Galatians Questions Galatians Questions -- Page 1
Introduction: Who wrote the epistle? Paul, the apostle. Who were the initial recipients? It is addressed to the churches in Galatia, probably referring to the group of churches in southern Galatia that Paul founded on his first missionary journey (e.g. Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, Iconium, and Derbe). These churches likely had a core of Jewish believers, along with many Gentile converts. Later we read this in Acts 18:23, After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. When was it written? Around 50 A.D. Why was it written? To combat the tendency in the fledgling churches to incorporate the legalism of Judaism into Christianity. The Gentiles in these young churches were being pressured to become circumcised, observe the Jewish calendar, and adopt the ritual aspects of Judaism. 1:1-5 Paul s Greeting 1. What was unique about Paul's apostleship that might cause some to question it? 2. Why do you think Paul considers this point so important that He feels it necessary to emphasize it? 3. What does Paul mean by grace and peace and why is this so desired? 4. Paul says Christ gave himself for our sins that he might do what? 5. In your own words, explain to rescue us from the present evil age. Galatians Questions -- Page 2
6. What is the reason God wants to rescue us from the present evil age? 7. What is God s primary motivation for working in our lives? 1:6-10 Beware of Other Gospels 1. What was happening in the Galatian churches? 2. What about this astonished Paul? 3. Verse 6 indicates that if one deserts the gospel, he also deserts God. Why would this be true? 4. What was the nature of the "other gospel" to which the Christians in Galatia were deserting? Were they completely abandoning the true gospel? 5. What does Paul say should be the outcome of a person who preaches a different gospel? 6. Why might Paul repeat himself in verses 8 and 9? 7. Why do you think Paul is so harsh in his condemnation of those who preach a different gospel? 8. If one tries to please men, what will his relationship with Christ be like? 9. How might the way we present the gospel today be different if we were seeking the approval of people instead of God (v. 10)? 10. What are some ways the gospel is being perverted today? Galatians Questions -- Page 3
11. How can we ensure that the gospel we believe and preach today is the true gospel? 12. What does Paul mean when he says if he was pleasing men, he would not be a servant of Christ? 1:11-24 The Gospel Not of Man 1. How did Paul receive the knowledge of the gospel? How was this accomplished? 2. Why does he then give a background of himself religiously before becoming a Christian? 3. Did Paul have anything to lose by becoming a Christian? If so, what? 4. What does Paul's life as a Jew say about zeal without knowledge? 5. In what way was Paul "separated" from his mother's womb? What does this mean? 6. How is one "called" by the Lord? 7. From whom did Paul learn about Jewish law? From whom did Paul learn the gospel so as to preach it? 8. In fact, how long was it before he even went to Jerusalem? 9. In what way was James, the Lord's brother, an apostle? 10. What was it about Paul's reputation that made the churches of Judea glorify God? Galatians Questions -- Page 4
2:1-10 Paul Confirms the Message 1. Was Paul frequently in Jerusalem? Does it seem it was the headquarters of the church to him? 2. Of what was Paul concerned regarding his gospel preaching to the nations? Why did he meet privately with those of reputation in Jerusalem? 3. Why did Paul tell the Galatian brethren that Titus was not circumcised? 4. Why was it significant that Titus (a Gentile) was not compelled to be circumcised? 5. Comment on false brethren: and secretly coming in by stealth. What does this mean? 6. What was the motive of those who wanted to require circumcision? 7. What is the liberty of which he speaks? 8. For how long did Paul give in to those who advocated binding of the old Law? 9. Which three men seemed to Paul to be "pillars" of the church? What does this mean? Can there be "pillars" of the church today? 10. Does this mean God is partial or shows favoritism towards them that are? 11. Why was Paul preaching primarily to the Gentiles and not the Jews? 12. How did the leaders in Jerusalem respond to Paul's message and ministry? 13. What is meant by right hand of fellowship and how was it done? Galatians Questions -- Page 5
14. Who are the "poor" for whom Paul was urged not to forget? Does this mean helping them financially or that they should not be forgotten in the preaching of the Gospel? 2:11-21 The Hypocrisy of Peter 1. Though Paul earlier refers to Peter as a "pillar" of the church, was he infallible? 2. Why did Peter withdraw from eating with the Gentiles? 3. Who else followed Peter's lead and refused to eat with the Gentiles? Did those who followed Peter commit sin? 4. Can a man not choose to eat with whomever he good well pleases? 5. Why did Paul direct his refutation at Peter and not the others? 6. Did Paul violate Matt 18:15-16 in confronting Peter "before them all"? 7. How were Peter and the other Jews not "acting in line with the truth of the gospel" 8. How might their actions have forced "Gentiles to follow Jewish customs"? 9. Why is it wrong to make such customs a basis for fellowship (vv. 15-16)? 10. What does the word justified mean as used in verses 15-17? 11. How could Paul build again those things he once destroyed? 12. How was Paul crucified with Christ? Are we to be crucified also? Galatians Questions -- Page 6
