General Introduction v A General Introduction to the Letters of Paul xi GALATIANS Introduction to the Letter to the Galatians 3 The Trumpet Call of the Gospel ( 1: 1-5) 7 The Slave of Christ (1:6-10) 9 The Arresting Hand of God (1:11-17) 11 The Way of the Chosen ( 1: 18-25) 13 The Man who Refused to he Overawed (2: 1- 10) 15 The Essential Unity (2:11-13) 18 The End of the Law (2: 14—17) 19 The Life that is Crucified and Risen (2: 18-21) 21 The Gift of Grace (3: 1-9) 23 The Curse of the Law (3: 10-14) 25 The Covenant that Cannot he Altered (3: 15-18) 27 Shut Up Under Sin (3: 19-22) 29 The Coming of Faith (3: 23-29) 31 The Days of Childhood (4: 1-7) 33 Progress in Reverse (4: 8-11) 36 Love's Appeal (4: 12-20) 37 An Old Story and a New Meaning (4:21—5:1) 40 The Personal Relationship (5: 1-12) 42 Christian Freedom (5: 13-15) 44 The Evil Things (5: 16-21) 46 The Lovely Things (5:22-26) 49 Burden-hearing (6:1-5) 52 Keeping It Up (6:6-10) 53 The Closing Words (6:11-18) 55 EPHESIANS Introduction to the Letter to the Ephesians 61 The Purpose of God (1:1 14) 73 Greetings to God's People (1:1,2) 74 The Chosen of God (1 : 3, 4) 76 The Plan of God (1:5,6) 79 The Gifts of God (1:7,8) 81 The Goal of History (1 : 9, 10) 83 Jew and Gentile (1 : 11-14) 85 The Marks of the Church (1:15-23) 88 Paul 's Prayer for the Church (1: 15-23) (contd.) 90 The Body of Christ (1: 15-23) (contd.) 92 The Christ less Life and the Grace of God (2:1-10) 94 Life without Christ (2:1-3) 95 Death in Life (2: 1-3) (contd.) 97 The Marks of the Christless Life (2: 1-3) (contd.) 99 The Work of Christ (2:4-10) 101 The Work and the Works of Grace (2: 4-10) (contd.) 104 B.C. and A.D. (2:11-22) 106 Before Christ came (2:11.12) 106 Hopeless and Helpless (2: 11, 12) (contd.) 108 The End of Barriers (2: 13-18) 110 The Exclusiveness of Christless Human Nature (2: 13-18) (contd.) 112 The Unity in Christ (2: 13-18) (contd.) 114 The Gifts of the Unity of Christ (2: 13-18) (contd.) 116 The Family and the Dwelling-place of God (2: 19-22) 117 Prison and Privileges (3:1-13) 119 The Great Discovery (3:1-7) 120 The Self-Consciousness of Paul (3: 1-7) (contd.) 123 The Privilege which makes a Man Humble (3: 8-13) ... 125 The Plan and the Wisdom of God (3: 8-13) (contd.) 126 Paul's Earnest Prayer (3:14-21) 127 The God Who is Father (3:14-17) 128 The Strengthening of Christ (3: 14-17) (contd.) 131 The Infinite Love of Christ (3: 18-21) 132 Worthy of Our Calling (4: 1-10) 134 The Christian Virtues (4: 1-3) 134 The Christian Gentleman (4: 1-3) (contd.) 137 The Undefeatable Patience (4: 1-3) (contd.) 138 The Christian Love (4: 1-3) (contd.) 139 The Basis of Unity (4: 4-6) 140 The Gifts of Grace (4: 7 10) 143 The Office-bearers of the Church (4:1113) 145 The Aim of the Office-bearer (4: 11-13) (contil.) 149 Growing into Christ (4: 14-16) 150 The Things which must he Abandoned (4:17—24) 151 Things which must he Banished front Life (4:25 32) 154 Things which must he Banished from Life (4: 25 32) (contd.) 156 Things which must he Banished from Life (4: 25 32) (contd.) 159 The Imitation of God (5: 1 8) ... 160 Jesting about Sin (5: 1- 8) (contd.) 162 The Children of Light (5: 9-14) 164 The Christian Fellowship (5: 15 21) 166 The Precious Bond (5:22-33) 167 The Precious Bond (5: 22 33) (contd.) 169 The Precious Bond (5:22-33) (contd.) 170 The Growth of Paul's Thought (5: 22-33) (contd.) 171 The Basis of Love (5:22 33) (contd.) 173 Children and Parents (6: 1 4) 175 Children and Parents (6:1 4) (contd.) 177 Masters and Slaves (6: 5- 9) 178 Masters and Slaves (6: 5-9) (contd.) 180 The Armour of God(6: 10-20) 181 The Final Blessing (6:21-24) 184 Further Reading 187