Impact/Effort Matrix Brainstorm

THE CHURCH. LETTER OF PAUL - GALATIANS. Harlee Nicole Batulan Jessa Mae Gundan.

ISSUES/PROBLEMS. The main problem Paul addresses in the book of Galatians is the status of Gentiles in the Church. Are Gentiles converting to Judaism? The immediate occasion for the letter is a problem with Gentiles being forced to keep the Law by some persons coming from Jerusalem claiming to have authority from James. This Jewish party accepted Christ, but they held to a keeping of the Law in addition to faith in Jesus. Paul calls this a “new gospel” that is not really a gospel..

FACTS. Jerusalem. Capital city of Israel, where Paul met up with Peter and James, the half brother of Christ, some three years following the Apostle’s conversion..

INTENTIONS OF PAUL. Galatians was written because the churches of that region were facing a theological crisis. The essential truth of justification by faith rather than by human works was being denied by the Judaizers—legalistic Jews who insisted that Christians must keep the Mosaic Law. In particular, the Judaizers insisted on circumcision as a requirement for Gentiles who wished to be saved. In other words, convert to Judaism first, and then you are eligible to become a Christian. When Paul learned that this heresy was being taught to the Galatian churches, he composed an epistle to emphasize our liberty in Christ and to counter the perversion of the gospel that the Judaizers promoted..

REFLECTION. THEME VERSE OF GALATIANS. GALATIANS 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”.