Paul's Letter to the Galatians

by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

Introduction

An Outline of Paul's Letter to the Galatians

Letter Opening (1:1-10)
1. Sender & Recipients: "Paul, an apostle... to the churches of Galatia" (1:1-2)
2. Formulaic Greeting: "Grace to you and peace from God..." (1:3-5)
3. Excoriation & Rebuke, instead of the usual Thanksgiving (1:6-10)
Letter Body (1:11—6:10)
1. Paul's Autobiographical Defense of his Apostleship and his Preaching (1:11—2:21)
  1. Paul's transition from persecuting the Church to preaching the Christian faith (1:11-24)
  2. The Council of Jerusalem: Paul & companions discuss Gentile converts with the "pillars" of the Church (2:1-10)
  3. The Incident at Antioch: Paul confronts Cephas/Peter about refusing to eat with Gentiles (2:11-14),
    and argues that people are justified by the faith of Jesus, not works of the law (2:15-21)
2. Theological Deliberations: Arguments for Justification by Faith from the Galatians' Experience & the Scriptures (3:1—5:12)
  1. The Galatians received the Spirit by believing in Christ, even before they knew about the law (3:1-5)
  2. God's blessing of Abraham's faith is extended to all nations through Christ (3:6-14)
  3. God's promises to Abraham, which came long before the law, are fulfilled in Christ;
    the law was merely a "disciplinarian" until Christ came and brought faith (3:15-25)
  4. All believers are adopted children and heirs of God, no longer slaves to “elemental spirits” of the world (3:26—4:11)
  5. The Galatians should remember the devotion they had for Paul when he was first among them (4:12-20)
  6. Abraham, Hagar, Sarah, and their two sons are an allegory for Christians as children of freedom, not slavery (4:21-31)
  7. Concluding Application: Christ set us free, so Gentiles need not and should not be circumcised (5:1-12)
3. Ethical Admonitions: Freedom for Service, Life in the Spirit, and Sharing in Community (5:13—6:10)
  1. Do not use freedom as an excuse for licentiousness, but for loving service (5:13-15)
  2. Live by the Spirit, not the desires of the flesh (with lists of vices & virtues; 5:16-26)
  3. Share with others and do good to all, especially to community of believers (6:1-10)
Letter Conclusion (6:11-18)
1. Personal Postscript, summarizing Paul's Message (6:11-15)
2. Final Exhortation and Blessings (6:16-18)

Literary & Historical Issues regarding Galatians

Literary Peculiarities, esp. in the Letter Opening (1:1-10)

Sender: “Paul, an apostle...” (1:1-2a)
- No co-author named (in contrast to most other Pauline letters)
- Paul stresses he is an “apostle,” who was “sent not from humans but from Jesus Christ and God the Father”
Recipients: “to the churches of Galatia” (1:2b)
- plural “churches” – not just one city, one church; but Christian communities in various small towns
Formulaic Greeting: much longer than usual (1:3-5)
- "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
  ⁴ who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
  ⁵ to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Scolding & Rebuke, instead of the usual Thanksgiving (1:6-10)
- “I am astonished…”; Paul is so MAD, he can’t even say his usual “I thank God for you”!
- Raises questions for us: Who were these Galatians? Why was Paul so upset with them?

Location & Date: To Whom and When Was This Letter Written?

Galatia: a territory in today’s Central Turkey
- Problem: political boundaries frequently shifted over the centuries, so we're not sure exactly which "Galatia" is meant in this letter
- Ancient Galatia: smaller territory in the North, settled by ancient Celts; area surrounding Ancyra (modern Ankara)
  - Uncertain if Paul was there; maybe referenced in Acts 16:6 & 18:23
  - Acts 16:6 (after passing thru Lystra, Derbe, Iconium): “They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia…”
  - Acts 18:23 (leaving Syrian Antioch): “After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.”
  - No city names are mentioned, so we don’t know which area is meant in these texts of Acts
- Roman Galatia: larger area, combines North & South
  - In Acts 13–14 Paul and Barnabas were in the South (regions of Pisidia & Lycaonia; cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe), on their “first missionary journey” (phase 1 of Paul’s Christian life)
  - Paul also passed through there later (Acts 16:1-5)
Date of Writing:
- Maybe mid-40’s, if the problem occurred before the Jerusalem Council (which took place ca. AD 50)
- More likely mid-50’s, esp. if written to “Ancient Galatia” (North Galatia)
Historical scenario / main reason for Paul's writing:
- Paul and companions preached & founded several churches in the region
- Later, other Christian preachers come, saying Paul gave them only half the truth! To be saved, they must become Jewish (Jesus was Jewish Messiah!)
- Paul hears of this, and gets very upset with them; saying they shouldn’t be circumcised! Don’t be fooled by those other preachers!
- Note: Other preachers were not Jews opposed to Jesus, but Jewish-Christians who believed in Jesus, but insisted converts be fully Jewish also (“Judaizers”)
- So Paul writes this letter; rest of letter structure fairly standard:
- Letter conclusion has no individual greetings, but further warnings, and only a brief concluding prayer.

