Walking with St. Paul Galatians 1:1-10

Nov 1, 2008

Last week, I gave you the context for Galatians before we enter the actual content of the letter.  I also shared a simple outline of Paul’s letter.  I want to offer two more ways to structure the letter.  Remember, this information is also shared in a podcast for those of you who prefer listening to reading. 

 

I believe that the letter to Galatians is a giant chiasm.  A chiasm is a literary element that arranges words themes in the text into a mirror-like reflection.  One of its functions was likely to help people memorize long narratives or important blocks of text.  Sometimes a large chiasm (like Galatians) can be called a palistrophe.  With this in mind, here is another way of looking at the structure of the letter:

 

A 1.1-1.10                               Introduction

B     1.11-2.10                         Paul's life “in the flesh” and “in the Spirit”  

C             2:11-3:5                   The True Gospel vs. Counterfeit

D                 3.6-29                  Argument from Abrahamic Narrative

E                      4.1-20              CORE: Freedom and Adoption in Christ

D'                 4.21-4.30            Argument from Abrahamic Narrative

C'             5.1-5.15                  The True Gospel vs. Counterfeit

B'     5.16-6.11                         Way of the Flesh vs. Way of the Spirit

A' 6.12-18                               Conclusion

 

There is also an “organic” flow of the text that actually uses organic imagery.  In Galatians 3, Paul will call Christ the “Seed”; Gal. 5 he will propose the “fruit” of the Spirit; and chapter 6 speaks of reaping a harvest. They are a key part of Paul’s argument for unity in Galatia. Since there is one Seed of Abraham (Christ), by extension there is one family of believers (not two - Jews and Gentiles) who will see the results of that Seed in their lives, manifested in the “Fruit” of the Spirit with nine characteristics (not nine different fruits), and if the believers persevere, they will enjoy a rich and bountiful harvest. 

 

Now, let’s look at the first ten verses of Galatians - a combination introduction and exordium. 

 

Galatians 1:1 - Paul an apostle — not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead