Exam #2: Galatians

Question 1

8. Approximately when was Galatians written?

Answer 1

Probably one of the earliest NT books, written in the late 40’s A.D.

Question 2

9. To the best of our knowledge, was Galatians written before or after the Jerusalem council recorded in Acts 15?

Answer 2

Paul makes no mention of the Jerusalem Council (49 A.D.), which would have been a powerful support for his argument (cf. Acts 15).

Question 3

10. What is the purpose of Galatians?

Answer 3

To defend salvation by faith alone; it is not by trying to keep the Law.

Question 4

What are the three sections of Galatians? How does Paul develop his purpose through the three sections of the book?

Answer 4

Paul’s Apostleship and Message Defended (Galatians 1-2).
Justification by Faith (Galatians 3-4).
Freedom in the Spirit (Galatians 5-6).

Question 5

11. Who are the Judaizers and what did they teach? Why are they a threat to the gospel?

Answer 5

(Christian Pharisees?, cf. Acts 15:1, 5) sought to compel the Gentiles to follow the Law.

Question 6

What were they saying to the Gentiles about Paul and his teaching?

Answer 6

These Judaizers also discredit Paul’s apostleship , so he defends both his position and his message in Galatians.

Question 7

12. What is different about Paul’s start to Galatians than his other letters

Answer 7

Paul launches in at the Galatians (1:5). Usually he begins with praise for his readers.

Question 8

What does it indicate about his attitude toward the Galatian Christians when writing the book?

Answer 8

It indicates Paul’s anger and concern for the Galatians. At times his Greek syntax is broken (Galatians 4:19-20), and he has nothing good to say about the Judaizers (Galatians 5:12).

Question 9

13. What three evidences does Paul argue for his apostleship in chapters 1-2? What conclusion should the Galatians come to about Paul and his message?

Answer 9

Paul received his calling from Jesus directly (Galatians 1:11-12).

The apostles at Jerusalem endorsed Paul’s message (Galatians 2:7-10).

Paul’s authority allowed him to rebuke Peter(Galatians 2:16).

The conclusion? Paul is a legit apostle, listen to him

Question 10

14. What is the essence of Paul’s rebuke of the Galatians in 3:1-5?

Answer 10

Paul explains our standing by faith, and not through the Law, by comparing two covenants: Abraham’s and Moses’.

Question 11

How should they live, now that they have come to Christ for salvation?

Answer 11

Paul teaches in Galatians 3-4 that the just shall live by faith (Galatians 3:11), representing the heart of his message.

Question 12

15. In Galatians 3:21-25, why was the Mosaic Law given? How is it our “tutor?”

Answer 12

1. Law was not given to give us life, but to prove us all as sinners and point us to God’s mercy by faith through Christ (Galatians 3:21-22).
2. The Law used to be our tutor and God’s high moral standards, to lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25).

Question 13

16. What question is addressed in Galatians 5-6, based on the argument of the book to this point?

Answer 13

How should we live?

Question 14

In what four ways does Paul answer the question in Galatians 5-6?

Answer 14

1. In freedom from the Law, loving one another by faith(Galatians 5:1-15).
2. Living in the Holy Spirit’s power, displaying His character traits as we submit to His control (Galatians 5:16-25).
3. Restoring one another when there is sin present (Galatians 6:1-5).
4. Doing good for one another, in the church and the world (Galatians 6:6-10).