Paul-Galatians

Paul’s messages in the Epistle: (1) he has received his commission directly from God; (2) that no human teacher had authority to change the Gospel that he, Paul, had preached; and (3) that the original Apostles at Jerusalem

had recognized the rightfulness of his mission to the Gentiles. He then emphasizes the futility of trying to live by ‘works of the law’ and maintains that the way in which a person is justified in the sight of God is not that of ‘law’ but of ‘faith’.

Chapter Summaries:

(1) In addition to his greetings and the usual opening remarks Paul goes out of his way to mention that he is an apostle and that his apostleship is not based on a human commission but from the divine (perhaps contrasting himself with the twelve). After the initial greetings Paul, atypically, instead of going into the usual thanksgiving remarks, rolls into a shrill tirade against the Galatians. He tells them of his astonishment that they are deserting his teachings and hearkening to a different Gospel. He disdainfully refers to individuals who are teaching a different Jesus story than that which he has crafted and in verse 9 pronounces an anathema against them. He then makes some comments on his understanding of the Gospel. Towards the end of chapter one Paul begins to share his biography. He tells of his time persecuting the Jesus Movement, his Damascus road experience, his visit to the Jerusalem Church where he meets Peter and James, after which he preached in the northern Levant.

(2) Paul continues his story with his account of the conference at Jerusalem. He makes some harsh judgments about those that differ in opinion with him in verse 4-5 after which he relates the concord reached between him and “the pillars”. Paul then shares his version of the conflict with Peter in Antioch, and interestingly, he does not tell us Peter’s reaction, relate the argument of the Jerusalem representatives, or share with us the outcome of the conflict.

(3) He puts forth his own views with zealous enthusiasm, the core of which can be found in 3.1-5.1 Paul is showing us a little of the Paul behind Paul, and it’s easy to imagine him worked up to a feverous pitch at this point. He then changes tack from accusatory to argumentation and spends the rest of chapter three trying to use the story of Abraham to bolster up his own position.

(4) In verses 4-5 he shares his Christological views and in 6-7 what he believes it means for humankind. Paul continues, telling how he had come to reside amongst them and bemoans the state of their current relationship. He then proceeds with yet another ad hominim attack on the motives of other Christian messengers who have come among them and contrasts that to his own loving concern over their well being. Paul closes chapter four with another reference to characters from Hebrew Scripture this time using the stories of Hagar and Sarah to illustrate his point.

(5) Paul opens five by reminding them that it is for freedom that the Christ had set them free and exhorts them to stand firm and refuse to return to enslavement. He tells them that if they get themselves circumcised (follow Jewish law?) Christ will benefit them no more. He tells them that if they follow one law they will end up having to follow all the laws and find themselves outside God’s grace. He moves into the most horrific attack upon his opponents, suggesting that perhaps they should indulge in self castration. Paul wraps up five with the usual Pauline rhetoric.

(6) Paul closes up the entire Epistle by playing up his dominant themes, making a few last jabs at the teachers amongst them and tells them not to let others make trouble for him in the future for he bears the marks of Jesus upon his body.