Galatians
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Lesson OneEpistles (First Few Verses Of Each Pauline Epistle)25 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: The First Few Verses Of Each Pauline Epistle
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In | Reading Someone Else's Mail
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In | Workbook: Reading Someone Else's Mail
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In | Introduction to Paul's Epistles
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In | Formal Features of Ancient Letters
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In | Workbook: Commendation and Condemnation
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In | Implications of Theological Ideas
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In | Workbook: Theological Ideas and Practical Implications, Part 1
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In | Workbook: Theological Ideas and Practical Implications, Part 2
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Behind | Formal Letters in Roman Antiquity
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Behind | Types of Epistles in Ancient Times
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Behind | Letter Writing in the First Century, Part 1
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Behind | Letter Writing in the First Century, Part 2
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Behind | Letter Writing in the First Century, Part 3
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Behind | Workbook: The Length of Paul’s Letters Compared to Other Ancient Letters
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Behind | Workbook: How Long Did it Take Paul to Write His Letters? Part 1
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Behind | Workbook: How Long Did it Take Paul to Write His Letters? Part 2
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Behind | How Long Did It Take Paul to Write His Letters? Part 3
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In Front | Epistles as Occasional Documents
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In Front | Workbook: Reading Paul Contextually
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In Front | Epistles as Distance Education
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In Front | Workbooks: Maintaining Relationships at a Distance
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In Front | Blended Learning
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson TwoOverview of Galatians19 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Galatians
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In | Workbook: A Dispute Between Peter and Paul
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In | Paul, Peter and the Judaizers
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In | Judaizing in Acts and Galatians
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In | Workbook: True and False Gospels
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In | Workbook: Miracles in Paul’s Letters
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In | Workbook: Paul and the Prophetic Tradition
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Behind | A Mixed Reception in Galatia
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Behind | Onsite: Pisidian Antioch - Facing Jewish Resistance
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Behind | 360 View: Pisidian Antioch
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Behind | The Jerusalem Council
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Behind | Covenantal Pillars and Identity
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Behind | Heresies and Paul's Opponents
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Behind | North and South Galatian Theories, Part 1
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Behind | North and South Galatian Theories, Part 2
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In Front | The Tension Between Truth and Love
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In Front | Workbook: The Tension Between Truth and Love
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson ThreeWorks-Righteousness as Slavery19 Activities|2 Assessments
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Galatians Review
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In | Workbook: What Does Paul Mean by Slavery?
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In | Works-Righteousness
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In | Recovering an Ancient Faith
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In | "Works" and "Faithfulness"
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In | Paul's Arguments
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In | Argument 1: Abraham, Faith and the Gentiles
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In | Participation in Christ, Part 2
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In | Argument 2: The Law and the Seed of Abraham
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In | New Exodus: Slavery to Sonship
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Behind | Pedagogue: Disciplinarian or Guardian?
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Behind | Gentiles and the Torah
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Behind | Covenants, Inheritance, Adoption
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In Front | Two Approaches to the Law, Part 2
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In Front | Jews, Gentiles and the Law: Dr. Dan Juster
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In Front | Workbook: Slavery and Freedom
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In Front | Living out the Gospel in Missions: Bob Osborne
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FourFaith, Life, and the Spirit13 Activities|1 Assessment
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Galatians Review
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In | Workbook: Opposition to the Spirit
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In | Opposition to the Spirit
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In | Fruit of the Spirit and the Law
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In | Workbook: The Spirit and the Flesh in Galatians
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In | Flesh: A Baseline Understanding
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Behind | Lessons from the Vine
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Behind | The Marks of Jesus
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In Front | Fruitful Christian Living
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In Front | Workbook: Living a Fruitful Life
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In Front | The Gospel Is for Believers: Bob Osborne
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FiveAuthor and Audience17 Activities|2 Assessments
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Galatians Review
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In | Workbook: Authorship - The Scroll and the Scribe
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In | Authorship: The Scroll and the Scribe
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In | Paul's Sarcasm and Concerns
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In | The Old Testament in Galatians
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In | Pauline Figures of Speech
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Behind | Types of Roman Rhetoric
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Behind | Workbook: A Peroratio in Galatians
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Behind | A Peroratio in Galatians
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Behind | Purpose of Galatian Arguments
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In Front | Peter, James, Paul ... and Us
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In Front | Onsite: Peter and Paul in Conflict - Antioch of Syria
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In Front | Paul’s Independence and Solidarity in Galatians
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In Front | Workbook: Paul’s Independence and Solidarity in Galatians
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In Front | Workbook: Guiding Questions - Galatians
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity|1 Assessment
Participants 5
In | Workbook: Miracles in Paul’s Letters
Grab your Workbook Journal!
[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]
In Galatians 3:59 (ESV), Paul refers to miracles that have occurred in their midst:
Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
Galatians 3:5 (ESV)
In his letters, Paul rarely references his miracles or any signs and wonders he may have performed. When he does mention them he does so in a general way, as in the passage above. His reluctance to mention these acts, which may have impressed his hearers, is especially notable considering how often they are mentioned in the book of Acts.
- Why do you think Paul was so reluctant to mention signs and wonders in his ministry, or to reference miracles he performed?
The likeliest reason for Paul’s avoidance of miracles in his letters is that he didn’t want to confuse the gospel with the teachings of other miracle workers that would have been common at the time.
There’s an old adage among evangelists: “What you attract people with is what you attract them to.” Paul was careful to emphasize the eternal value of the gospel in contrast with temporal signs or miracles. In his view, the life of the church is cruciform, patterned after Jesus’ life—a way of life that leads to the cross.
As we’ll see, especially in the Corinthian letters, he’s much more inclined to talk about suffering and loss than he is about material benefits. He’s not selling a quick fix or a more prosperity-promising fertility god, but the gospel of Jesus, which proclaims that the kingdom of God and eternal life come through losing your life.