Paul's First Letters: Galatians and I & II Thessalonians

by Bob Utley

Publisher:

Bible Lessons International

, 1997

Overview

These two books were the first writings of Paul. Galatians is a clear expression of the radically new and free truth of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone. It stirred the fires of the Protestant Reformation. The Thessalonian letters give us insight into the heart of Paul in the roles of pastor and missionary. It is the definitive work by Paul on the man of lawlessness and the second coming of Christ.

Contents

Top Highlights

“At first glance, verses 2 and 5 seemingly contradict each other until a closer lexical study shows that the two words translated respectively as ‘burden’ and ‘load’ had different usages. The former word in verse 2 (baros) means a ‘crushing weight’ while the latter word in verse 5 (phortion) means a ‘soldier’s backpack filled with his needed equipment.’ Mature Christians must carry the load of responsibility for themselves and sometimes, for others.” (Page 65)

“Each of these three phrases is in a grammatical construction that asserts that the work is produced by faith, the labor is produced by love, and the steadfastness is produced by hope. The focus is on active, faithful believers. Faith is always a response to God’s initiating activity.” (Page 79)

“Their problem was not that they denied the central place of Christ in salvation, but that they required the Mosaic Law.” (Page 10)

“The whole point of the typology is that one was born by natural means by a servant girl and one was born by supernatural means according to the promise of God by a free woman, his wife. The emphasis throughout this context has been, as in verse 23, on the promise of God versus human effort.” (Page 49)

“This should not be misconstrued to mean ‘you who are sinless.’ Spiritual maturity has already been discussed in 5:16–18 & 22–25. Spiritual maturity is: (1) having the mind of Christ; (2) living out the fruit of the Spirit; (3) having a servant’s heart; and (4) serving fellow Christians.” (Page 64)

Product Details

• Title: Paul's First Letters: Galatians and I & II Thessalonians
• Author: Bob Utley
• Publisher: Bible Lessons International
• Publication Date: 1997
• Pages: 167

About Bob Utley

Bob Utley is a dynamic and inspirational Bible teacher. He feels that the Lord has given him a gift of relating to all types of people, especially those who have been turned off by "religiosity." Bob was born in 1947 in Houston, Texas. He is married to the former Peggy Rutta and they have three children and three grandchildren. He has earned degrees from East Texas Baptist College, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and has done post-graduate work at Baylor University, Wycliffe Bible Translators' Summer Institute of Linguistics, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has pastored several churches in Texas. Currently Bob conducts revivals and Bible conferences both in the United States and abroad.