13. How did Christ live in Paul? 14. How could one set aside the grace of God? 3:1-14 The Law vs. Faith 1. What does the word bewitched mean in verse 3:1? 2. How was Christ clearly portrayed as crucified, and what does this mean? 3. How did the Galatians receive the Spirit? 4. How will they achieve perfection? 5. What suffering is Paul talking about in verse 4? 6. Miracles were worked because of what? 7. How did Abraham achieve righteousness in God's sight? 8. What does it mean and why do we want to be called sons of Abraham? 9. How did the Scripture preach the Gospel to Abraham? 10. They were blessed because of what? 11. Cursing is reserved for those who follow what? 12. If Christ was cursed, how are we blessed through Him? Why was it necessary for someone to become a curse on our behalf? Galatians Questions -- Page 7
13. How did Christ redeem us from the curse of the law? Who is the us he is referring to, Jews or everyone? 14. They were justified by what? 15. What does it mean to live by faith? 16. They were redeemed by what? 17. The promise comes by what? 18. What are the blessings of Abraham mentioned in verse 14? 3:15-29 Of Laws, Covenants & Promises 1. What analogy does Paul use to make his point that God's covenant cannot be changed or altered once it is confirmed? 2. Is our inheritance based on law or a promise? To whom was this promise first made? 3. What is the point of distinguishing between seed or seeds in verse 16? 4. Is there a lesson here for meticulous study of the Scriptures? 5. List three reasons the Law as given. 6. What does it mean that the law was added because of transgression? 7. Other than God, who played a role in the institution of the Law? Galatians Questions -- Page 8
8. Who is the mediator mentioned in the verse? What does the word mediator mean? 9. Why does it matter that there is more than one person in the relationship? 10. How does faith free from captivity under the law? 11. If the law imprisoned or confined, how could it be a guardian or tutor? 12. The law serving as a tutor or schoolmaster did what? 13. When the purpose was realized for which the law or tutor had been bringing people, what was the conclusion in verse 25? 14. How are people made sons of God? 15. What does it mean to be baptized into Christ? 16. What does it mean to put on Christ? 17. What does taking the law out of the way and making people heirs of the promises given to Abraham a matter of faith do to societal divisions? 4:1-11 Heirs of the Promise 1. To whom does Paul compare a child in verse 1? What does Paul mean by this comparison? 2. How is a child no different from a slave? 3. Who is responsible for our salvation? Galatians Questions -- Page 9
4. When was it that we were children? 5. Why did God wait to send His Son to the world? In other words, why have the Old Law? What had to happen or be fulfilled? 6. What are the elementary principles of the world? How were we enslaved to them? 7. What did God redeem those who were under the law from? How did He do it and what did the Son s having been born of woman, burn under the law have to do with it? 8. We already have families; what does it mean to be adopted? 9. What does the Abba! Father! cry mean? 10. Who is doing the crying out, us or the Holy Spirit? 11. How does this prove that we are a child of God? 12. Paul has already told us that he is a slave (1:10). How is it that he now says we aren t slaves? Reconcile these two apparent contradictions. 13. What does verse 8 mean? What kind of service did they do to what gods? 14. Why does Paul correct himself and say or rather to be known by God? Do we not actually know God? 15. Did God not know us at one time? Galatians Questions -- Page 10
16. What are the weak and beggarly elements? What do you think has caused them to turn back to them again? 17. How is observing holidays weak and beggarly? 18. How could this have made Paul s labor in vain? And why is he afraid for them? 4:12-20 Paul s Plea 1. What had Paul become (v.12)? 2. What is the purpose of his words in 13-15? 3. Paul refers to something that may have caused the Galatians to despise him, but they did not. What might it have been? 4. Why would Paul have been counted an enemy for telling the truth? 5. Explain verse 17. 6. Is zeal always a good thing to have? When is zeal inappropriate? When is zeal appropriate? 7. To what does Paul compare is his care and concern for the Galatians (4:19). 8. What is the importance of Christ being formed in a Christian? 9. If love believes all things and hopes all things, why is Paul doubting the Galatian Christians? Galatians Questions -- Page 11
4:21-5:1 Bond & Free Woman Allegory 1. Who was/is the bondmaid mentioned in verse 22. Who was/is the freewoman? 2. What does Paul mean when he says that the son of the slave woman was born the "ordinary way" or according to the flesh, but the son of the free woman was "the result of a promise" (v. 23; see also v. 29)? 3. Explain each part of the allegory: Child What is the name of the child born to each woman? (Gen. 16:15-16; 21:1-3) Birth In what or of what were they born? (verse 23) Covenant Which covenant is represented by each? (verse 24) Condition In what condition is each? (verses 24-26) Nation Which nation is represented by each? (verses 25-26) Disposition - What behavior did each exhibit? (verse 29) 4. Was the mosaic covenant intended to be for all men or was it the promised covenant in Jesus? 5. Where is the quote of verse 27 in the Old Testament? Explain. 6. Born of the Spirit in verse correlates with what born of earlier in the chapter. Galatians Questions -- Page 12
