St. Irenaeus Ministries

Paul puts forth several lines of argumentation in Galatians 1-4, including: 1) The Messiah is greater than Israel and is a hope for the whole world; 2) More than a fulfillment of the law, Christ is God's perfect gift for those who, in their mortal weakness, cannot hope to fulfill all the demands of God by themselves; 3) Paul's ministry to the Galatians exhibited both bona fide miracles and the introduction of the Spirit in these Gentiles' hearts; 4) The law served Israel as a tutor who controls an unruly child, but Christians are called to be adults, not mere children; and 5) It is foolish to turn from the Spirit's promptings and rely on self-justification and slavish bondage. In Chapter 4 he discusses the theology of the law and the promises of God. He teaches that the promise precedes the law, and further states that God intended for the law to show His people they had the disease of sin, that they might yearn for the Messiah's redemption. Using the two sons of Abraham in an allegory, Paul illustrat