Paul's letter to Galatians questions

What is so special about the Letter to the Galatians?

It is the only letter written by Paul that is not addressed to a specific person or community. Instead, this letter is written to the region of Galatia.

What are two cities in Galatia?

Lystra and Derbe

What was the tone of Galatians? Why?

Paul's tone was negative and angry because he had just left Galatia and the Gentiles about how faith in Christ will grant them eternal life and holiness. After Paul left, they started to accept a different gospel from what Paul told them, causing them to stray from salvation. This gospel, preached by the Jewish Christians from Jerusalem (Judaizers), said one must follow the Torah Law in order to be saved; therefore, one must become a Jew before one become a Christian.

In Paul's opinion, what is enough to be saved by God? Who is threatening this salvation?

Faith in Jesus Christ; Judaizers (Jewish Christians from Jerusalem)

What term does Paul call the Galatians?

Stupid

What are Judaizers?

Jewish Christian teachers who say the Gentiles must become a Jew before becoming Christian. Therefore, one must follow the Torah Law (circumcised, eat kosher meat, and keep holy the Sabbath day) and to believe in Jesus to be saved.

What argument do the Judaizers have to undermine Paul's gospel?

Paul never encountered the earthly Jesus in Jerusalem. They encountered Jesus and were the original followers. Additionally, they said that the gospel of Paul is not the original gospel held in Jerusalem.

How does Paul confirm his authority on the Gospel?

Paul is a disciple of Christ because he encountered the post-resurrected Christ. Also, he spoke to the most important followers of Christ: James, John, and Peter.

What is another name for Peter?

Cephas ("Rock")

What is the name given to Peter, John, and James? Why?

They are known as the Pillars of the Jerusalem Church. They witnessed Jesus's miracles.

What did James, John, and Peter tell Paul to add to his gospel?

Nothing because it was perfect.

What does Paul say the Gentiles do not have to do? Why?

The Gentiles do not have to become Jews because the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ superseded the Torah Law. Therefore, faith in Christ is enough to save the Gentiles.

The intro calls Galatians a "summary of basic Pauline theology," with themes that are more fully

developed in which letter?

Letter to the Romans

What biblical figure does Paul use to defend his theology? How?

Abraham; Paul says Moses brought down the Torah Law from Mt. Sinai. Before Moses, there was no law. Abraham was born before Moses and still was a man of God and holiness. Abraham had faith in God alone and lived a righteous life. Abraham's life debunks the Jewish Christians' claim that one must follow the Torah Law to be saved.

How does Paul use the story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Isaac? Why is this offensive to the Jews?

Paul says that the descendants of Sarah and Isaac are free people. Therefore, they are not bound to the Law. They are the Gentiles and Galatians. The descendants of Hagar and Ishmael are slaves because they are bound to the Law. They are the Jews.

This would be offensive to the Jews because they believed that they were the descendants of Isaac, the promise people, not Ishmael.

According to the North Galatia Theory, when was Galatian written?

54-55AD

According to the South Galatia Theory, when was Galatian written?

48-50AD

Where was the letter written?

Ephesus

What is the key event in Paul's career mentioned in this letter that both location theories hinge

upon?

The Council of Jerusalem

What were the Galatians being "enticed" to add to Paul's gospel?

The Torah Law or observances of the Jewish Law

The intro suggests that the Jewish Christians who came to Galatia after Paul had previously been

members of which Jewish sect?

Essene sect

In the greeting, Paul specifically says that he is NOT what kind of apostle? What kind of apostle is he?

He is not an apostle by a human being. He is an apostle through Jesus Christ.

What is missing from this letter, after the greeting?

A prayer of thanksgiving

What had the Galatians done that "amazed" Paul?

They had quickly forsaken Christ.

What does Paul say should happen to anyone who preaches a gospel other than the one he

preached while in Galatia?

They shall be accursed.

In 1:12, where does Paul claim that his gospel came from?

A revelation from Christ

Briefly describe Paul's former way of life, before his experience of the risen Christ. How long after this experience did Paul go to Jerusalem, and who did he meet with there?

Paul was an enemy of the Church. He was persecute the Church of God and try to destroy it. 3 years after seeing the risen Christ, he went to Jerusalem for 15 days and meet Peter (Cephas) and James.

How long after Paul's first trip to Jerusalem was it before he made his second trip?

a. Who went with him?

b. Why did he go back?

c. In v.6, Paul mentions those who "were reputed to be important." Who were they?

d. What did they require that Paul add to his gospel?

