The book of Galatians had a powerful impact on the reformation of the 16th century. Luther called it “Catherine von Bora, [the name of Luther’s wife] for, he said, ‘I am wedded to it.’” In his 1535 Commentary, he wrote this in the preface regarding the doctrine of justification by faith:
This doctrine can never be discussed and taught enough. If it is lost and perished, the whole knowledge of truth, life, and salvation is lost and perishes at the same time. But if it flourished, everything good flourishes—religion, true worship, the glory of God, and the right knowledge of all things of all social conditions. There is a clear and present danger that the devil may take away from us the pure doctrine of faith and may substitute for it the doctrine of works and of human traditions. It is very necessary, therefore, that this doctrine of faith be continually read and heard in public ( Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Translated by Theodore Graebner, St Louis, Concordia, 1963, p. 4).
John MacArthur and Frank Gaebelein call Galatians the “Magna Carta of Christian liberty.” Leon Morris said it is the “Charter of Christian Freedom.” Dr. Lenski called Galatians, “The impregnable citadel, a very Gibraltar, against any attack on the heart of the gospel.” Vernon McGee calls Galatians “a declaration of emancipation from legalism of any type.”
I have entitled this new series of studies, “I’m Free! I’m Free!” The reason for this title springs from Carolyn’s and my experience of leaving the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I encourage you to read the chapter “Decision Day,” in Truth Led Me Out, and also read chapters 20-23 in Carolyn’s book, My Cup Overflows, where we were both under extreme pressure having to decide to either promise to teach all twenty-seven (there were only 27 at that time) Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA church or resign. I list the reasons why we could not teach the 1844 investigative judgment in the chapter, “Decision Day.” I vividly recall the terrible emotional stress we had as we faced an uncertain future. We both prayed, studied, and consulted with others during this time. The book of Romans, 2 Corinthians 3, and Galatians were the bedrock foundation upon which we based our faith and final decision. We thought we could easily lose our new home because both Carolyn and I were employed by the church, and we had no back-up plan for financial stability.
I will never forget the feeling of emancipation I experienced after my decision—forced as it was—to resign. To be out from under the weight of all the denominational hassle I had been through over the past months lifted my spirit and my feet. When I arrived home from my final trip to the conference office, I began mowing our front lawn. As I pushed the mower around the yard, I would literally jump and say, “I’m free! I’m free!” I did this over and over again. This was not something I planned or forced myself to do; it was just a spontaneous reaction to being out from under the load of restrictions and false guilt. I was experiencing true Christian freedom.
Even though we faced many uncertainties ahead, there was a secure feeling of trust. Our consciences were clear. Carolyn and I were united in our decision. Whatever the future held, we would face it together with God.
Not only has Galatians been a tremendous blessing to Carolyn and me, but it has also served many—probably hundreds—of transitioning Adventists. This book, perhaps more than any other, clearly defines the relationship of law and grace, faith and works, freedom and bondage, and circumcision—and all it implies—and the cross. I have encouraged people who had questions about the meaning of some of the passages in Galatians to read this book in one sitting every day for thirty days. Many have done this and have testified to the clarity of the gospel they received by so doing.
Introduction to Galatians
There is much we do not know for sure about the book of Galatians. We do not know for sure which churches were included in Paul’s use of “Galatians.” Older commentaries usually hold the Galatian churches to which Paul wrote were in the northern area of Asia Minor. I will not burden our readers with all the reasons for this view (See Frank E. Gaebelein, Expositor’s Bible Commentary Vol. 10, [Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan Publishing House 1976], p. 416,417).
Instead, I am following several more recent scholars who conclude that the Galatian churches to which this letter was written were the churches in Southern Asia Minor. These would be the churches Paul and Barnabas planted on his first missionary journey, namely, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch, as recorded in Acts 13-14. There is good evidence to support this conclusion ( See Timothy George, New American Commentary, Galatians, (Nashville, TN, B&H Publishing Group, 1994) p. 94-46; Leon Morris, Galatians, (Downers Grove IL, IVP Academic, 1996) p. 15-20; Gaebelein p.418). First, the message Paul and Barnabas preached in these churches centered on justification by faith, as Luke recorded.
Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39) [ George, p. 47].
