Introduction to Galatians 

Dr. Gail E. Terrell
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church , Hamilton , Ohio

  1. Author.   Paul wrote Galatians (1:1, 5:2) in about 57 A.D. from Ephesus during his third missionary journey.
  2. Recipients. Galatians is written to the churches of Galatia (1:2, 3:1).   Every church and every Christian should receive these teachings of freedom under the covenant of grace.
  3. Theme.   The grace of God provides liberty in Christ.
  4. Key verses.   2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.   5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
  5. Key words: law – 32 times; faith – 21 times.
  6. References to the Lord’s church in Galatians:   the word church appears 3 times in Galatians.
    1. Paul uses the plural form in his address :   1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia.
    2. Paul refers to other churches of the Lord Jesus Christ.
    3. 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.   Paul persecuted and made havoc of the church at Jerusalem(Acts 8:3), and the members of this church were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria(Acts 8:1, 9:1-3).   When Paul was saved, this scattered church had peace.
    4. 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ.   Paul had never been seen by the churches of Judea.   Some think that the word church is used generically in Galatians 1:13 because Galatians 1:22-23 seems to indicate that all the churches of Judea were persecuted by Paul; however, we cannot be sure that Paul persecuted any church other than the church at Jerusalem.   When the church at Jerusalem was persecuted, all sister churches would share the burden of this persecution.   Churches of Judea includes the church at Lydda(Acts 9:32-38), the church at Joppa (Acts 9:36-43), the church at Caesarea(Acts 18:22; 21:8, 16), and the church at Ptolemais(Acts 21:7).

Notes