The Bible Study Reading PlanSample

GALATIANS

AUTHOR:
The letter to the Galatians was written by the apostle Paul. He is the perfect person to write on the topic of freedom from the Law because of his past as a fully devoted Jew. He knew about freedom in Christ alone more than anyone. 

DATE:
The dating of Galatians is highly debated. Some people believe that it was written early on as the first book in the New Testament, around AD 48, while others put the dating around AD 55.

If you believe Paul was writing to northern Galatia from Ephesus the later date would make the most sense. On the other hand, if you believe Paul was writing to southern Galatia from Antioch, the earlier date, before the Jerusalem Council, would fit your view.

I'll leave that there for you to decide. Think about Paul's different journeys in Acts.

AUDIENCE:
Whether you believe Galatians was written to the northern or southern part, we can agree that it was written to the churches of Galatia.

REASON:
Paul was teaching the Galatians to be free from the Law because there were Judaizers and false teachers telling them otherwise.

THEME:
Freedom through Christ alone.

KEY VERSE:

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (5:1 ESV)

SPLIT:
Personal (1-2), Doctrinal (3-4), Practical (5-6)

KEY WORDS:

Christ, Freedom, Circumcision, Law