The Book of Galatians

This opening lesson introduces Galatians as Paul's vigorous defense of the gospel of faith against the Judaizers, who insisted that circumcision and law-keeping be added to grace. You will examine questions of authorship, the North and South Galatian theories of date and setting, and the letter's threefold structure: grace defended (chapters 1-2), explained (3-4), and applied (5-6). Key texts include Galatians 2:20 and the call to stand fast in Christian liberty.

Turning to the salutation of Galatians 1:1-9, this lesson explores why Paul so forcefully asserts his apostleship, received not from men but by direct revelation of Jesus Christ. A substantial word study on grace, drawing on Romans 5, 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Ephesians, shows it to be abundant, sufficient, glorious, and rich. Paul's blessing of peace and his alarm at the Galatians' departure to 'another gospel' round out the study.

Here Paul argues that his gospel came by divine revelation, not human instruction, tracing his conversion, his years in Arabia, and his eventual visit to Peter and James (Galatians 1:10-24). The lesson then shows how the Jerusalem leadership endorsed his ministry to the Gentiles, and closes with Paul publicly rebuking Peter at Antioch for withdrawing from Gentile believers (Galatians 2:11-21), reaffirming that no one is justified by works of the law.

Opening chapter 3, this lesson asks who has 'bewitched' the Galatians, using the image of the evil eye to describe their drift from the cross. Paul redirects their gaze to Calvary, the Spirit, and the Scriptures, appealing to Abraham, who was justified by faith before circumcision and the law (Genesis 15, Romans 4). The study then treats the burden and curse of the law and Christ's redemption from it (Galatians 3:10-18).

This lesson puts the law in proper perspective (Galatians 3:19-29), presenting it as temporary, indirectly given through angels and Moses, and powerless to grant life. Paul pictures the law as a schoolmaster or pedagogue guarding us until faith came. The study continues into chapter 4's move from slavery to sonship, unfolding the privileges of adoption: spiritual assurance in the Spirit crying 'Abba, Father,' and heirship through Christ.

Warning the Galatians not to 'take a turn for the worse,' this lesson covers Galatians 4:8-20, where Paul grieves that these former pagans, once freed, are returning to bondage by observing special days, months, and seasons. He recalls their earlier devotion, his own infirmity of the flesh, and the flattering yet self-serving tactics of the Judaizers, longing that Christ be fully formed in them.

Insisting that grace and law cannot mix, this lesson unfolds Paul's allegory of Abraham's two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, born of Hagar the bondwoman and Sarah the free woman, representing the covenants of Sinai and of promise (Galatians 4:21-31). It then examines 'falling from grace' in Galatians 5, clarifying that this means abandoning grace as a system of belief rather than losing salvation, and calls believers back to liberty and love.

The final lesson contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26), stressing that believers must walk in the Spirit and crucify the flesh, since the fruit is a single cluster grown by God, not manufactured. Chapter 6 then turns to practical Christianity: restoring the fallen in meekness, bearing one another's burdens, sowing to the Spirit, and glorying only in the cross of Christ.