BIBLE STUDY TEXTBOOK SERIES
GUIDANCE FROM GALATIANS
A NEW
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Commentary
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Workbook
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Teaching Manual
DON EARL BOATMAN
Paraphrase by James MacKnight
Word Studies by Kenny Boles
College Press, Joplin, Missouri
Copyright © 1961
Don Earl Boatman
Revised 1976
Copyright ©
College Press Publishing Company
Second Printing, 1981
Third Printing, 1987
Printed and Bound in the United States of America
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 1961: 70-1141 International Standard Book Number: 0-89900-039-8
DEDICATION
To my mother and father who gave to us children the priceless gift of a knowledge of God's Word, pure, simple, and without denominational names, creeds or customs.
With deep affection, I dedicate this book of my faith and conviction, to my parents, with the hope that I can give to others a portion of what these have given to me.
FOREWORD
This new edition contains the best features of the original book with several additions which we know will prove helpful.
Professor Kenny Boles has developed a section on Greek word studies. These strengthen the previous work. I have also added some special English studies and outlines to make the book more useful than before.
The Book of Galatians is a very important doctrinal book in the New Testament and Christians should study it in depth. This edition will help to clarify New Testament truth for the readers, as we refer to the original language in many places.
Don Earl Boatman
Study of the Scriptures in the original Greek can often sharpen our focus on the meaning. The Greek word studies are added here to help make the message of Galatians more vivid and more precise. A Special Study on the Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit can be found at the end of this book.
To assist the English reader, the Greek words are first transliterated into English, and then written phonetically. The accented syllable is written with capital letters.
It is my fervent hope that these word studies will lead you to understand God's Word more clearly, and to follow God's Will more completely.
Kenny Boles
PREFACE
The Book of Galatians is an inspiring book to read and to study. It is a doctrinal book with logic to challenge the thinking person, and with truth to edify those who are confused on the subject of the Christian's relationship to the old covenant.
I have not spent time on the North Galatian Theory. The truths of the book are applicable to all men. The works of the flesh are to be avoided by all men east, west, north and south while the fruits of the Spirit are to be enjoyed by men everywhere.
The notes of this book were first developed in my early years of teaching in Minnesota Bible College. I appreciate the inquiring minds who helped me to search for the profound truth of the Gospel.
Mrs. Donald Fream, Professor in Ozark Bible College, worked laboriously to make the manuscript worthy of a typist's labors. Mrs. Russell Watts, the wife of a minister, and mother of two small sons, worked sacrificially as the typist.
If this book is valuable, Don DeWelt who urged and prodded me to write it should receive credit beyond the comprehension of all who have never published a book.
I pray earnestly that the readers may find this book to be practical, and that through the study of it they will come to a greater appreciation of the one great book which alone is inspired.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS
I.
TO WHOM WRITTEN. This is a unique epistle in that it is written to a group of churches. It is not to a single congregation, nor to a city people, but to the churches of a district: Galatia.
A.
The Location.
1.
It was in central Asia Minor.
2.
The province was one part of the district.
B.
The History Before Paul.
1.
The Territory.
a.
It originally belonged to the Phrygians.
b.
Certain tribes of Gauls (French) in their restless conquest-loving spirit invaded the land. These tribes tried to overrun Greece, but were repulsed and settled in this area, which bore their name eventually.
2.
The Dates of Important Events.
a.
They originally settled about 279 B.C.
b.
In 189 B.C., they were conquered by the Romans, but allowed to keep their own king.
c.
In 25 B.C. their self-government was taken away.
3.
The Division of the Galatians.
a.
They were divided into three tribes, each occupying sub-districts.
b.
The cities of Tavium Persinus and Anarya (now Ankara) were their capitals.
C.
The People.
1.
The Race.
a.
The majority were of the Celtic race, ancestors of the modern French, Welch, Irish, and Scotch.
b.
Phrygians, Greeks, Jews and Romans also settled there.
2.
Language.
a.
The main language was Greek, the universal language.
b.
They also retained the Gallic tongue until the fourth century, when, according to Jerome, they could converse with the French.
3.
Character.
a.
Julius Caesar says, The infirmity of the Gauls is that they are fickle in their resolves and fond of change, and not to be trusted.
b.
Thierry says, Frank, impetuous, impressible, eminently intelligent, but at the same time extremely changeable, inconsistent, fond of show, perpetually quarreling, the fruit of excessive vanity.
c.
Paul says, I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel. O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified? (Galatians 1:6; Galatians 3:1)
D.
Paul's Experience With The Galatians.
1.
Paul and company set sail to Perga in Pamphylia. Acts 13:13
a.
Lycaonia, Pisidia, Pamphlia, and a large part of Phrygia were in Galatia.
b.
The letter here may have been to the northern Galatians.
c.
Probably Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe were the churches, for these were in Paul's journey on his first visit.
2.
Paul's visit among them is recorded in detail in Acts 14:1-28.
3.
His journey through Phrygia and Galatia is recounted in Acts 16:6; Acts 18:23.
II.
THE PAULINE AUTHORSHIP.
A.
Stated. Galatians 1:1
B.
Indicated. Galatians 6:11
III.
THE DATE.
A.
The dating is not scientifically accurate as yet.
B.
It was written after his visit of Acts 18:23, which occurred about 54-58 A.D.; therefore, 57 A.D. is about right.
IV.
THE PLACE OF WRITING.
A.
Macedonia is a possibility.
B.
Corinth is a possibility.
V.
THE PURPOSE OF WRITING.
A.
To Overcome the Influence of Judaizing Teachers.
B.
To Establish His Apostleship.
1.
The Judaizers felt the necessity of destroying Paul's influence.
2.
They sought to do this by denying that he was an apostle of Christ.
VI.
THE RELATION OF THE EPISTLES OF GALATIANS AND ROMANS.
A.
The relation of the Law to the Gospel is discussed in both.
B.
Justification by obedience to God by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law is discussed in both.
STUDY QUESTIONS
1.
Why is this a unique epistle?
2.
Where was Galatia located?
3.
What was the nature of the people of Galatia?
4.
What was Paul's experience with them?
5.
Where in Acts do we read of Paul's preaching to them?
6.
Did Paul make an effort to prove that the epistle was from his hand?
7.
How many times did Paul visit them?
8.
Tell of the apparent purpose of this letter.
9.
How is Galatians related in subject matter to Romans?