Page 63 - New Testament Survey Student Textbook

Study Section 7: Epistle to the Galatians: A Call to Take a
Stand for Christ

7.1 Connect

In walking through the fourth letter, in Bible order, take some time to think of a moment you
risked your life, investing your time, resources, and energy into someone or some people for a
good cause. And they got interested in your help, listened and followed your instructions.
Looked like a win-win situation isn’t it? Then in your absence, someone came along,
effortlessly convinced them otherwise, and they started following that other person. Knowing
that what that other person told them was all a lie, considering then how you would feel, the actions
you would take, the tone of the voice, and language you would use in response to such immature,
unthinkable, inconsiderate ill-mannered your earlier followers have been, I invite you to appreciate Paul
on how he deals with the Galatians in such kind of a situation.
Before you begin this section, just like any other section in this course, I strongly encourage that you first
read the letter/book being discussed, and then after studying the section, reread that book/letter, and
see how much sense it will make. Let’s begin…

7.2 Objectives

1. The student shall be able to locate when and where the book was written.
2. The student shall be able to name the recipients of the book.

3. The student shall be able to describe the occasion under which the book was written.

4. The student shall be able to describe the themes and purposes of the book

5. The student shall be able to explain the structure and outline of the book

6. The student shall be able to react to the impact of the book.
7. The student shall be able to name the key passages in the book

8. The student shall be able to recite the key words in the book

7.3 The Epistle to the Galatians

In Galatians, Paul focusses on what it means to be God’s people. We all know that for one to join
many groups they would have to meet certain conditions, one example is membership fee, but
the family of God is open and free for all. As Paul puts it, there is incredible freedom in Christ—
yet, at the same, His followers are called to live like Him through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Jesus has set us free, and we are to use our freedom to love others (Gal 5:1).

86 Barry, J. D., et al

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