Rachel's Deck Flashcards
Give the reasons why “southern Galatia” is the region that Paul likely addressed the letter of Galatians
to. Be able to describe Paul’s visit to this area in Acts 13-14. Who was with him when he visited southern
Galatia? Be able to name at least three cities that were in this geographical region.
Paul and Barnabas evangelized this area on their first journey (Acts 13-14) around 47- 49 AD, where they met opposition from Jewish Leaders This was especially true in the cities of Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch It is interesting to note Barnabas is mentioned three times in Galatians 2. Paul usually (Not invariably) used the Roman province name to describe a geographical area. The delegates send with Paul for his Jerusalem collection effort seem to have been from Southern Galatia
Be able to describe the reasons why Paul wrote Galatians. What does Gal 1:6-9 tell us about Paul’s
purpose in writing? What do we know about the “Judaizers” from the contents of the letter itself?
Why was Galatians written?
After Paul visited the area, a serious problem developed there- as indicated by the abruptness of Paul’s letter (Galatians 1:6)
It seems someone or perhaps a group of someones had followed him and introduced a new line of teaching (Gal 1:6-9). Many will call these false teacher Judaizers (Gal. 1:7, 5:10, 12; 6:17
This teaching apparently involved the acceptance of circumcision as a necessity for salvation (Gal 5:2), which led to an obligation to keep the whole Law of Moses in Paul’s eyes (Gal. 5:3)
Paul was shocked that these Christians could go back so quickly (Gal. 1:6). In an area where many Christians were Gentiles this was especially troubling.
Furthermore, these Judaizers had apparently claimed to had gotten their message from Jerusalem apostles, which spurned Paul’s apostolic authority. This led to Paul’s very personal self-defense.
How many times did Paul visit Jerusalem in Acts? Which of these trips does Paul refer to in his
explanation of his apostolic experience in Galatians? How does Galatians 2 likely relate to Acts 15?
Paul made three visits to Jerusalem in Acts:
His initial visit (9:26)
His famine visit (11:30)
His council visit (15:2)
Galatians speaks of two visits (1:18 and 2:1). Galatians 2 sounds a lot like the “Theological climate” of Acts 15, thus perhaps the famine visit of Acts 11 is not mentioned in Galatians.
What does Paul tell us about his apostleship in the first verse of Galatians? What does the fact that
Galatians lacks a friendly greeting or a pleasant report about what Paul had heard from the Galatians tell
us about Paul’s purpose and tone in Galatians?
Galatians 1:1- He begins the book by stating this is from Jesus and his apostleship, not from him. (Could be directly associated with Acts 13 and 14).
- From Paul the apostle- Paul’s immediate emphasis was on his source of authority- remember the historical context.
- What qualified one to be an apostle? Luke 6:13, Mark 3:14, Acts 9, 22, 26
- Thus Paul starts with the claim that many were denying he could make.
- As Cole points out, remember that the opponents of John the Baptist and Jesus also questioned their authority.
He says, here I am, here’s how I got my authority, and God’s grace be given to you and NO thanksgiving. Was Paul being rude? He could have just seen them recently or just in response to the trouble they’ve been having.
- And all the brethren who are with me- literally the word here is “brothers” not “friends”. Refers to travelling companions of Paul.
- To the churches of Galatia- An adequate way to address these churches in Paul’s day but difficult for students of the Word ever since! Cole reminds us that we know (from Paul’s journeys)of four congregation in Southern Galatia.
Which of the following was more important to Paul: the status of the messenger or the nature of the
messenger? How does Paul describe his “former manner of life” before he met the Lord? (1:13-14)
It is not the character of the messenger, it is the content of the message.”
Vs. 10- If I wanted you to like me, I could. But that’s not what I’m here for. What’s popular isn’t what’s always right.
- A different Gospel.. Fron distorters.
- Notice also that Paul never questions anyone’s sincerity. The word “accursed” in vs. 8-( is from the Greek word anathema.
- Paul is teaching then that the status or person of the messenger does not validate his message; rather, the nature of the message validates the message (Cole 78). Not even an “angel” from heaven has the status to trump the significance of the message itself.
- Both the source (apostolic) and the substance (exalts God not man) of the Gospel matters to Paul.
