Galatians

I. Galatians
a. Occasion: Paul writes to the churches that he visited on his first journey. False teachers are saying that all new believers must become Jewish and specifically be circumcised.
b. Paul writes to prove them wrong.
c. These false teachers were Judaizers.
d. The occasion is what instigates the writing of a letter: usually a report that Paul gets.
e. The purpose is Paul’s intent in writing the letter, in this case, showing the errors of the Judaizers.
f. Paul identifies himself at the beginning of the letter. When Paul writes to churches (house churches), that letter would have been read aloud. Usually Paul includes a positive thanks to that church. But in Galatians Paul gets right to the heavy-hitting truth.
i. Paul is very passionate about this. He is dealing with people’s eternal salvation.
ii. It is probable that Paul did this for rhetorical effect. He did this because he knew that it would shock people.
g. QUESTION: what made people accept paul’s authority? Sometimes they don’t! So paul tries to build up a case. To paul, these Judaizers are like false apostles.
h. Paul shows them: Not only is he an apostle, but he got his message from Jesus Christ himself.
i. Paul realizes that people will know about Paul’s conflict with Peter. So in 2:11-15 Paul explains the whole deal. Peter agreed with Paul, but Peter fell into peer pressure.
j. Paul says that the Judaizers have made it a gospel of works, and not a gospel of faith.

QUESTION: but is faith equated with obedience? Obedience does not save you. Paul agrees that works will arise, but that obedience doesn’t make the tree.

k. At one point, Paul slinks out of town.