Studying
the
Word
for
Life
If these classes have already begun and you want to join and catch up with the audio files, or simply take the course by accessing the audio files, please let us know here.
There is one live class time on Sundays. Once you click to register, as you enter your time zone, scroll all the way to the top and select it. Then you will see the days and times for the class. Please note that if a class time has fewer than five participants enrolled, it may be canceled, changed, or modified.
Sundays: 8pm UK; 3pm EST; 2pm CST; 1pm MST; 12pm PST
Starting again on Sunday, January 31st. This course is offered for one class time on Fridays.
Course 2–GALATIANS
For many years a complete survey of Paul’s letter to the Galatians has been a part of the Worldview Intensive portion of Oxford Study Centre’s program. With hours of previous work, we typically take a full day and work through Galatians, verse-by-verse, over the span of six hours. You could call it Galatians in a day. We are excited now to be able to offer this material online!
Known as his most powerful letter, the significance of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians cannot be overstated. This short letter punches well above its weight. Arguably, it is the letter in which the apostle Paul most energetically and most aggressively pronounces, promotes, and protects the good news of Jesus Christ—the gospel that he preached to the world.
Join us for an engaging and information-rich course comprised of six weeks (see the scheduling note below) of lectures and discussions. We begin by exploring considerations of Paul’s background as an Israelite, as a pharisee, as a Roman citizen. We will explore the substance and structures of the old covenant law and the Jewish traditions that shaped Paul’s pre-Christian convictions. Then we will study each chapter of Galatians, with some special topics punctuating the course.
The goals of this course are several:
First, and foremost, our goal is to increasingly share God’s affection and aversions—to desire what he desires and despise what he despises.
Second, to pursue mastering the content of Galatians, to become more familiar with Paul’s broader theology, and to delve deeply into struggles within the early church.
Third, to gain some familiarity with Old Testament precedents that shaped Paul’s convictions regarding the relationship of works of the law, faith in Christ, and being put right with God.
Ultimately, though, the goal of this short course is that we might share God’s affections and aversions, and embody in our lives the grace, truth, and mercy of God.
Special topics and issues addressed throughout the course include:
what is the gospel Paul preached and who were his opponents?
what are justification and faith?
what are “works of the law” and how do they relate to good works?
do any old covenant laws apply to Christians today?
what about Messianic Jews and how they observe the law?
what is “the new perspective on Paul” and why is it so controversial?
why does Paul write so harshly at times?
how does Galatians relate to Romans?
why was circumcision important…and also such a problem?
how do gifts of the Spirit relate to the fruit of the Spirit?
Registration
Registration is required in advance of the beginning of the course. There are a limited number of screen seats for each class time, though there may be several class times to choose from. The fee for the course is £90. There also is an option to add another person, sharing the same screen, for £45 (a 50% discount).
Note: If classes have already begun and you want to join a class time and catch up with the audio files, please let us know here.
Suggested Materials
(Please note that the links to Amazon below are affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase using them, at no additional cost to you, a small portion of the price is given to us, to help support our ministry.)
A Bible, and nearly any translation (NIV, ESV, NKJV, NRSV), just not those that are highly paraphrastic (The Message). I prefer a wide-margin Bible. I use this one, though here is another, and, of course, there are others. A digital version would not be suitable as your main text.
A notebook to write in, though digital note-taking would be suitable.
A set of colored pencils like these. I use this set all the time and very much appreciate the quality and the hard carrying case. And don’t forget a pencil sharpener, like this one; and perhaps a regular pencil, whether wood or mechanical.
Finally, here are suggested commentaries on Galatians. For the regular class, I suggest selecting from the basic category.
Easier to Read
Keller, Timothy. Galatians for You (208 pages)
Oakes, Peter. Galatians: Paideia Commentaries on the New Testament (240 pages)
Stott, John. The Message of Galatians (204 pages)
Intermediate with Some Greek
deSilva, David A. The Letter to the Galatians (New International Commentary on the New Testament) (622 pages)
Dunn, James D.G. The Epistle to the Galatians (Black’s New Testament Commentary) (375 pages)
Schreiner, Thomas. Galatians: Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (432 pages)
Advanced and Greek with English Explanations
Keener, Craig. Galatians: A Commentary (896 pages)
Moo, Douglas. Galatians: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (496 pages)
There are some excellent specialty studies of Galatians, if you are interested in digging deeper. Some are monographs and others are journal articles or essays. Here are a few you might consider.
Barclay, John M.G. Obeying the Truth: Paul’s Ethics in Galatians (316 pages)
Barclay, John M.G. Paul and the Gift (656 pages)
Dunn, James D.G. The Theology of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (150 pages)
Dunn, James D.G. The Partings of the Ways: Between Christianity and Judaism and Their Significance for the Character of Christianity (380 pages)
Elliott, Mark, et al, eds. Galatians and Christian Theology (360 pages)
Equipment Needed
A computer or smartphone with internet access.
We will use Zoom for our meetings.
Your Time Commitment
60-75 minutes for the weekly live classes.
It is suggested that you read through Galatians once a day for the first three weeks (well under an hour), or perhaps reading it through at least three times a week at a minimum.
As the study progresses, it is suggested that you invest in a commentary and work through it for the weeks we work through each chapter of Galatians.
Dates and Content
One week prior to the start of classes it is recommended that you begin reading Galatians once each day.
January 31, February 7, 14
Zoom, introductions, materials
Suggested assignment: read Galatians once a day
Lesson: contemporary debates
Lesson: testaments and covenants
Lesson: exploring old covenant law
Lesson: from old to new covenant
Lesson: gentiles and grace in the Old Testament
Lesson: gentiles and grace in the New Testament
Assignment: read Galatians once a day, with your notebook, with colored pencils, noting and marking sections, themes, and such.
February 21
Focus: Galatians 1
Lesson: angels and curses
Lesson: Paul’s pre-Christian life
February 28
Focus: Galatians 2
Lesson: social distinctions and distancing in the first century
Lesson: works of the law and good works
Lesson: justification by faith
Lesson: dying to the law, through the law
March 7
Focus: Galatians 3
Lesson: the gift of the Spirit
Lesson: Abraham and the gospel
Lesson: the curse of the law
Lesson: why the law was added
Lesson: the law came through angels
March 14
Focus: Galatians 3-4
Lesson: Paul and women
Lesson: slavery and childhood
Lesson: metaphor, allegory, and rabbinical reasoning
Lesson: not tolerating purveyors of the false gospel
March 21
Focus: Galatians 5
Lesson: circumcision again
Lesson: obligation to the whole law
Lesson: the law of Christ and loving neighbors
Lesson: the Spirit and social ethics
March 28
Focus: Galatians 6
Lesson: loving others
Lesson: assessing others and ourselves
Lesson: circumcision and new creation
Summary: the argument(s) of Galatians
What’s Next?
Stipulations
• Fees paid are non-refundable.
• If a participant cannot attend the weekly live class for whatever reason, a recorded version of the session will be made available.
• The fee paid is for one participant in the course. If other household members desire to participate, using the same computer and video feed, a 50% discount is available for each additional participant sharing the same screen.
• Participants are expected to complete the assignments. If not completed, the value of the course will be diminished. While content learned is of some value, the ability to discover and discern for oneself is of enduring value well beyond the course.
• During the live classes, participants should mute their mics unless called on or unless, with their hands up, they are acknowledged. This will enable a smoother experience for all participating.
• One final note: while there may be a maximum number of participants, there also may be exceptions at times. Also, the minimum number of participants is 5. If fewer than 5 people sign up for any particular class time, the class may be canceled or rescheduled.