2 Corinthians - Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Galatia was a province of the Roman Empire located in the center of what is now modern Turkey. Paul’s letter to the Galatians was written not to just one church but to several churches, all of which Paul himself had founded some years earlier. It is not certain exactly which churches Paul wrote to, as none are mentioned by name in this letter. Also, it is not certain what year this letter was written: Some say 54-56 A.D., while others say 48-49 A.D.

Paul’s reason for writing is evident from the letter itself. No sooner had he founded these Gentile churches than certain Jewish Christians came and began to oppose Paul’s teaching. Paul taught that man is saved by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8), but these Jewish Christians said that to be saved it was also necessary to follow the Jewish law. If the teaching of these Jewish Christians prevailed, then Paul’s Gospel of grace would become of no account. Thus Paul felt constrained to write this letter to counter the false teaching of the Jewish Christians and to protect the young believers of the Galatian churches from being led astray. If the Galatians were to begin seeking salvation through works of the law, they would be in danger of losing the grace they had received.

In the history of the Christian church, Paul’s letter to the Galatians has been extremely important. It was after studying this letter that Martin Luther in the sixteenth century recognized the false teaching of the Roman Catholic church at that time, and started the Protestant movement. For it was by studying this letter that Luther discovered the central truth of the Christian Gospel: namely, that man obtains salvation not through any church or by following any law; rather, man obtains salvation solely by God’s grace received through faith.

Worldly men seek salvation by their own work and effort. They try to please God by following various religious rules and rituals. They attempt to become holy by their own power. But their efforts are all in vain. It is only by grace that man becomes acceptable in God’s sight. Out of His great love and mercy God has

opened a door into heaven for sinful men. By believing in Christ we can pass through this door. This is the main teaching of this letter to the Galatians. For further information about Paul’s life, see Romans: Introduction.

OUTLINE

1. Introduction (1:1-10).
   1. Greetings (1:1-5).
   2. Reason for the Letter (1:6-10).
2. Paul’s Defense of His Apostleship (1:11-2:21)
   1. Paul’s Gospel Received Directly from God (1:11-24)
   2. Paul’s Relationship to the Other Apostles (2:1-14).
   3. Failure of the Jewish Law (2:15-21).
3. Paul’s Defense of the Gospel (3:1-4:31).
   1. Justification by Faith (3:1-14).
   2. The Law and the Promise (3:15-29).
   3. The Law and the Promise (3:15-29).
   4. Paul’s Appeal to the Galatians (4:1-31).
4. Call to Godly Living (5:1-6:18).
   1. Danger of Falling from Grace (5:1-12).
   2. Life by the Spirit (5:13-26).
   3. Two Practical Exhortations (6:1-10).
   4. Conclusion (6:11-18).