Gospels in Conflict

by George R. Knight

God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. --GALATIANS 6:14, 15, NKJV Like a cannon shot such are the opening words of Galatians, in a barrage that will extend throughout the six chapters of Paul s letter to Galatia. Paul doesn t beat around the bush with pleasantries and courtesies but gets right to the heart of the matter. And with good reason his credentials and his message have been challenged! As a result he feels a responsibility to set the record his authority, his calling, came not from the church leaders in Jerusalem, or from any other earthly authority; his commission came directly from Jesus Christ and God the Father. In order to understand the book of Galatians, it is important to understand the crisis that provoked Paul s fiery response. These issues prompted Luther to nail 95 propositions to the church door in Wittenburg, Germany, 500 years ago, and they are still central to Christianity today. The Christians in Galatia had received the genuine gospel from Paul along with the Holy Spirit. They had a genuine Christian experience. But certain Jewish Christians had come along some time after Paul established the gospel in Galatia and convinced them that something more was needed to receive God s full blessing. The Galatians accepted a counterfeit gospel. Galatians is perpetually relevant because it deals with three issues central to the Christian authority, the plan of salvation, and unity. As you study this most important book and work through some of the most significant words ever penned, may you be inspired to personal reformation.

128 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2017

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The earliest epistle from Paul predates one of the most important councils of the early Church as recorded in Acts and covers what is needed for salvation—faith or works. Gospels in Conflict: Paul’s Letter to the Galatians by George R. Knight is the companion book of the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study (3rd Quarter 2017) covering Paul’s authority, the plan of salvation, and unity. Through 14 chapters, the first of which focuses on Paul and an overview of the letter to Galatia, covering 125 pages, Knight covers the entire book of Galatians that focuses through sections from the book and gleams the most important things from them for the reader. While not exhaustive as Knight’s own Exploring Galatians & Ephesians given this book’s length, it is a handy commentary for someone studying Galatians. This was the first of two consecutive Adult Sabbath School Quarterly Bible Studies by Knight with the second focused on Romans due to the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation as Martin Luther was influenced by both of epistles by Paul.