Weekly Devotionals: Finding Yourself, Finding Your Faith, Finding Your Mission, Finding Your Community
| 29 Week Devotional |
Galatians Chapter 1 (Example of one of my studies. You can find others below as a file to download)
Galatians Intro/Chapter 1
Paul’s Letters –Paul wrote closely to the style of the day. The letter was styled after Hellenistic Letters (Greek Culture). Below is the outline: Opening: § Sender: Gal 1:1-2 § Addressees: Gal 1:2 § Greeting: Gal 1:4 Prayer/Laudatio: § Galatians and Titus do not contain a prayer or blessing, possibly because he has nothing to give thanks over for them since they have left the gospel Body: § Introduced by astonishment Gal 1:6 Closing: § Travel Plans (Rom, 1 Cor, Eph, Col, Tim, Titus) § Prayer (Rom, 1 Thess, 2 Thess) § Commendation of fellow workers (Rom, 1 Cor) § Prayer Requests (Rom, Col, Eph, 1 Thess) § Greetings (Rom, 1 Cor, 2 Cor, Phil, Col, 2 Tim, Titus, Philem) § Final Instructions/Exhortations (Rom, 1 Cor, 2 Cor, Gal 6:11-17, Col, 1 Thess, 2 Thess, 1 Tim, Philem) § Holy Kiss (1 Cor, 2 Cor, 1 Thess) § Autographed Greeting (1 Cor, Gal 6:11, Col, 2 Thess, Philem) § A Charis (Grace) Benediction (All: Gal 6:18) Possible Letter structure: § 1:1-5 Salutation § 1:6-4:11 Rebuke Section with the inclusion of autobiographical details and theological arguments § 4:12-6:10 Request Section, with the inclusion of personal, scriptural, and ethical appeals § 6:11-18 Subscription Question: How does Paul’s structure help teach his message? Galatians as a Letter: § Author: Paul § Date: AD 48 (Gal 4:13, Gal 2:1-10 = Acts 11:30, 12:25) § Historical background: Southern Galatia § Towns influenced by letter: § Antioch –The first Gentil church, mother to all the others, was founded there. Preached to Hellenist Jews and Greeks. § Iconium –Had important trade routes with roads leading to Ephesus and Rome § Lystra –Had Aristocratic core and known for its worship to Zeus and Hermes § Derbe –A city of refuge for fleeing Christians Theme/Purpose: § Judaizers (Jewish Christians who believed in Jewish practice) were insisting that the Gentile converts to Christianity be circumcised. § These Gentile converts were told that Paul was not an authentic apostle and only made the gospel appealing to them, hence taking away the circumcison requirement § Paul uses this letter to respond to the Gentile converts § He discredits the Judaizers by pointing out their legalism § There is grace, justification, faith, and freedom, not law! Question: What does it mean to live in grace rather than law? Galatians 1 § Introduces his purpose of the letter in his greeting (1:1-5) § Gospel perverted (1:6-9) § Defends his apostleship and gospel (1:10) § 2 Cor 3:1-3 § 2 Cor 10:1-18 § Paul’s gospel comes from Jesus Christ (1:11-12) § Paul was chief of Jewish law abiders (1:13-14) § Roots in the Law, but found true calling on road to Damascus (1:15-17) (Acts 9:1-9) § Paul mentions places that are considered to be birthplaces of Christianity or places of notoriety for Christianity. § He mentions Peter (Cephas in the Greek), a well-respected apostle § Then tells of places where he has done mission work § His claim is that he is a legitimate apostle § Who’s message can you trust more, but that of someone who killed Christians and is now converting people to Christianity? Question: How does this apply to today? Homework § Next Week Read: Galatian Letter, especially chapter 2 § How would we defend our gospel? § When did Christ become real to you for the first time? § How has God changed you during your journey with Him? § How has God changed Highland? § What is God’s purpose for the you and this church? copyright 2010 Michael Mercer |
Map of Galatia during one of Paul's Missionary Journeys
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