Study Of The Letter To The Galatians

By Steven Van De Berg

The letter to the Galatians is known as the Christian declaration of independence, because it explains in detail to Christians that the Mosaic law and the demands of Jewish customs were not to be applied, because now, with Christ, there was a new standard of conduct to be followed, a new system under which we live: The System Of Grace. Paul s letter to the Galatians is known as the Great Letter of Christian Freedom because its main theme is the freedom of the Christian in Christ. In Galatians, Paul defends the Gospel against the Jewish Christian intruders in Galatia, who claimed that Galatians had to become Jews first in order to become Christians. Paul, in turn, responds by defending justification by faith and life in the Spirit, proving that God accepts Gentiles on the basis of faith in the Messiah. The letter is divided into three parts: 1) Paul defends his apostleship (Gal 1-2); 2) Paul defends the doctrine of justification by faith (Gal 3-4); 3) practical exhortations (Gal 5-6)[1] The letter to the Galatians is different from the other letters written by the apostle Paul. It was not written to a specific person, nor to a specific church, but to a group of churches, the churches of Galatia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clube de Autores
• Release date: Jan 13, 2022

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Introduction.

The letter to the Galatians is known as the Christian declaration of independence, because it explains in detail to Christians that the Mosaic law and the demands of Jewish customs were not to be applied, because now, with Christ, there was a new standard of conduct to be followed, a new system under which we live: The System Of Grace.

Paul's letter to the Galatians is known as the Great Letter of Christian Freedom because its main theme is the freedom of the Christian in Christ. In Galatians, Paul defends the Gospel against the Jewish Christian intruders in Galatia, who claimed that Galatians had to become Jews first in order to become Christians. Paul, in turn, responds by defending justification by faith and life in the Spirit, proving that God accepts Gentiles on the basis of faith in the Messiah.

The letter is divided into three parts: 1) Paul defends his apostleship (Gal 1-2); 2) Paul defends the doctrine of justification by faith (Gal 3-4); 3) practical exhortations (Gal 5-6)[1] The letter to the Galatians is different from the other letters written by the apostle Paul. It was not written to a specific person, nor to a specific church, but to a group of churches, the churches of Galatia.

This book (Letter) has six chapters and is part of the New Testament. It was written by the apostle Paul around 48-57 AD, depending on where exactly the book was sent and whether it was on Paul's first or second trip to the Roman province of Galatia, an area that is now part of Turkey.

Paul argues that Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, enjoy complete salvation in Christ. They are justified (3:6-9), adopted (4:4-7), renewed (4:6; 6:15), and made heirs of God according to the covenant promise to Abraham (3:15-18). Thus, faith in Christ at Calvary forever frees us from the need to seek salvation through the works of the law. This pursuit is impossible anyway, since the law does not save, nor was it intended to (3:19-24). Therefore, believers must not return to the principle of law-keeping as the basis of salvation, or else they return to slavery (5:1) by depriving themselves of the grace of Christ (5:2-4). Rather, they are to cling to the freedom Christ has given them, and serve God and neighbor in the power of the Spirit as free men (5:13-18), joyfully doing the will of their Savior (6:2).

Paul's speech demonstrates that all legalistic versions of the gospel are corruptions of it, and that the enjoyment of Christian freedom depends on seeing that salvation is by grace alone, through Jesus Christ alone, received by faith alone.

THE LETTER TO THE GALATIANS

Chapter 1: Abandonment of the Authentic Gospel

¹ Paul the Apostle (not of men, nor by any human being), but by Jesus Christ, and by God the Father, who raised him from the dead,

² And all the brothers who are with me, for the churches of Galatia:

³ Grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

⁴ Who gave himself up for our sins, to deliver us from this evil world, according to the will of God our Father.

⁵ To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

⁶ I am surprised that you have quickly turned away from the one who called you to the grace of Christ, to another gospel.

⁷ Which is not another, but there are some who bother him and want to reverse the good news of Christ.

⁸ But if we ourselves, or an angel from heaven, give you any other good news than that which I have preached to you, let him be accursed.

⁹ Therefore, as we have already told you, I tell you again now. If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than the one