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Summarizing we put the position as follows:
(1)
By this view no visit of Paul to Jerusalem is suppressed.
(2)
The most forceful arguments that could be used at the time are used.
(3)
No inconsistency is intruded into the Acts.
(4)
Every phrase which bears upon the date is simply and naturally explained.
(5)
The authority of the Council at Jerusalem and the decree made, remain unimpaired.
(6)
The epistle was written from Antioch in Syria, or the neighbourhood.
(7)
The Churches of Galatia were those of Pisidia, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe.
(8)
The epistle to the Galatians is probably the earliest book in the New Testament.
The seven epistles of the early ministry therefore appear to be arranged as follows:
Galatians.
I and II Thessalonians.
Hebrews.
I and II Corinthians.
Romans.
Our next study must seek to discover the key doctrines that bind this series of epistles
together as one whole, but nothing further can be added at the moment, without
encroaching too far into our limited space.
#44.
The seven early epistles as a whole.
pp. 224 - 227
Two rather controversial subjects have occupied our attention in the last two articles,
namely the authorship of the epistle to the Hebrews, and the identification of the Galatian
churches, together with the probable chronological position of the epistle addressed to
them.
We must now submit these seven epistles to an examination in order that the
distinctive teaching that they give may be made evident; but before we endeavour to
open up the epistle to the Galatians itself we must see the seven epistles as one whole,
and the relationship of each epistle to that whole. In order to do this some acquaintance
with the teaching of each of these epistles is necessary.
We therefore approach the epistle to the Galatians with the object of discovering some
basic theme which will relate its content with the rest of the group. The moment we
commence to read this epistle we are conscious of conflict, something vital is at stake,
something that must be met, single-handed if need be, something that may necessitate
withstanding Peter to the face and yielding "not for an hour" to those who "seemed to be
pillars" at Jerusalem. The "truth of the gospel" was in jeopardy (Gal. 2: 14), the liberty
of the believer was in danger (Gal. 4:) and the labours of the apostle rendered valueless.