through the centuries that taught that one needed to follow the traditional laws of Judaism in order to follow God.  That then meant to follow God became a matter of obedience, not a matter of faith. 

The Book of Galatians, therefore, is a book that comes against the Oral Law and its corruption of traditions that evolved over time.  As such, much of the Oral Law has distorted the Gospel of Christ and the Church.  That same message ring out to us and is just as relevant in the Church today.

• Our faith in Jesus Christ does not come from the works of the Law, meaning the Oral Law, however, our faith in Christ has its roots in the Written Law of the Torah - in the Ten Commandments.  They are God's laws to us, and have never changed.  The Ten Commandments teaches us what God wants us to follow.  It guides us into right relationship with Him.
• Jesus came to fulfill the Law in that He became the eternal sacrifice for our sins as He suffered and died on the cross for our sins.  Man no longer is required to sacrifice animals for their sins because Jesus has fulfilled the Law - or the Torah, becoming the One eternal sacrifice forever.  From that, Jesus has set us free. 
• The Oral Law, however, is filled with laws and rituals and requirements that keeps man trapped in the works of the Law, which keeps man in bound in sin.  There is a difference.

So then, to help us to determine what law the Apostle Paul is referring to us, let's refer to the Written Law that God gave to Moses as the Torah, which is good, and the Oral Law filled with traditions that were passed down through the centuries, which had become corrupt.

Set Apart For Missionary Work

When the Apostle Paul began his first missionary journey, he was sent out by the disciples from the Church at Antioch.  Following a time of fasting, prayer, and the separation by the Holy Spirit, the disciples at the Antioch Church laid hands on the Apostle Paul and Barnabus for missionary work to other parts of the world.  As they first traveled from Seleucia, just outside of Antioch of Syria, Paul, Barnabas, and taking along Mark, set sail for the Island of Cypress. Cypress was the birthplace of Barnabas, and as such, he was familiar with the island. 

The three missionaries walked the 100 miles across the island witnessing for Christ and then set sail for the continent of Asia Minor, landing in Perga, the capital of the region of Pamphylia. While in Perga, John Mark left Paul and Barnabas to return to Jerusalem.  Paul and Barnabas then headed 100 miles north to Antioch of Phrygia, a region next to Galatia.

On the Sabbath, they went to the synagogue, as would become their custom, to witness for Jesus Christ. The Jews, however, aroused several city leaders against them, and they were driven out of the city.  The two missionaries shook the dust off of their feet in protest and then headed north to the southern region of Galatia. It was in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe of Galatia where the Apostle Paul and Barnabas witnessed for Christ and set up churches. Those churches consisted of converted Jews and Gentile believers. The time was shortly before 48 A.D.

The Poison of the Judaizers

When it was time to return back home, Paul and Barnabas back tracked and revisited the churches in Lystra and Iconium to give strength and comfort to the new believers. Feeling confident that they were growing in their faith, they returned back home to Antioch of Syria. 

A short time later the Apostle Paul received disturbing news that the churches in Galatia were falling away from the Gospel that he had taught.

 Certain Jewish Christian leaders, called the Judaizers, were a sect, of whom we would call a denomination today, who were strict followers of the Oral Law, believed that all believers in Christ MUST follow the Written Law of Moses AND the Traditional Oral Law of the elders in order to be saved.   

These Judaizers had traveled from Judea, crept into these cities after the Apostle Paul had left with the intention of discrediting the apostle as a fraud by spreading rumors that he was not authentic.  Their claim was that he was not one of the original apostles of Jesus, and that out of his desire to make the message more appealing and sellable to the Gentiles, he removed certain legal requirements from the Law.  In other words, they were claiming he was a fraud! 

• The purpose of these Judaizers was to persuade these new believers that the Gospel presented by Paul was only a part of their salvation. They told them that they could keep their belief in Jesus; however, they needed to be circumcised, which meant they would become Jewish, taking an oath to keep the Sabbath and observe other Jewish holidays.  In other words, even though they now believed in Jesus, they needed to become proselytized into the Jewish faith, being obedient to the Law of Moses AND the distorted Traditional Oral Law of the Fathers that had been passed on down through the generations. 
• These Judaizers went around teaching that both faith AND works were necessary for their salvation. This disturbing news brought the Apostle Paul to write this letter to the Galatian churches - and that is what the Book (or Epistle) of Galatians is all about.

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Personal Application:  Salvation in Jesus Christ comes to us by our faith in Him - nothing more, nothing less.  We do not have to rely upon the works of the Law or add other laws to make our faith valid.  So, in essence, this same message that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian churches almost 2000 years ago is just as relevant to the Christian Churches of today. 

• We have so many different denominations of Christianity today - far more than we can even count.  For some denominations, it is no different than the stringent doctrinal beliefs of the Judaizers.  So many denominations tells us that we must do this or that to belong to their church.  Some even go so far as to say if you don't do this or that, you cannot be saved...or you must do this work or that work to make your faith valid.
  
  That's not Christianity.  Our Bibles tell us in Eph 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
  
• We come to Jesus by our faith and trust in Him alone.  This is our Bible, and it is the Bible in which we follow.  While each church may have their own special traditions, and that's okay, as long as those traditions don't become a requirement for your salvation or go against Scripture for our spiritual growth, it is okay for the church to have its own traditions. 

Let me read the next verse in Eph 2:8-9 - verse 10.  Eph 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

• Again, we are saved through our faith in Jesus Christ alone, but out of our faith comes works toward discipleship.  That is our compass.  I will cover that in more and more detail throughout this study. 
• God has created you to be the best person you can be, and as such, each believer has a call of God upon their life.  That is where works comes into play.  I repeat, works is never a requirement for salvation, but once you receive your salvation by your faith alone, the Lord wants you to follow good works to fulfill that call upon your life so that we walk in good works.  That is where the Written Law (Ten Commandments) comes into play.  Those laws then become our compass in life.  They have never changed. 
• The Apostle Paul tells us that the Law (meaning the Torah or the written Law) was given to us as a teacher to know right from wrong.  Today, the Law is now written upon our hearts because we have the indwelling Holy Spirit dwelling within to show us what the Law already has given us.  The Law then, knowing right from wrong applies to us today as well in our growth in Christ.  It's a win/win situation for all of us.  

That is it for our introduction of the Book of Galatians.  

Click here for Galatians, Chapter 1
Galatians (Epistle) - Chapter 1 / Galatians (Epistle) / Bible (NT) / Believers Bible School

God bless!

Pastor Joyce Erickson
Believersbibleschool.com