Second, Galatians was written to churches which were primarily composed of Gentiles. Paul’s method was to go first to the Synagogues and then, when rejected by the Jews, turn to the Gentiles with His message of saving faith in Jesus.
Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46).
When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48).
Third, in Galatians 3:5, Paul mentions miracles done among them.
So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith (Gal. 3:5)?
In Acts 14, we have several miraculous events described.
Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands (Acts 14:3).
At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk (Acts 14:8-10).
Fourth, Paul mentions to the Galatians that when he first preached to them, he was in poor health.
But you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself (Gal. 4:13-14).
After Paul’s healing of the lame man in Lystra, Luke records,
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead (Acts 14:19).
Fifth, Paul told the Galatians he still had the scars, the “brand-marks” of Christ Jesus.
From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus (Gal. 6:17).
Considering all this evidence causes me to conclude that the churches to which Galatians was addressed are the very ones in Southern Asia Minor that Paul and Barnabas founded on their first missionary journey.
We do not know for sure if Galatians was written before or after the Jerusalem council recorded in Acts 15, which is usually dated about AD 49-50. I conclude, as do several other scholars, Galatians was written on the eve of the Jerusalem Council and place the date of writing in the same year, AD 49-50.
We do not know for sure where Galatians was written. Those who hold Galatians was written after the Jerusalem Council believe it was written from Corinth. Scholars who conclude Galatians was written on the eve of the Council, judge this book to have been written from Syrian Antioch.
If, as we have suggested, Paul addressed his Galatian letter to the churches he and Barnabas had founded during their first missionary journey. Then it makes good sense to see Galatians as the earliest extant letter in the Pauline corpus. On this view Galatians would have been written sometime after Paul’s return to Syrian Antioch and just before the meeting of the Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts 15 (George, p. 47).
These uncertainties, however, do not affect the message of Galatians. However, knowing the context in Acts 13, 14 gives additional insight and meaning to many of the passages in Galatians.
Who were the deceivers of the Galatian believers?
From carefully reading Galatians, we can be quite certain who the deceivers were and what they taught. Paul calls them “some people” who were distorting the gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:6-9). In Galatians 2:1-14, Paul speaks of “false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage” (Gal. 2:4). He also says “Certain men from James, he [Cephas, or Peter) used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision” (Gal. 2:12). In Galatians 4:21, Paul asked the Galatians, “Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? In Galatians 4:10, we read, “You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain” (Gal. 4:10-11). Paul describes the message of these false teachers as a form of demonic enchantment, false teachers who had “bewitched” them. If all the above is not enough to get their—and our—attention, Paul said,
You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4).
From these passages, we can be quite certain that these deceivers were Jewish Christians or Judaizers.
- They taught a false gospel.
- Their “gospel” undermined Christian liberty.
- They insisted that the Gentiles had to keep the Law of Moses.
- Specifics in the Law of Moses they promoted include Sabbaths and feast days, Old Testament food laws, and circumcision.
- The false gospel they taught had overtones of demonic activity.
- The false gospel, if accepted, would cause the Galatians to fall from grace.
Doubtless, at least some of these deceivers were the same ones mentioned at the Jerusalem Council who were voicing their opposition to the Gentiles becoming full-fledged Christians without circumcision and coming under the Mosaic Law.
Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1).
Much more could be said here in the introduction to Galatians. However, we will deal with other aspects as we start with chapter one next week.
With each lesson in this series, I am giving a short assignment and listing a few questions for discussion. If you can find some others to join you in person or on-line, it will prove to be helpful.
Assignment
- Read Galatians through at least once this week. If possible, read it through in one sitting. It takes only about 30 minutes.
- Read Acts 13. Notice the theology taught, such as Acts 13:39.
- Find a group that will do these lessons with you, and that will join in the Questions for Discussion. This could be a Bible study group at church, a Sunday school class, or an online group such as on Facebook.
Questions for Discussion
- Have you or others in your discussion group ever suffered for the truth of the gospel? If so, explain.
- Do you feel that keeping the law adds to your righteousness? If so, explain how this works.
- Do you find it easy to slip back into some form of legalism? If so, explain.
- In your own words, describe the “gospel” as you currently understand it.
- In your own words, define “legalism.”
- Compare your answers to 4 and 5 above with the members of your discussion group.
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