Book Of Galatians
Galatians, more than any other single book, became the manifesto of freedom and revival of Biblical truth of the Reformation era: “the Magna Carta of spiritual emancipation.” Few books have had a more profound influence on the history of mankind than has this small tract, for such it should be called. Christianity might have been just one more Jewish sect, and the thought of the Western world might have been entirely pagan had it never been written. Galatians embodies the germinal teaching on Christian freedom which separated Christianity from Judaism, and which launched it upon a career of missionary conquest. It was the cornerstone of the Protestant Reformation, because its teaching of salvation by grace alone became the dominant theme of the preaching of the Reformers. — Merrill Tenney
Galatians, more than any other single book, became the manifesto of freedom and revival of Biblical truth of the Reformation era: “the Magna Carta of spiritual emancipation.”
Few books have had a more profound influence on the history of mankind than has this small tract, for such it should be called. Christianity might have been just one more Jewish sect, and the thought of the Western world might have been entirely pagan had it never been written. Galatians embodies the germinal teaching on Christian freedom which separated Christianity from Judaism, and which launched it upon a career of missionary conquest. It was the cornerstone of the Protestant Reformation, because its teaching of salvation by grace alone became the dominant theme of the preaching of
the Reformers.
— Merrill Tenney
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Four Meetings?
1) A public meeting, at which Paul recounted what God had done among the Gentiles
(Acts 15:4).
2) Paul’s private meeting with the leaders (Galatians 2:2).
3) The public debate (Acts 15:5; Galatians 2:3–5).
4) The council session at which the matter was finally settled (Acts 15:6-29).
· Paul met with the leaders privately to keep out the “spies” (Galatians 2:4) and to avoid
any open disagreements that would only add fuel to the fire.
The Resolution(s)
Gentiles should:
1) Abstain from idols;
2) Abstain from fornication;
and
3) Abstain from things strangled, and blood. There was no commitment to Mosaic
practices: Ceremonial laws, Circumcision, etc. Paul will deal with the issue of Israel’s
destiny in his letter to the Romans (Cf. Romans 9, 10, 11).
Archaeological Discoveries:
· Recent discoveries in Israel have revealed definitive evidence of James’ leadership of
the Jerusalem church. The Vatican had attempted to sequester the materials; however,
Robert Fisher (among the excavators) let the “cat-out-of-the-bag!”
33] And after they had tarried [there] a space, they were let go in peace from the
brethren unto the apostles. 34] Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
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