Outline of Galatians: No other gospel
There is one gospel: God justifies Jew and Gentile by faith in Christ, not works of the law, and makes them Abraham's heirs, free in the Spirit.
Part 1 · No other gospel 1:1–10
Paul greets the churches as an apostle sent by Christ, and instead of giving thanks rebukes them for turning to another gospel.
Sent by Christ 1:1–5
Apostleship from Christ and the Father, and the gospel in a line: Christ gave Himself to rescue us from this evil age.
A different gospel 1:6–10
They are deserting God for a distortion; a curse falls on any preacher of another gospel, even an angel.
Part 2 · The gospel from God, not from men 1:11–2:21
Paul's gospel came by revelation, was confirmed in Jerusalem and defended at Antioch: a man is justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the law.
- 2Galatians 2: Justified by faith in Christ
Jerusalem's leaders confirm Paul's gospel; at Antioch he defends it: no one is justified by works of the law.
Not even Titus … was compelled 2:1–5 · The right hand of fellowship 2:6–10 · I opposed him to his face 2:11–14 · Not by works of the law, but by faith 2:15–16 · Certainly not! 2:17–18 · Christ lives in me 2:19–21
Called by revelation 1:11–24
God revealed His Son to the persecutor; Paul did not go to Jerusalem for years, and then only to visit Cephas.
- 1Galatians 1: I received it by revelation
There is only one gospel, and Paul received it by revelation from Jesus Christ, not from men.
Sent not from men nor by man 1:1–5 · Not even a gospel 1:6–10 · By revelation from Jesus Christ 1:11–12 · Called by His grace 1:13–17 · They glorified God because of me 1:18–24
Confirmed in Jerusalem 2:1–10
The pillars added nothing, did not compel Titus to be circumcised, and gave Paul the right hand of fellowship.
Peter opposed at Antioch 2:11–14
Peter withdrew from Gentile believers out of fear, and Paul rebuked him for not walking by the gospel's truth.
Justified by faith in Christ 2:15–21
The thesis: not by works of the law but by faith in Christ; crucified with Him, we live by faith in the Son of God.
Part 3 · Sons of Abraham by faith, heirs of the promise 3:1–4:31
Their experience and the Scriptures agree: those of faith are Abraham's sons, the law was a guardian until Christ, and believers are free sons and heirs.
- 3Galatians 3: Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise
Those of faith are Abraham's sons; the law, added until Christ, the Seed, cannot annul the promise.
By hearing with faith 3:1–5 · Abraham believed God 3:6–9 · Christ redeemed us from the curse 3:10–14 · And to your seed … who is Christ 3:15–18 · Why then was the law given? 3:19–22 · Our guardian to lead us to Christ 3:23–25 · All one in Christ Jesus 3:26–29
- 4Galatians 4: No longer a slave, but a son
God sent His Son and His Spirit to make slaves into sons; the children of promise belong to the free woman.
When the time had fully come 4:1–7 · Known by God 4:8–11 · Until Christ is formed in you 4:12–20 · The women represent two covenants 4:21–27 · Children of promise 4:28–31
The Spirit by hearing with faith 3:1–5
They received the Spirit and saw God's works by hearing with faith, not by works of the law.
Blessing and curse 3:6–14
Abraham was justified by faith; the law brings a curse, and Christ bore it so the blessing comes to the nations.
The promise before the law 3:15–18
God's covenant promise to Abraham and his Seed, Christ, cannot be annulled by the law given 430 years later.
Why then the law? 3:19–29
Added because of transgressions until the Seed came, the law was a guardian; in Christ all are sons and Abraham's heirs.
From slaves to sons 4:1–7
In the fullness of time God sent His Son to redeem and His Spirit to make us sons and heirs.
Do not go back 4:8–20
Why return to weak principles and holy days? Paul pleads, recalling their welcome, until Christ is formed in them.
Two covenants 4:21–31
Hagar is Sinai and bears slaves; the Jerusalem above is free and our mother; we are children of the free woman.
Part 4 · Stand firm in freedom; walk by the Spirit 5:1–6:10
Christ has set us free: refuse the yoke of circumcision, use freedom to serve in love, walk by the Spirit, and bear one another's burdens.
- 5Galatians 5: Walk by the Spirit
Stand firm in the freedom Christ won: not circumcision, but faith working through love, by the Spirit.
Stand firm, then 5:1–6 · The offense of the cross 5:7–12 · Serve one another in love 5:13–15 · Walk by the Spirit 5:16–18 · The fruit of the Spirit 5:19–23 · Keep in step with the Spirit 5:24–26
- 6Galatians 6: A new creation
Bear one another's burdens and sow to the Spirit; boast only in the cross, for what counts is a new creation.
Carry one another's burdens 6:1–5 · Whatever a man sows, he will reap 6:6–10 · The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ 6:11–16 · The marks of Jesus 6:17–18
Stand firm in freedom 5:1–12
Circumcision for righteousness cuts one off from Christ; what counts is faith working through love.
Freedom for love 5:13–15
Freedom is not license for the flesh but service in love, which fulfills the whole law.
Walk by the Spirit 5:16–26
The flesh and the Spirit are at war; the Spirit's fruit is love, joy and peace, and Christ's people keep in step with Him.
Bear one another's burdens 6:1–10
Restore the fallen gently, fulfill the law of Christ, share with teachers, and sow to the Spirit, doing good to all.
Part 5 · In his own hand: the cross and the new creation 6:11–18
Paul's autograph sums up the letter: the circumcisers boast in the flesh, Paul only in the cross, for what counts is a new creation.
Plus What TheoMaps holds for the outline of Galatians
- The 33 section notes, one for every section of Galatians
- How each of its 17 movements leads into the next, in its own words
- The shape of Galatians: 6 repeated words and phrases and 8 literary patterns
TheoMaps Plus opens the Outline of every book the way Genesis is open, on the map.