Introduction to Galatians to Paraphrase Biblical Scholar, Timothy George: Galatians Is Different from Every Other Letter Penned by the Apostle Paul
Dr. J. K. Minton August 2021 Introduction to Galatians To paraphrase biblical scholar, Timothy George: Galatians is different from every other letter penned by the Apostle Paul. From beginning to end, the six chapters with 149 verses bristle with passion, sarcasm, and anger. Of course, there is an occasional touch of tenderness—near the middle of the letter, Paul referred to the Galatians as his “dear children” (Galatians 4:19). However, as the context demonstrates, this is the cry of a distraught mother who had to endure the pains of childbirth because her children, who should have known better, were in danger of committing spiritual suicide. Paul was astonished and “perplexed” by their departure from the truth of the gospel. He feared that they had been “bewitched” and deceived. In frustration he dubbed them, as J. B. Phillips translates it, “my dear idiots” (Galatians 3:1).” The Author: Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul, but who was Paul? His letter to the Galatians contains one of his most important autobiographical comments. In Galatians, he wrote of his “previous way of life in Judaism,” his ardor for the “traditions of my fathers,” and his zeal as a persecutor of the Christians (Galatians 1:13–14; cf. Philippians 3:5–6). None of his letters indicate the city of his birth—however, on five occasions in Acts (9:11, 30; 11:25; 21:39; 22:3) he was identified as a native son of Tarsus, the chief city of the Roman province of Cilicia, a major center of commerce, culture, and education.
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