Paul's "Opponents"

Paul doesn't name anyone, neither individuals nor groups, who opposes his teachings (does he even know who they are?);
yet he does mention some things about what these adversaries have done and what they want:
- Gal 1:7 - "...there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ."
- Gal 3:1 - "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified!"
- Gal 4:17 - "They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them."
- Gal 5:7-12 -
  ⁷ You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? ⁸ Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. ⁹ A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.
  ¹⁰ I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.
  ¹¹ But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
  ¹² I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!
- Gal 6:12-14 -
  ¹² It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised-- only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
  ¹³ Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh.
  ¹⁴ May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Are they possibly related to the "false believers" who at the Council of Jerusalem had argued for the circumcision of Gentile converts? (cf. Gal 2:4-5)
Paul's response to these people is contained in his whole letter, but summarized most clearly in a few key texts:
- Gal 2:21 - "I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing."
- Gal 3:21, 24-26 -
  ²¹ Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law....
  ²⁴ Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.
  ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,
  ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.

Major Themes from the Letter to the Galatians

The Council of Jerusalem: Differences between Paul's and Luke's versions

PAUL (Gal 2:1-10)	LUKE (Acts 15)
When? 14 years after Paul's first visit to the Jerusalem apostles (2:1a).	Some time after Barnabas & Paul had returned to Antioch from their first missionary journey (Acts 13-14).
Paul went with Barnabas, and took Titus along (2:1b).	Paul, Barnabas, "and some others" from the Church at Antioch (15:2).
He went in response to a "revelation" (2:2a).	They were sent by the Antioch Church after some people from Judea had caused a disturbance, preaching the necessity of circumcision (15:1-3).
He presents his gospel "privately to those of repute" (2:2b).	They are welcomed by and report to the whole Jerusalem Church (15:4).
Titus, a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised (2:3).	[Paul supposedly has Timothy circumcised "on account of the Jews," because "all knew that his father was a Greek" - 16:3]
Paul refused to submit to "false brothers" who wanted to take away the Gentile converts' freedom and to enslave them (2:4-5).	Some Pharisees insist on the necessity of circumcision and observance of the whole Mosaic law (15:5).
The Christian leaders in Jerusalem made Paul "add nothing" (2:6).	The apostles & elders long debate the issues, with speeches by Peter and James (15:6-18); to conclude, James decides they should "stop troubling" the Gentile converts, but also write a letter telling them to avoid idolatry, fornication, meat from strangled animals, and blood (15:19-21, 28-29).
These leaders (James & Cephas & John) recognized that Paul was sent (by God) to preach to the uncircumcised/Gentiles, just as Peter was sent to preach to the circumcised/Jews (2:7-9).	[Acts never mentions this division of labor; on the contrary, both Peter & Paul preach to both Jews & Gentiles; see Acts 2; 10–11; 13–14; 15:7; etc.]
These "reputed pillars" of the Jerusalem community gave Paul & Barnabas "their right hands in partnership" (2:9b).	The Jerusalem leaders send two representatives with Paul & Barnabas to Antioch to deliver their letter, which is gratefully received (15:22-31).
The only request: They were "to be mindful of the poor" (2:10).	[Remembering the poor is not in Acts 15, but earlier Paul & Barnabas had delivered relief from Antioch to Judean Christians; 11:27-30]

Some Quotable Quotes from Galatians (NRSV translation)

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!" (1:6-8)
"For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (1:11-12)
"Yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law." (2:16)
"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified!" (3:1)
"As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." (3:27)
"There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (3:28)
"And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise." (3:29)
"And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God." (4:6-7)
"For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (5:1)
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love." (5:6)
"For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' " (5:13-14)
"Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (6:2)
"Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher." (6:6)
"May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (6:14)

Questions for Review and Discussion

Which verses or passages most surprised you, disturbed you, or inspired you as you read Paul’s Letter to the Galatians? Why?
Who were the “Galatians”? What do we know about the early Christian communities in the region of Galatia to whom Paul wrote this letter?
What is the one main issue addressed in this letter, and why is this so important for Paul?
How do Paul’s autobiographical comments in Gal 1–2 advance his argument?
What is the relationship between the Law and the Spirit, as explained in Gal 3–5?
Given that most Christians today do not believe they must follow the entire Torah (the Law of Moses in the OT), can we still apply Paul’s theological arguments today? How?

For Further Reading and Study

Cardinal Albert Vanhoye and Peter S. Williamson. Galatians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Baker Academic, 2019.
Robert J. Karris, OFM. Galatians and Romans. Volume 6 of New Collegeville Bible Commentary: New Testament. Liturgical Press, 2005.
Mark J. Edwards and Thomas C. Oden. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, NT 8. ‎2nd edition. IVP Academic, 2005.
N. T. Wright. Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians. The New Testament for Everyone. Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
Raymond E. Brown. An Introduction to the New Testament. New York: Doubleday, 1997. - "Letter to the Galatians" (pp. 467-482).
J. Louis Martyn. Galatians. Anchor Bible, 33A. New York: Doubleday, 1997; repr. 2004.
Frank J. Matera. Galatians. Sacra Pagina, 9. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1992; repr. 2007.
Richard N. Longenecker. The Epistle to the Galatians. Word Bible Commentary, 41. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1990; repr. 2015.
Hans D. Betz. Galatians: A Commentary on Paul's Letter to the Churches in Galatia. Hermeneia Commentary. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979.