After 14 more years, he returned to Jerusalem.

a. Titus and Barnabas

b. To preach to the Gentiles the gospel of Christ due to a revelation

c. James, Peter, and John

d. Nothing

Paul mentions three "pillars" of the Jerusalem church. Who are they?

a. What did they ask Paul to be "mindful" of, when preaching to the Gentiles?

James, John, and Peter

a. Paul should be mindful of the poor when preach to the Gentiles.

Who did Paul "oppose to his face" in Antioch, and why?

Peter; because he stopped eating with the Gentiles to protect himself from being circumcised by the Jewish Christians.

Judging by what Paul says in 2:15-21, how did Jews think they would be "justified"?

a. How does Paul think that people can be justified?

The Jews though you must follow the Torah Law to be justified.

a. Paul believes faith alone in Christ will justify the people.

Explain 2:17- Why would Paul's opponents think that Christ is a "minister of sin" if those who seek

to be "justified in Christ" are found to be sinners?

Paul's opponents think those who live with faith in Christ alone with lead one down a path of sin because Paul said those who have faith in Christ may be found as sinners.

Paul says that "through the law" he died to what?

The Law

In v21 Paul claims that his gospel does not nullify the grace of God, "for if justification comes

through the law, then..." what?

Christ died for nothing

Twice in Gal 3:1-6 Paul calls the Galatians by a rather impolite name. What is it? (a Greek adjective! a) nohtoj)

a.What have they been lead to believe that causes Paul to call them by this name?

b. What important OT figure does Paul use as to support his claim that justification comes

through faith?

c. How does this person's relationship with God refute the idea that justification comes

through following the Mosaic Law?

Stupid

a. the Galatians believed they had to be circumcised (observe Jewish Law) to be saved.

b. Abraham

c. Abraham did not have the Torah Law but he was still a man of God.

Paul says that "Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us." What

does he mean (or, how did Christ become a "curse")?

He become the curse through his death/being hung on a cross.

in v15, Paul talks about that important OT figure again, and he has a unique interpretation of the

promise that God makes to this person. To whom does Paul believe this promise refers?

a. To whom do Jews believe this promise refers?

Paul believes the promise people/ the blessing are the Galatians

a. The Jews believe this promise applies to them.

If Christ has nullified the law, why then, according to Paul, was the law necessary in the first place? When did the law stop being valid?

The Law was necessary for pointing out the sin of the Jews, but when Christ came, it became invalid.

Paul claims that before faith came, we were held "in custody." By what?

Law

If we belong to Christ, then whose "descendant" are we?

Abraham

In 4:1-7, Paul compares being Christian to a specific type of (legal) relationship. What is it?

Being an heir or child of God

What does Paul claim that the Galatians were "slaves" to before they became Christian?

Elemental powers (things of nature not God)

Acc to 2:12-14, why did Paul preach the gospel to the Galatians in the first place?

a. Paul says that when he was with the Galatians, they were so kind that they would have

done what for him?

He preached to them because of his physical illness and the Galatians were so kind.

a. So kind they would have taken their eyes out to give to Paul

In 4:21-31, Paul claims that a specific story in Genesis is actually an allegory. Explain the

following:

a. Who are the two women in this story (one is not named explicitly), and what do they

represent?

b. Who are the two children in this story (one is not named explicitly), and who do they

represent?

c. Why would "Judaizers" (like those who visited Galatia) find this interpretation offensive?

a. Sarah (free) and Hagar (slave)

b. Isaac (the free people = Galatians) and Ishmael (the slaves to the Torah = Jews)

c. Judaizers believed they were the promise people not the Galatians

Paul tells the Galatians that Christ "will be of no benefit" to them if they do what?

a. If they do this, they will be "bound" to what?

Get circumcised

a. The LawPaul says that if were to preach "circumcision," what would be abolished?

Paul says that if were to preach "circumcision," what would be abolished?

The stumbling block of cross

What does Paul think that those who are upsetting the Galatians should do to themselves?

Castrate themselves

Paul says that the whole law is fulfilled in one statement. What is it?

a. Impress me: What is ironic about the fact that Paul says this?

"To love your neighbor as yourself"

a. This is ironic because Paul used to say that the Torah was wrong, now he saying its right.

What are the two "desires" that Paul says are opposed to each other?

The desire of flesh and the Spirit

5:21 contains a disputed word that is spelled differently in different manuscripts, resulting in two

different meanings.

a. The footnote provides English transliterations of the two Greek words. Write them in Greek,

giving the English meaning for each.