Galatians

 Letter of St. Paul to Galatians

Title: Galatia is a region is the center of Asia Minor (Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe) which St. Paul visited during his first and second missionary journeys. The letter is the only one of St. Paul addressed to a “district” (diocese).     

Date of writing: about 55 AD.

Date of Narrative: The narrative part (1:11 – 2:14[21]) includes the parts of the conversion and ministry of St. Paul from the beginning through the Jerusalem counsel (Acts 15) and his meeting with Cephas (Peter) at Antioch.   

Structure:

A. 1:1-5, Greetings

 B. 1:6-10, No other Gospel

  C. 1:11 – 2:10, Burden of Paul’s ministry 

   D. 2:11-14, Opposition of Paul and Peter

    E. 2:15-21, Justification by Faith

     F. 3:1-14, Example of Abraham

      G. 3:15-22, Law vs. Promise

      G’. 3:23 – 4:20 Heirs vs. slaves

     F’. 4:21 – 5:1, Example of Sarah vs. Hagar (Abraham’s wives) 

    E’. 5:2-15, Justification by Faith

   D’. 5:16-25, Opposition of Spirit and flesh

  C’. 6:1-10, bear each other burdens

 B’. 6:11-17, centrality of the Cross of Jesus

A’. 6:18, Final greeting

Main themes: There many thematical/antithetical pair in the letter:

Gospel vs. false Gospel

Justification by faith vs. justification by works.

Covenant with Abraham vs. Covenant of Sinai

Heirs/sons vs. Slaves

Spirit vs. Flesh 

Main Characters: Paul, Barnabas, Titus, Cephas (Peter), James, and John

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: The covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12-15-17) and the covenant at Sinai is an important background for Pauline distinction between Justification by Faith and the works of the Law. Both covenants should be taken to their full (fullest) extent – the institutions, the stories (Hagar vs. Sarah) etc. 

St. Paul sets the hermeneutical patter for the OT usage in his letters: he directly quotes a single verse of the Scriptures (5:14), he refers to a passage by quoting one [final] verse (3:10); he alludes to a story (3:15-18), connects the different/unexpected parts of the Scriptures (4:24-27).

Lutheran teaching: One of the main lessons the Confessions pick up from Galatians is the authority of the God’s Word/Gospel vs. corrupted church authority (AC XXVIII:24; SA II, II:15; Tr. 38; FC Sum:1; FC SD, Intro:7; FC SD X:22 [quoting Tr. 41]).   

The Lutheran church is accused of antinominalism – there is no need for the law and good works as the fruits of repentance. On the contrary, Book of Concord states many passages, and Gal 5:22-23 is one of them (AC VI:1; XII:6; LC I:195, 313; FC, Ep, VI:5; FC SD IV:9).   

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 653 – In Christ There is no East or West (Gal 3:26-29)

LSB 683 – Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me (Gal. 2:20)

Relevancy of the Book:

The Letter to Galatians is an important reminder of the Lutheran hallmark – Justification by grace through faith. This faith made us heirs to the heavenly promises. It is God reaches out to us first.

As a response to His grace our lives should produce fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Equality in salvation leads to equal expectations in sanctification. Which, in turns, leads to bearing one another’s burden.    

Memory verses: 2:20-21 – I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purposes.