Galatians Flashcards
Historical Context
Author: Paul
Date: 56 CE
Place of Composition: Perhaps Ephesus or Corinth
Audience: The “churches of Galatia,” perhaps southern Galatia, a Roman province containing the towns of Lystra, Iconium, and Derbe
Unity and Integrity: maintained
Occasion or Purpose: To refute his Jewish opponents who advocated circumcision and to demonstrate that Jew and Gentile are usually saved by faith in Jesus’ redemptive power.
Where was Galatia? Is Paul’s later addressed to Northern or Southern Galatia? Why is there a dispute?
A part of the Roman Empire 100 AD: Asia Minor (present-day Turkey)
Big dispute among scholars: did Paul write to those in Northern or Southern Galatian
The reason why there is this dispute is because Paul founded communities in both areas
Southern: In the 1st mission (Acts 13-14), he and Barnabas covered Southern Galatia and evangelized it
Northern: Later on in Paul’s career, Paul started communities in the Northern part of Galatia
Most scholars say that Paul’s letter is addressed to Northern Galatia, but many highly-acclaimed scholars think it was written to Southern Galatia (example: N.T. Wright)
Some Issues in Galatians (Galatians 2)
Did Paul practice the Law?
Paul confronted Peter in public (Gal 2)
- Peter is simplistically identified by Christian tradition as the first Pope, though this passage shows that he wasn’t, since Paul could confront him like this.
- Peter was in Galatia eating with the Gentile Christians
- Other Jewish Christians from James were sent to Galatia, and Peter stopped associating with the Gentiles and began observing Kosher again
- Three Pillars: James, John, Peter
Did Paul practice Jewish law?
- When Paul was with the Gentiles, yes
- When Paul was in the company of Jews, no
“I became all things to all people in the hope that I might save some”
The Situation in Galatia
What prompted Paul to write such a strong letter?
When Paul was writing this letter, he was very angry (ballistic, even)
He is writing with passion, emotion, anger, so much so, that he does not even greet the Galatians - why?
Paul founded communities in Galatia…
Other Christians came into the communities after he left and preached a different gospel to the communities than Paul had preached
Gospel means “good news”; but there was no one, specific version
However, we can make a simplistic division between the two Gospels at the time:
1. Jerusalem Version
2. Pauline Version
Jerusalem Version of the Gospel
Jerusalem Version
There is a first step, first you must adopt Jewish ways (as Jesus was a Jew)
Then once you adopt Jewish ways, you become a “spiritual” Jew and can accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah
First step is absolutely necessary
Pauline Version of the Gospel
Pauline Version
For Paul, there is no “first step”
All you must do is accept Jesus as the Christ, have faith in him
This is God’s new way of extending the Covenant to everyone
They were preaching the “Jerusalem Gospel,” and convincing some of Paul’s converts to accept it
Some are taking the Jerusalem version of the Gospel to be the more authentic one, and Paul is pissed
What’s the Basic Issue between the Jerusalem and Pauline versions of the Gospel?
How does a person’s “right standing” (JUSTIFICATION) before God come about?
Paul’s Opponents: it is through the works of the (Jewish) law
Paul: it comes through faith in Christ
How did Paul’s opponents answer this:
How does a person’s “right standing” (JUSTIFICATION) before God come about?
Paul’s Opponents: it is through the works of the (Jewish) law
- What does this really mean?
- There is a standard Protestant way to interpret “works of the law”
- They think that the Medieval Catholic churches practiced the “works of the law”
- Practice this and that to gain justification from God
- Martin Luther came forward and said all you must do is accept Jesus, and you will be saved. Good practices will come after.
- This is the reformation view of what “works of the law” means
- It is not immediately clear what “works of the law” really means
How did Paul answer this:
How does a person’s “right standing” (JUSTIFICATION) before God come about?
Paul’s Position: it comes through faith in Christ
- Galatians 2:16: “A person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ”
- Galatians 3:1-3: “Did you receive the spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?”
So what does “works of the law” and “faith in Jesus” really mean?
The “New” Perspective on Paul
There are scholars who think that “works of the Law” has been misinterpreted through the lens of the Reformation conflicts between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism.
They go back to the first century context and suggest that “works of the Law” meant not “trying to please God by one’s following of the Law” but rather, they claim that it meant the Jewish “badges” to show that they were God’s chosen people.
In effect, that meant first of all CIRCUMCISION, then the other major ritual practices such as OBTAINING KOSHER
Example: Police Badge; it does not matter if I am a bad police officer, I have the badge and wear the uniform, and it certifies that I am a police officer
If you do not practice the kosher laws and circumcise yourself, you are out
Key Difference: Traditional perspective views first century Jews as legalistic, practicing law to be saved. New perspective views Jews as happily practicing these laws as a consequence of already being saved.
What is wrong with the Gentiles keeping the Jewish Law?
The whole point of Christ’s winning freedom for humanity becomes pointless. (Gal 2:21)
The Law, for Paul, acted like a paidagogos (a TEMPORARY disciplinarian) which helped to keep people on the right track until the coming of Christ. (Gal 3:24-26)
Christ has set you free! (Gal 5)
Doesn’t this lead to lawlessness/libertinism?
- Christians are bound by the law of love (5:14)
- Paul never dispensed people from ethical law, only cultic law
Three well-known, prominent figures who established communities (in order from most to least during Paul’s lifetime)
- Peter was very well known
- James was mother of Jerusalem community, rose in prominence
- Paul was the odd guy among the three for his suspicious teaching
How did Paul go from being the minority to becoming the most dominant figure in the Church community? And why did the opposite happen to James?
As time went on, most Jews did not accept that Jesus was the Messiah, so Gentiles became dominant in the Church community
Thus, Paul became the dominant figure
Peter and Paul were considered “pillars and “chief apostles”
James became marginalized and forgotten in the memories of Christians
If James became the dominant figure, Christians would follow Jewish traditions
The “Circumcision” Party (Judaizers)
Galatians 2 suggests that the Jerusalem community was not in full agreement with Paul over the issue of gentiles becoming Christians
Acts 15, on the other hand, suggests otherwise due to Luke’s tendency to “smoothen out” conflicts in the early church
Letter from James vs. Paul: contradiction
People frequently contrast Paul’s message on “justification by faith” with James’ message about “faith shown through works”
Deeds
Paul: deeds are not important - if God offers and you accept, you are justified
James: deeds are all important, we cannot be justified merely by faith
Justification
Paul: Justification comes not by our good works, but by our faith in Jesus alone
James: Justification comes by our good works, not by our faith in God
HOWEVER, James is speaking to those who are abusing Paul’s message.
