Here’s a guide to reading and Teaching through the book of Galatians. It includes An introduction to the book, it’s date, author and audience Discussion of the specific controversy around The New Perspective Introductions to keep themes such as The Law and Circumcision, What is the Gospel and Justification. Overview summaries of each chapter
Category: Bible Study
The Law
A key thing to think about when studying Galatians is what it tells us about The Law or Torah. It seems at times that Paul is quite negative towards the Old Testament Law. Some Christians therefore will emphasise that we are not under Law but under Grace and can even speak and live as though… Continue reading The Law
What is justification all about?
One of the key themes that seems central to Paul’s argument in Galatians is that we are justified by faith.[1] In recent years, there’s been much discussion and dispute about what justification really means, especially since the emergence of the New Perspective. Whilst the reformed position since Luther and Calvin has been that justification is… Continue reading What is justification all about?
Opening Credits
This week we look at 1 Chronicles 11-12 Anointed (11:1-3) Bone and flesh The role he was already doing Recognising God’s Word David as shepherd king Covenant Jerusalem (11: 4-10) This is actually 7 years in to his reign 2 Samuel 5:5 Jebusites, one of the 7 stronger nations God gave into Israel’s hand Failure… Continue reading Opening Credits
What is the Gospel?
Paul’s big concern for the Galatian church was that they risked being captured by a different Gospel. The other day, I wrote something about this and observed that if we are to avoid falling for different, false Gospels, then we need to know what the true Gospel is. Now, we might assume that the answer… Continue reading What is the Gospel?
A different Gospel
You get the impression that Paul is writing in a hurry when he sends his letter to the Galatians. Not for them, a lengthy introduction with prayers of praise and descriptions of what they are doing well. Paul gets straight down to business, identifying the problem in the church. 6 I am astonished that you are so… Continue reading A different Gospel
Introducing Galatians
Our church are about to embark on a teaching series on Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Here are some introductory notes. When was the book written? Nowadays it is usually viewed as an early letter, if not the earliest of Paul’s letters. Some reformers including Luther considered it to have been written later though, seeing… Continue reading Introducing Galatians
Death of a king
Saul’s family tree (9:35-44) Although the kingdom ends with Saul, his family line continues Battle (10:1-7) Defeat of Israel at Gilboa Saul’s sons are killed Leithart compares him to Goliath also defeated by missile and sword. [1] “Saul’s suicide is an appropriate gesture: he is the troubler of his own house.”[2] The people flee What… Continue reading Death of a king
The secret to good sleep
When we were going through a particularly challenging period, I remember an older pastor asking me “Are you able to sleep through the night.” Insomnia is of course a significant emotional health warning and many of us will have at different times struggled with it, finding ourselves unable to drift off or alternatively being suddenly… Continue reading The secret to good sleep
A Biblical Theology of Marriage, Sex and Relationships
Note: You will probably have read most of this material over the past week as it pulls together some of my recent articles in response to the book “Beautiful Union”. However, I wanted to gather it together as it will form one of the chapters of the E-Book/ teaching sessions I’m putting together on the… Continue reading A Biblical Theology of Marriage, Sex and Relationships