7. What is Paul s strong plea in 5:1? Why the great concern? 8. In this context, from what are we as Christians set free? 9. What is the significance of the use of the word again? Do not be entangled again? 5:2-12 The Danger of Legalism 1. Is Paul rebuking anyone who is circumcised for any reason whatsoever? 2. What makes the difference? 3. Paul wraps up his arguments by describing four problems caused by reverting to Judaism (2-4). IF you revert to Judaism THEN: Christ profits you... You are a debtor to... Christ is of... You are fallen from... 4. With this in mind, just how much a problem is it to bind on ourselves or others any practices beyond those given of the Lord? 5. Will Jews be saved simply being Jew? 6. What is the hope of righteousness? (5) 7. How is faith going to avail anything? (6) 8. To what does Paul liken faithfulness in verse 7. Galatians Questions -- Page 13
9. How is the truth going to avail anything? (7) 10. Are Christians sometimes hindered by other Christians? Can Christians be persuaded by other Christians but it not be in line with God s calling? 11. What does this tell you? 12. And based on what is stated in verse 9, must we dismiss the potential danger when it is small or not in all? 13. From verse 11, apparently some accused Paul of being inconsistent about circumcision (after all, he had Timothy circumcised). What argument does Paul offer to counter this accusation? 14. What is the offense of the cross and what does it mean? 15. What kind of circumcision does Paul advocate in verse 12? Why is Paul so upset and harsh in his language? 5:13-15 The Danger of License 1. To what does Paul say the Galatian Christians were called? (13) 2. There is certainly a danger in following after the legalism of Judaism but is there also a danger in the liberty or license that comes in Christ? If so, what dangers? 3. How is the law fulfilled in the command to love one another? (14) 4. In the absence of love, what can sometimes be present? (15) Galatians Questions -- Page 14
5. What might be the ultimate end of such? (15) 5:16-26 Fruit of the Spirit vs. Deeds of the Flesh 1. In verses 16-17, Paul describes two things that are at odds with one another. What are they, and how are they at odds with one another? 2. What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? 3. Explain verse 18. What does this mean? 4. Why might some argue it was needful to be under the law? 4. List the works of the flesh. What stands out in the listing given? 5. What does the phrase "and such like" in verse 21 mean? 6. What will be the ultimate outcome for those who practice works of the flesh? 7. List the fruit of the Spirit. 8. How can you tell if someone has the fruit of the Spirit in their life? 9. What happens to the flesh if we are Christ's? (24). How is this done? 10. To be led by the Spirit is to walk and live in the Spirit, bearing fruit of such. True or False? 11. What three things does Paul say we should not be in verse 26? What is so dangerous about these three things? Galatians Questions -- Page 15
6:1-10 A Life of Service & Love 1. According to 6:1, what is our responsibility toward fellow Christians who get caught in sin? 2. Continuing from chapter 5, who would you who are spiritual be? 3. What should our attitude be toward the person overtaken and toward ourselves? 4. 5:14 says loving our neighbor fulfills the law. How does 6:2 describe it? 5. So, are Christians without law, because they are not under law to Moses? 6. The sins or burdens of others can lead us to feel superior. Or our efforts to rescue them make us think more highly of ourselves than we ought. How can proper methods of self-examination correct this attitude (vv. 3-4)? 7. Reconcile verse 6:2 and 6:5 which appear to contradict each other. 8. What does the word "communicate" or share in verse 6:6 mean? 9. Verse 7 says that what we sow we will also reap. What does this mean? 10. Can we easily be deceived about this? How? 11. What does God is not mocked mean in the context 12. How can it be that a Christian grows weary in doing good? Galatians Questions -- Page 16
13. Whenever opportunity presents itself to do good, what ought we to do? 14. Especially if it involves doing to good to whom? 15. And just how important is it, we continue doing good all the time? (v. 9) 6:11-18 Closing Remarks 1. What might have been the reason for Paul writing with such large letters? 2. How did some make a good showing in the flesh? 3. What was the motive for compelling others to be circumcised? (12) 4. How would Jewish Christians boast or glory in requiring Gentile Christians to be circumcised? 5. In what should the Christian boast or "glory?" (14) 6. How was Paul crucified to the world and vice versa? (14) 7. How will boasting in the cross affect our desire for the world s approval? (14) 8. In the final analysis, is there any advantage to being circumcised? What about uncircumcised? (15) 9. Why is being a new creation only what matters? (15) 10. What is the rule mentioned in verse 16? 11. Who are the true Israel of God today? (16) Galatians Questions -- Page 17
12. What does Paul mean when he says he bears in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus? (17) 13. What might have been some of those marks? 14. His closing remark longs for the grace of Jesus to remain with the Galatian brethren. According to 5:4, what might jeopardize this. Galatians Questions -- Page 18