[The New International Commentary on the New Testament 01] • The Epistle to the Galatians by Fung, Ronald Y.K. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Editor’s Preface Author’s Preface Abbreviations Bibliography INTRODUCTION

I. The Location of the Galatian Churches II. The Identity of the Galatian Agitators III. The Date of the Epistle IV. The Genre of Galatians

TEXT, EXPOSITION, AND NOTES

I. Autobiographical Defense 1: Background (1:1–10)

A. SALUTATION (1:1–5)

1. The Sender (1:1–2a) 2. The Recipients (1:2b) 3. The Greeting (1:3–5)

B. CONDEMNATION OF THE COUNTERFEIT GOSPEL (1:6–10)

1. The Galatian Crisis (1:6–7) 2. Anathema on Preachers of a Different “Gospel” (1:8–9) 3. Paul’s Only Concern (1:10)

II. Autobiographical Defense 2: Paul’s Independent Gospel and Apostleship (1:11–2:14)

A. THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF PAUL’S GOSPEL (1:11–12)

1. Not from Humankind (1:11–12a) 2. By Revelation (1:12b)

B. PAUL’S FORMER LIFE (1:13–14)

1. Persecution of the Church (1:13) 2. Progress in Judaism (1:14)

Additional Comment 1: Reasons for Paul’s Persecution of the Church

C. PAUL’S CALL TO APOSTLESHIP (1:15–17)

1. God’s Sovereign Call (1:15–16a)

Additional Comment 2: Further Observations on 1:16a

2. Paul’s Obedient Response (1:16b-17)

Additional Comment 3: Paul’s Interest in the Gentiles

D. PAUL’S FIRST POST-CONVERSION VISIT TO JERUSALEM (1:18–20)

1. The Circumstances of this Visit (1:18–19)

Additional Comment 4: Paul’s Interest in the Historical Jesus Additional Comment 5: The Apostolic Status of James

2. An Oath of Truthfulness (1:20)

E. PAUL IN SYRIA AND CILICIA (1:21–24)

1. His Non-acquaintance with the Churches of Judaea (1:21–22) 2. His Preoccupation with Preaching in Syria-Cilicia (1:23–24)

F. PAUL’S SECOND POST-CONVERSION VISIT TO JERUSALEM (2:1–10)

1. The Time and Reason for the Visit (2:1–2a) 2. Laying the Gospel before the Leaders (2:2b) 3. Titus Not Circumcised (2:3–5) 4. Nothing Added to Paul (2:6) 5. Agreement over Division of Labor (2:7–9) 6. The Sole Request Made of Paul (2:10)

G. AN INCIDENT AT ANTIOCH (2:11–14)

1. The Course of Events (2:11–13) 2. Paul’s Confrontation of Peter (2:14)

III. Main Argument: Exposition of the Doctrine of Justification by faith (2:15–5:12)

A. PAUL’S ADDRESS (2:15–21)

1. Proposition: Justification by Faith (2:15–16) 2. Defense: The Negative Argument (2:17–18) 3. Defense: The Positive Argument (2:19–20) 4. Defense: The Death of Christ (2:21)

Additional Comment 6: Significance of the Antioch Incident

B. AN APPEAL TO EXPERIENCE (3:1–6)

1. A Series of Questions (3:1–5) 2. An Answer from Scripture (3:6)

C. FROM CURSE TO BLESSING (3:7–14)

1. Faith: The Way to Blessing (3:7–9) 2. Law: Involving a Curse (3:10–12) 3. Christ: Providing the Transition (3:13–14)

D. THE LAW AND THE PROMISE (3:15–22)

1. The Priority of the Promise (3:15–18) 2. The Purpose of the Law (3:19–22)

E. CHRISTIAN MATURITY (3:23–4:11)

1. The Coming of Faith: Sonship to God (3:23–29) 2. The Coming of Christ: Spiritual Maturity (4:1–7) 3. Cultic Observance: Relapse into Slavery (4:8–11)

F. A PERSONAL APPEAL (4:12–20)

1. Paul’s Plea (4:12) 2. Then and Now (4:13–16) 3. False Zeal and True Concern (4:17–20)

G. THE ANALOGY OF HAGAR AND SARAH (4:21–5:1)

1. The Facts (4:21–23) 2. Their Spiritual Meaning (4:24–27) 3. Its Application to the Galatians (4:28–30) 4. Summary and Appeal (4:31–5:1)

Additional Comment 7: Paul’s Treatment of the Hagar-Sarah Story

H. CONTRASTS OF THE GOSPEL (5:2–12)

1. Faith versus Works (5:2–6)

Additional Comment 8: Justification at the Last Judgment?

2. The Cross versus Circumcision (5:7–12)

IV. Guidance on Practical Christian Living (5:13–6:10)

A. LIFE IN THE SPIRIT (5:13–26)

1. Liberty, Not License (5:13–15) 2. The Spirit the Overcomer (5:16–18) 3. The Works of the Flesh (5:19–21) 4. The Fruit of the Spirit (5:22–23) 5. Application and Appeal (5:24–26)

EXCURSUS: INDICATIVE AND IMPERATIVE B. SPECIFIC EXHORTATIONS (6:1–10)

1. Helping One Another (6:1–5) 2. Doing Good (6:6–10)

V. Summary and Conclusion (6:11–18)

A. TRUE VERSUS FALSE BOASTING (6:11–16)

1. Big Letters in Paul’s Own Hand (6:11) 2. Motives of the Circumcision Party (6:12–13) 3. The Meaning of the Cross (6:14–15) 4. The Rule of Blessedness (6:16)

B. CONCLUSION (6:17–18)

1. A Final Appeal (6:17) 2. Final Benediction (6:18)

Summary of Theological Conclusions: The Status of “Justification by Faith” in Paul’s Thought as Seen in Galatians

Notes I. Subjects II. Authors III. Scripture References

← Prev
Back
Next →

← Prev
Back
Next →