Paul’s Conversion (1:10-24)
1. Paul’s protest/defense
2. Paul’s life before his conversion. He used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. Before his conversion, he obviously did not believe this Gospel.
3. Paul indicates “you have heard” about his former manner of life in vs. 13, but how?
Using the chart given in class, compare Paul to the Judaizers from Jerusalem. How did they differ in
“status,” in message, and in approaches to fellowship?
Paul! Status from supernatural revelation, acquired honor from God, authoritative, apostolic message, right-hand fellowship with the apostles, has not “changed” the ___ Gospel.
- Judaizers from Jerusalem? Elevated status from human associates, ascribed honor from old associations, a different Gospel, deceitfully claim an apostolic fellowship, cause the Galatians to turn quickly away.
What was the relevance in Paul’s description of his meeting with the other apostles in Jerusalem? Why
did Paul make this visit? Why does he tell us that Barnabas and Titus were with him? What was the
outcome of this meeting?
A. Catalyst for the visit- divine revelation
B. Purpose of the visit- to share what he had been preaching (silence the Judaizers)
C. Setting of the visit- Paul met with those “of reputation” in a fairly private setting.
D. Result of the visit- all involved shared the “right hand of fellowship.” Titus was not compelled to be circumcised. So why was Timothy circumcised in Acts 16:3?
So although there was diversity in the early church, there was unity in Diversity.• Barnabas (a Jew) and Titus (an uncircumcised Greek) went with him. Why was this important?
• Thus, Paul went with Gentile companions on a Gentile mission.
What is the main point for Paul describing how he rebuked Peter to the face in Antioch? (2:11-16) Why
did Peter deserve such a rebuke? Describe the process through which Peter came to acknowledge the
place of Gentiles in the early church? (use Gospels, Acts, and epistles)
- Paul rebukes Peter for inconsistency (Gal. 2)- Paul rebuked peter and pillar in the Jerusalem church who previously had accepted him, for being inconsistent in the :table- fellowship” in Antioch.
- The Jerusalem Meeting (Acts 15)- Peter, along with the apostles and elders, met to discuss the issue. Peter himself silenced the Judaizers by reflecting on his own experiences. (15:5-12)
The Clash with Peter
• Why does this belong here?
• Paul rebuke Peter (vs. 11-13)
o Was Peter refusing to sit at the Lord’s table with fellow Christians?
o When certain men from James showed up (Gal. 2:12; Acts 15:24) Peter’s behavior drastically changed.
o Barnabas and some other Jews followed Peter’s bad example and started to do the same thing.
• What did Paul say to Peter?
o If you as a Jew live like the Gentiles, then why should Gentiles have to worry about the living like Jews?
o While Paul and the others were not Gentile sinners, the also as Christians had not been justified by works of the law (circumcision, dietary laws, etc.)
o Peter was playing the same deadly game the Judaizers were playing.
What is “justification”? How does Paul suggest that the Galatian brethren had received the Spirit? (3:1-
5) How does this differ as compared to the suggestions from the Judaizers about how one might be
justified?
• Chapter 3- probably the most direct language.
• Can “experience” be a useful means of supporting one’s argument? Yes, especially when it is connected to the “experiences” of Scripture. (Why would you go back to living in a dorm from living with your spouse and family??)
• The experience of Paul and those in the OT could now no longer match up to the experience of the “foolish” Galatians.
o The Galatians had been bewitched by the smooth words of the Judaizers
o Use you brains!!
• Remember how you began: by faith and not by works. How had these Christians initially received the Spirit?
• What about their suffering? (vs. 4)
• What about the miracles they observed? (vs. 5)
What promise did God make to Abraham in Genesis 12:3? How does this relate to the Gentiles?
According to Paul in Galatians 3:10-14, who was “cursed”?
• Abraham’s story and Paul’s story is YOUR story! (vs. 6) They had consistently been saved by faith and not works (Gen. 15:6) (Because Abraham worked hard! But his FAITH was the reason he was saved. James says you SHOW your faith by your works.
• Abraham’s Faith
• We should be careful not to overlook Paul’s use of the OT.
