Galatians in many ways is the ideal book in the New Testament to use to learn how to study the Bible, for their are three main strands to the letter. It deals with personal issues relating to Paul, includes important theological arguments, and has direct practical application. Moreover it is important to note that while the first chapter and part of the second deal with personal issues, the middle with deep theological ones, and the latter part with direct practical matters; all three strands are interwoven and interdependent.
Paul is dealing primarily with a theological problem, but we must not think that this a theological book in the sense that we might find one in a University library. Theology was never an academic matter for Paul, but something he was deeply passionate about, and which he knew would vitally affect the lives of his readers. He also had a deep personal concern for his readers, in some cases being personally responsible for their conversion. There is a tendency today to talk about things being academic or theological in a disparaging manner, but what we think affects how we live.
Furthermore, theological issues are never purely theological. There are always personal issues behind them as well. The Judaisers in Galatia were arguing that the Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised to be full members of God's family, but they didn't just advance this as a theological argument, they also attacked the person of Paul. If they could discredit Paul, then this would help to discredit the gospel. This is why Paul spends the first part of the book dealing with personal matters.
In the first two verses Paul stresses that he was appointed by Christ, not by men. he will expand on this in the succeeding verses. The "and all the brothers with me" also carries the implicit message that he is not a lone voice. The Judaisers would have tried to cast Paul as a bit of a looney, not representative of the church as a whole.
When reading Paul's letters we should be sure that we do not read them as a text book, or a paper in a learned journal. Paul was a man of passion, and he wrote his letters with passion. A passion for the gospel, for Jesus Christ, and for the people he was writing to.
Verse 4 spells out the purpose for which Jesus Christ came. He gave himself up for our sins so that we could be rescued from the present evil age. He did all this according to the will of the Father.
Paul is dealing primarily with a theological problem, but we must not think that this a theological book in the sense that we might find one in a University library. Theology was never an academic matter for Paul, but something he was deeply passionate about, and which he knew would vitally affect the lives of his readers. He also had a deep personal concern for his readers, in some cases being personally responsible for their conversion. There is a tendency today to talk about things being academic or theological in a disparaging manner, but what we think affects how we live.
Furthermore, theological issues are never purely theological. There are always personal issues behind them as well. The Judaisers in Galatia were arguing that the Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised to be full members of God's family, but they didn't just advance this as a theological argument, they also attacked the person of Paul. If they could discredit Paul, then this would help to discredit the gospel. This is why Paul spends the first part of the book dealing with personal matters.
In the first two verses Paul stresses that he was appointed by Christ, not by men. he will expand on this in the succeeding verses. The "and all the brothers with me" also carries the implicit message that he is not a lone voice. The Judaisers would have tried to cast Paul as a bit of a looney, not representative of the church as a whole.
When reading Paul's letters we should be sure that we do not read them as a text book, or a paper in a learned journal. Paul was a man of passion, and he wrote his letters with passion. A passion for the gospel, for Jesus Christ, and for the people he was writing to.
Verse 4 spells out the purpose for which Jesus Christ came. He gave himself up for our sins so that we could be rescued from the present evil age. He did all this according to the will of the Father.
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