Galatians # 15

GALATIANS # 15
10/18/10

As we discussed in lesson #1, with this Bible study, I have followed along with the school of thought that Galatians was written before the Jerusalem Council; just after Paul’s first missionary journey (second mission was after Jerusalem council). The first mission was to the southern Galatians; thus the letter was written to the southern Galatians – about 48 A. D, shortly after James wrote his letter to “the twelve tribes”. Based on this chronology, Galatians was the first of Paul’s letters.

One of the “southern” scholars, F. F. Bruce:
The question of the North or South Galatian destination of our epistle is not one in which it is proper to take up partisan attitudes or indulge in dogmatic assertions; and it ill becomes champions of either view to disparage the rival view or those who maintain it. The fact that so many competent scholars can be cited in support of either position suggests that the evidence for neither is absolutely conclusive. But the weight of the evidence, it seems to me, favours the South Galatian view. If the Epistle to the Galatians was indeed addressed to the churches of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, then we have important historical, geographical, literary and epigraphic data which will provide material for its better understanding. (Bruce, the epistle to the Galatians, a commentary on the greek text)

Galatia was located in the central part of what we know as Turkey. At the time Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians, it was composed of two distinct areas; northern Galatia (ethnic, settled by Gauls) and southern Galatia (political sub-division established by Rome).

Southern? Northern? Does it matter?

Well:
• Is the trip described in Acts 15 the same as Galatians 2:1 -10? If not, then when was it? If so then when was the famine relief trip? (was Luke’s writings reliable?)
• If it was after the Jerusalem council, why doesn’t Paul refer to the letter written by James as he battles the Judaizers?
• If it was written after the Jerusalem council, then it would appear that Peter’s “Fear” that caused him to cease eating with the gentiles overwhelmed his belief shown by his position at the council!
• If after, then Peter was REALLY at fault when he left the table of the gentiles. if he done this after his astonishing works in Joppa and his subsequent vision and experience with Cornelius, (Acts 10) and then full support of Paul: Acts 15:7-11 ( KJV ) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
• How could Peter then do such a radical about face and suddenly demonstrate “another gospel”, provoking Paul’s sharp rebuke? (Gal. 2: 11 21 (some Catholic scholars are so disturbed by this dressing down by Paul that they claim this was some other Peter, not the Apostle))
• Etc.
To me, a “southern” position seems to best clear up these and other similar anomalies.
With that support for the early writing of Galatians, let us proceed.

The church came in to existence at Pentecost in 30 A. D., as time went by the Jerusalem church continued to be the “Mother Church”, recognized as the source and protector of the Gospel – however, the Hebraic leaders continued to be mired in the covenant of the law. As we have discussed, it was staggeringly difficult for the Jews, particularly so for the Hebraic Jews, to break loose from the “yoke of the law”:the opportunity was explicitly given through Peter (Acts 10 – 11) the Mosaic Covenant was “finished” (John 19: 30), transitioning into the covenant of Grace; the covenant now included Jews and gentiles alike with Christ’s death. The Jerusalem church fumbled the ball, they failed to embrace the “great commission”:
Mark 16:15-16 ( KJV ) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ,

Christ’s sacrifice, the willing taking of sin upon himself, had rent the curtain from top to bottom; all the “Elect”could now approach God (John 3: 16). Rather than accepting this astonishing revelation of the “Good News” and embracing the answer to the “mystery” in its fullness, they were hesitant and did not pursue it at all – they (The Jerusalem church) continued to be transfixed by their subjection to “The Law”

Meanwhile, as the Jerusalem church was bogged down, the predominantly gentile church in Antioch was vigorously thriving, expanding, rapidly moving into the gentile community; it was quickly replacing Jerusalem as the center of “Christianity”:
Acts 11:19-26 ( KJV )
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Barnabas was aware of Paul’s preaching in Tarsus and recruited him to help stabilize the Antioch church, thus drawing Paul more closely into the Church proper – up until this time Paul was completely a “lone ranger” with minimal contact with the Jerusalem church. (Gal.:1: 21 – 24)
Unlike the Jerusalem church, the Antioch church, had actively embraced the gentile “seekers.” Now, led by Barnabas and Paul they were aggressively evangelizing the gentile community; this resulted in the Antioch church rapidly increasing in numbers, mostly Gentile believers.

In 44 A. D., this primarily gentile congregation, at the prompting of prophets, who were Greek, sent Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13: 4- 52). The Antioch church had taken the lead as the most vigorous of the two major church centers (Antioch and Jerusalem) and had the distinction to be called “Christians” at about this time.(Acts 11: 26) the first such use of the description, though used as a pejorative, the believers accepted the title proudly.

Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch after completing their first mission trip. They stayed and preached a “long time” (Acts 14: 28). We are presuming that it was during this time that Paul received the alarming news that some trouble makers were stirring up serious trouble, undoing everything he had done, discrediting his credentials, his message of “Grace” was being declared wrong! This condemning the Gospel of Grace denied what was accomplished on the cross, plunged them back into the servitude of the law; thereby denying everything Christ is and had done: Paul re-acts passionately, writing his letter to these Galatian churches.

DISCUSSION

1. What happened to cause Paul to go to Antioch
2. Where was Galatia located?
3. What was the difference between North and south Galatia?
4. To whom was Paul’s first mission trip?
5. Was Galatians written before or after the Jerusalem council?
6. How does all this affect the letter to the Galatians?
7. Who converted the first gentiles?
8. Where was the term “Christians” first used?
9. Why did the church in Antioch become so influential in development of the church?
10. What was so significant about the conversion of Cornelius?
11. Why did Paul re-act so passionately against Peter leaving the gentile table fellowship?
12. What is the “great commission”?