• Notice also that Paul went beyond Moses, the one whom the Judaizers were appealing to “the law of Moses”, all the way back to Abraham!
o God/Scripture had spoke with one voice.
o The faithful are blessed with the faithful Abraham (vs. 9)
• The answer is simple- as many as are under the works of the law (vs. 10)
o Was Abraham under a different system since it was before the law of Moses was given?
o Paul reversed the expectation here: The Judaizers assumed the majority of people (especially Gentiles) were cursed, but Paul stated that the Judaizers were actually the cursed ones!
How does Paul’s quotation of Deuteronomy 21:23 in Gal 3:10-14 relate to the events at the cross? Why
is this particularly applicable to those who have been justified?
o Deut. 21:23
• Christ became a curse for us!
• In context of how the one executed would also curse the land if left on the tree overnight.
• What is Paul saying here? The scripture correlates with his experience in faith!
Who is the “chosen seed” among the descendants of Abraham who received the benefits of God’s
promise? What “tutor” or “guardian” filled the gap for the 430 years between the promise and the fulfillment of the promise? (cf. 3:19-29) How has Christ’s being born under the law and subsequent
redemption of the faithful affected our standing in relation to God’s promise to Abraham?
A blast from the past (4:21-5:1)
• Remember the story of genesis 16-21
o Barren Sarah and pregnant Hagar (Gen 16:1-16). Trouble followed as soon as their plan worked!
o God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah (Gen 17:7-27). Both Abraham and Sarah laughed when God gave them this promise. God would bless all the nations through Abraham.
o The promise of Isaac was fulfilled (Gen. 21-22). After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Abraham’s lie, Isaac was born 14 years after Ishmael. Trouble again followed!
Where a kid can be a kid!
• When children are left inheritances they must be tutored/guarded until the date set by the father (just the right time- Gal 4:4) comes.
• Thus, as children we were immature. We were under bondage to the “elemental things of the world” (vs. 3)
From a baby to maturity
• Christ himself was born “under the law” and delivered us from slavery.
• Now we have become full-grown! We used to be slaves, but now are blood-bought children.
• So the obvious questions is- why go back? The “holy calendar” is no longer profitable.
How does Paul describe his past interactions with the Galatian brethren? (cf. 4:12-20) What has
seemingly changed their relationship? (v. 16) In contrast to himself, what does Paul suggest was
motivating the Judaizers?
Paul’s personal appeal
• Paul remembered how well the Galatians had treated him (vs. 12-15)
• They had not wronged Paul, even when he first preached to them while he was ‘afflicted” (vs. 13). They had received hum as a messenger (Angel?) of God!
• Paul knew they would have “plucked out their eyes” and given them to him if they could have. Cole points out that perhaps Paul felt like they were now treating the Judaizers like they used to treat Paul.
Paul’s personal appeal
• Paul wanted to know why his telling them the truth had affected their relationship in such a negative way? (vs. 16)
• What motivated the Judaizers?
o Paul suggests the Judaizers were envious of the “freedom” of the Galatians
o Paul, as their “spiritual father,” was very concerned over them and wanted them to be born safely and to be completely formed.
Be able to summarize the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar from Genesis 16-21. Why does Paul allude
to this story in Galatians 4? How does this relate to the struggle between Paul and the Judaizers?
A contrast between two Sarah/ Isaac and Hagar/Ishmael
• Sarah gave birth to Isaac supernaturally
• Sarah was free
• Isaac was born by God’s promise
• Corresponds to the future Jerusalem
• Essence of freedom
• Paul and the Galatians brethren are songs of the promise
- Hagar gave birth to Ishmael naturally
- Hagar was enslaved
- Ishmael born according to flesh
- Mount Sinai (allegory of law-giving)
- Corresponds to “present” Jerusalem
- In slavery with Children
- Judaizers are persecuting the spiritual
How valuable was circumcision to Paul? According to Gal 5:5-6, what was valuable to Paul?
The Goal of the Gospel (5:2-6)
• Christ would be devalued by Gentiles who were convinced to be circumcised after they had already been baptized into Christ (vs. 2)
o Paul was not being “anti- Jewish” but was saying that without Christ such a ritual would be meaningless. They would be obliged to keep the whole law: as those “severed” from Christ.
• In contrast to those “severed” from Christ, the faithful could know that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision meant anything.
