Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians
An Exegetical Study
by William Dicks
GALATIANS—BACKGROUND AND OUTLINE
A. Galatians—Background
B. Galatians—Key Thought
C. Galatians—Outline
I. Introduction—1:1-2
II. Reasons for writing—1:3-9
A. Christ gave Himself for us—1:3-5
B. Gospel being perverted—1:6-9
III. Paul defends his apostleship—1:10-2:14
A. God’s approval is supreme—1:10
B. Paul’s authority from God—1:11-2:14
1. Called by Christ—1:11-12
2. Life in Judaism—1:13-14
3. Paul’s salvation—1:15-16
4. Paul’s visit to Jerusalem and beyond—1:17-24
5. Paul’s second visit to Jerusalem—2:1-10
6. Paul rebukes Peter—2:11-14
IV. Paul defends the gospel—2:15-6:16
A. Justification by faith above the Law—2:15-5:12
1. The works of the Law cannot justify the flesh—2:15-21
2. Spirit comes by faith—3:1-5
3. Abraham’s children are those who believe—3:6-9
4. Curse of the Law is broken by Christ—3:10-14
5. Abraham’s promise realised in his ‘seed’-Christ—3:15-18
6. Law could not fulfil the promise meant for Christ—3:19-22
7. We are no longer in need of a tutor (Law)—3:23-29
8. From slave to son—4:1-7
9. Observing days are weak and elemental—4:8-11
10. Paul expresses concern about the false teachers among them—4:12-20
11. Paul’s bond-woman and free woman allegory—4:21-31
12. Justification by the Law severs us from Christ—5:1-6
13. Galatians hindered from following the truth—5:7-12
B. Called to freedom—5:13-26
1. Do not let freedom lead to the desires of the flesh—5:13-15
2. Walking by the Spirit will lead us away from the desires of the flesh—5:16-26
C. Attitudes under the gospel—6:1-16
1. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought—6:1-5
2. You will reap what you sow—6:6-10
3. Boast in the cross, not the Law—6:11-16
V. Conclusion—6:17-18
Appendix 1: Bible translation name abbreviations