This outline is organized around the theme of “The Gospel”. As we will see in Paul’s “Introduction” to his letter, from the outset of the letter it clear that this gospel message is uppermost in his mind. About this letter Edgar Andrews wrote, “The epistle to the Galatians can be summarized by one simple question: what is the gospel?” (Free in Christ: The message of Galatians, p. 11). In fact, the gospel message is so important that Paul pronounces a curse on any who would pervert it.

From the outline hopefully you will see how Paul organizes his thinking as he seeks to help these Galatian believers. Basically the letter is divided into three sections, preceded by an introduction and followed by a conclusion.

Introduction (1:1-10)

  1. A Salutation (1:1-5)
    1. The Letter's Source (1:1-2a)
    2. The Letter's Destination (1:2b)
    3. The Letter's Greeting (1:3-5)

  2. A Rebuke (1:6-10)
    1. For the Fickle Galatians (1:6-7a)
    2. Because of the False Teachers (1:7b-9)
    3. From a Faithful Servant (1:10)

1. The Gospel: Paul's Authoritative Message (1:11-2:21)
(Paul asserts the divine origin of his message and defends his place as an apostle in order that he might establish the authority of his gospel message.)

  1. The Divine Origin of Paul's Message (1:11-24)
  (The gospel message Paul proclaimed came from God and did not originate with the apostles.)

    1. Paul's claim alleges its divine origin (1:11-12)
    2. Paul's biography confirms its divine origin (1:13-24)
      1. Paul's pre-Christian life (1:13-14)
      2. Paul's early Christian life (1:15-24)
        1. His salvation and just after (1:15-17)
        2. His visit with Peter (1:18-20)
        3. His time in Syria and Cilicia (1:21-24)

  2. The Apostolic Recognition of Paul's Message (2:1-10)
  (The gospel message Paul proclaimed was endorsed unchanged by the apostles.)

    1. Paul's defense before the apostles (2:1-5)
      1. Required a return to Jerusalem (2:1-2)
      2. Required a firm resistance (2:3-5)
    2. Paul's standing among the apostles (2:6-10)
      1. Recognized as divinely commissioned (2:6-8)
      2. Recognized as an equal (2:9-10)

  3. The Consistent Application of Paul's Message (2:11-21)
  (The gospel message Paul proclaimed provided the basis for his rebuke of Peter.)

    1. Peter's compromise of the truth (2:11-13)
    2. Paul's stand for the truth (2:14-21)
      1. Illustrated by his rebuke of Peter (2:14)
      2. Based on proper doctrine (2:15-21)
        1. The insufficiency of the law (2:15-18)
        2. The power of faith in Christ (2:19-21)

2. The Gospel: No Bondage to Law (3:1-4:31)
(Paul insists that, according to the gospel, law-keeping cannot be added to faith either to secure salvation or subsequently to make one more acceptable to God.)

  1. The Threefold Demonstration (3:1-4:7)
  (Paul presents three illustrations that show the place of the Law.)

    1. Blessings come through faith (3:1-14)
      1. Proved by reflective thinking about salvation(3:1-5)
        1. About the source of their problem (3:1)
        2. About the work of the Spirit (3:2-3)
        3. About the ministry of God (3:4-5)
      2. Proved by the case of Abraham before the Law (3:6-9)
        1. His righteousness was based on faith (3:6)
        2. Our faith makes us like Abraham (3:7-9)
      3. Proved by the exclusion of works under the Law (3:10-14)
        1. Works bring a curse (3:10-12)
        2. Faith brings salvation (3:13-14)

    2. The Character of the Abrahamic Covenant (3:15-22)
      1. The Character Described (3:15-18)
        1. The nature of any covenant (3:15)
        2. The nature of this covenant (3:16-18)
          1. Included the one offspring (3:16)
          2. Not voided by the law (3:17)
          3. Based on a promise (3:18)
      2. The Character Defended (3:19-22)
        1. Does not make the Law purposeless (3:19-20)
        2. Does not make the Law inconsistent (3:21-22)

    3. Life Before and After Christ's Coming (3:23-4:7)
      1. The Contrast Given (3:23-29)
        1. Before faith (3:23-24)
        2. After faith (3:25-29)
          1. Placed as sons (3:25-26)
          2. Clothed with Christ (3:27-29)
      2. The Contrast Explained (4:1-7)
        1. Through an analogy (4:1-3)
        2. Through God's plan (4:4-7)
          1. The new status (4:4-5)
          2. The new result (4:6-7)

  2. The Twofold Appeal (4:8-31)
  (Paul appeals for liberty over bondage.)

    1. An Appeal to Common Sense (4:8-20)
      1. Paul's Observation (4:8-10)
      2. Paul's Concern (4:11)
      3. Paul's Appeal (4:12-20)
        1. As a brother (4:12-15)
        2. As a ally (4:16-18)
        3. As a mother (4:19-20)

    2. An Appeal to Reason (4:21-31)
      1. Paul's Question (4:21)
      2. Paul's Answer (4:22-31)
        1. Statement of the answer (4:22-27)
          1. Historical Background (4:22-23)
          2. Allegorical Interpretation (4:24-27)
        2. Application of the answer (4:28-31)
          1. As children of promise (4:28-29)
          2. As children of the free (4:30-31)

3. The Gospel: Freedom in Christ (5:1-6:10)
(Having laid the groundwork for Christian liberty, Paul presses to show how liberty in the gospel is endangered and how it affects the way we are to live.)

  1. Freedom is Imperiled by Legalism (5:1-12)
  (Paul demonstrates how liberty is endangered by legalism.)

    1. An exhortation to the Galatians (5:1)
    2. A warning to the Galatians (5:2-6)
      1. The wrong direction (5:2-4)
      2. The right direction (5:5-6)
    3. A condemnation of the Troublemakers (5:7-12)
      1. Who encouraged disobedience (5:7-8)
      2. Who spread their message (5:9-10)
      3. Who nullified the cross (5:11-12)

  2. Freedom is Perverted by Lawlessness (5:13-26)
  (Paul demonstrates how liberty can be abused by the flesh.)

    1. The reality of perversion (5:13-18)
      1. Created by the flesh (5:13-15)
      2. Solved by the Spirit (5:16-18)
    2. The recognition of perversion (5:19-26)
      1. Works versus Fruit (5:19-23)
        1. Works of the flesh (5:19-21)
        2. Fruit of the Spirit (5:22-23)
      2. The expected pattern (5:24-26)

  3. Freedom is Perfected by Love (6:1-10)
  (Paul demonstrates the important place of love with liberty.)

    1. Which restores the fallen (6:1)
    2. Which assists the burdened (6:2-5)
    3. Which supports the teacher (6:6)
    4. Which strives to do well (6:7-9)
    5. Which reaches out to others (6:10)

Conclusion (6:11-18)

  1. A Review (6:11-17)
    1. Paul's Warning about the Troublemakers (6:11-13)
    2. Paul's Confidence because of Christ's Work (6:14-16)
    3. Paul's Marks As God's Servant (6:17)

  2. A Benediction (6:18)

[The broad outline is based on the outline in The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians by Charles R. Erdman.]

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