Understanding The Bible
STUDY REFERENCE
Clarence E. Mason's "GALATIANS"
ANALYSIS OF GALATIANS:  I.  INTRODUCTION 1:1-10
(Outline by W. Graham Scroggie)

 

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BY THE AUTHOR
Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1964

ANALYSIS OF GALATIANS (Outline by W.Graham Scroggie)

  1. INTRODUCTION 1:1‑10

    1. Salutation, 1:1‑5

      1. The writer of the epistle ‑ "Paul," 1a

      2. His credentials ‑ "an apostle," 1b

        1. Not from any body of men (as the source of his authority) (1b)

        2. Not through human instrumentality (1c)

        3. But Paul's apostleship originated with God and was conferred directly by Him (1d)

        4. To the objection that he could not be an apostle, because the Lord appointed His apostles during His lifetime, Paul replies, "Did death end His authority? Is He not risen? The RISEN Christ commissioned me!" (1e) 1 Cor. 9:1; Acts 9:1‑9 (22:1‑16; 26:9‑18)

      3.  His companions, 2a
        They agree with him in what he is now writing, but he does not name them because the responsibility and arguments are his. HIS apostleship is at stake, not theirs.

      4. The destination of the epistle, 2b
        "Churches of Galatia"; probably southern Galatia: Iconium, Antioch, Lystra, etc. Not called "churches of God in Galatia." Contrast 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1Thessalonians 1:1; etc.
      5. His opening benediction, 3

      6. His theme: The sufficiency of Christ's death, 4
        Christ's death was:

        1. VOLUNTARY "gave Himself"

        2. VICARIOUS "for (in behalf of) our sins"

        3. REDEMPTIVE "that He might deliver us"

        4. ETHICAL "deliver us from evil"

        5. EFFECTUAL "according to the will of God" (Eph.1:11)

      7. His doxology, 5
        He cannot refrain from this burst of praise after the truth of verse'4. Gloria is usually at the end of an epistle. "Amen" indicates earthly assurance to heavenly certainty. It means, "So let it be!"

    2. Situation calling forth this epistle, 1:6‑10

      1. Paul's surprise at the Galatians' sudden defection, 6a; cp. 3:1; 5:7

      2. His repudiation of the Judaizers' message which is not THE Gospel, hence not even a gospel, 6b‑7.
        There is a play on words here. They are preaching "another" of a different kind, which is not "another" of the same kind.

      3. His pronouncement of anathema upon those who proclaim any substitute for THE Gospel, 8‑9

        1. Hypothetical ‑ "If anyone should" (8)

        2. Concrete ‑ "If anyone actually is" (9)
          The repetition shows deliberate judgment, not the heat of passion.

      4. His reason for such severe language, 10
        Loyalty to his Lord permits no other action; certainly no compromise nor any hesitation for fear of persecution. Cp. 1 Thes. 2:4

 

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