I think a good way in which to start this study is to get an overall feel for the epistle (letter) and understand a little background.
Galatia was an area that Paul and Barnabas visited during what is termed Paul’s first missionary journey. For some background on what happened, you may want to take the time to read two chapters in Acts, the 13th and 14th. Verse 14 in chapter 13 is where their visit to Galatian cities starts.
While it appears many came to God in Galatia, there was also great persecution to the point where they were pushed out of the area of Pisidian Antioch and Paul was stoned and left as dead in Lystra. This is also where some were looking at Paul and Barnabas as gods and were going to make sacrifices to them. (Note: there are two Antiochs. One was in Syria and the other in Galatia. Paul and Barnabas started their missionary journey from the Antioch that was in Syria. Galatia is now part of Turkey.)
I am attaching a drawing of what is believed to be the area of Galatia at the time of this missionary journey.
Something of special note in reading these two chapters of Acts is 13:38-39 as it ties in with what Paul later has to share in his letter to the Galatians.
NLT: 38 “Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do.”
NASB: “38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.”
I want to share part of the introduction to Galatians that is found in my NIV Inductive Study Bible:
“The gospel introduced the Jews to a new way of life-that of grace rather than law. The old covenant with all its regulations was made obsolete by the new covenant (Hebrews 8:13). This transition was difficult for some Jewish believers to handle, and a group called the Judaizers sprang up. The Judaizers embraced Christianity but said that some of the old covenant rites, including circumcision, still must be observed.
“As Paul, God’s apostle to the Gentiles, went on his missionary journeys sharing the gospel of grace, many of these Judaizers followed him, teaching the necessity of keeping the law to one degree or another. They even went to Galatia. That is why Paul wrote what he did to the churches in Galatia.
“There is some uncertainty about whether Galatians was written after Paul’s first or second missionary journey, and so the exact date of his writing is not known. The debate centers on whether Paul was writing to the northern or southern churches of Galatia. If Paul wrote to the northern churches, the epistle would have been written sometime between A.D. 53 and 57, but if the letter was written to the southern churches, this would have been between A.D. 48 and 49.
“However, the date does not affect the message of this critical letter. The truths in this epistle will liberate you to walk in the glorious freedom of a righteous life in the Spirit-truths you can glean through careful observation. Therefore, devote your energies to discovering these truths rather than to debating when Galatians was written.
“The more you read and observe the text of this book, the more you will understand Paul’s words: “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).”
For those who are able to do so, it would be good to read all of Galatians (without attempting to study it) before starting into the study that will be posted separately. It will give you a better feel for a more in depth look.
Also from the study Bible quoted above, below are some things to think about:
“1. Are you living under grace or under law? Have you accepted the grace of God for your salvation but still put yourself under the law for daily living?
“2. According to Galatians 5:16-21, if you live under grace, under the control of the Spirit of God, you will not be able to live a life habitually controlled by the flesh, producing the works of the flesh. Evaluate your walk according to these verses.
“3. What do you boast in?
“4. As you look at Paul’s life, what do you learn for your own life?”
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