Paul the Outlaw
I. The Context (See Dr. Mark's Chronology, 55 C.E.)
II.
The Rhetorical Situation: The proclamation of a "perverted" form of the gospel messageA. Who were the ones "unsettling" the Galatians and what did they teach? (4:10; 5:2-4)
B. Paul's Attitude Towards Them (1:8-9; 5:12)
C. The Prescript: From an Apostle "sent neither by men nor from human authority" (1:1-5)
III. The Rhetorical Response: A Defense of the Message and the Messenger
A. Introduction (proem) and Thesis (propositio) in 1:6-12
1. Paul's astonishment at their turning to a different, perverted, human gospel
2. Paul's curse on any who preach a different gospel
3. Implied Thesis: "There is no other gospel than the one revealed to me, and I'm going to prove it!"
B. Arguments (probatio)
1. First Heading (1:11 - 2:21): The gospel is proven by Paul's experience:
a. Of receiving a gospel given by the risen Christ, not (a) man (1:11 - 24)
b. Of successfully defending the gospel he proclaims at the Jerusalem conference (2:1-10)
c. Of successfully(?) opposing the circumcision party and Peter in Antioch (2:11-17; cf. James 2:14-26)
d. Of personally realizing the priority of Faith over Law (2:18-21)
2. Second Heading (3:1 - 5:1): The gospel is proven by the Galatians' experience:
a. Of the Spirit (3:1-5)
b. Of the blessing of Abraham (3:6-29)
c. Of going from slaves to sons (4:1 - 5:1)
C. Conclusion (epilogue) in 5:2 - 6:18: "The only thing that counts is faith working through love"
IV. Paul's Shocking Declarations and Insinuations about the Law of God
A. The Law puts people under a curse (3:10-14)
B. The Law of God may not be entirely "of God" (3:19-20; 4:1-11)
C. The Law is a jailor/disciplinarian/slave master (3:22-26; 4:21-31 will be discussed in a later lecture)
D. "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision are anything" (5:6; 6:15)
E. How would the Law-observant Jerusalem church react to rhetoric like this? (Acts 21:15-28)
V. Did Paul Get a Little Carried Away with his Rhetoric?