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GALATIANS CHAPTER 1
THE TRUE GOSPEL
Questions and Answers…
Please note: Some of my answers are lengthy for clarity. Yours will likely be shorter, which is fine.
When did Paul establish the church at Galatia?
During Paul’s first missionary journey, we see that he sailed to Antioch, which is one of the cities in Galatia:
“From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.” – Acts 14:26-28
According to Biblestudy.org this was late Spring 44 A.D. to Fall 46 A.D.
What is the main theme of this epistle?
Paul was writing to the Galatians to set the record straight regarding the works of the law, and justification through faith in Jesus Christ.
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” – Galatians 2:16
Describe the two main reasons Paul wrote this letter.
Some Jewish believers were questioning Paul’s authority while preaching a false doctrine that Gentiles should be keeping the law.
Paul writes to both establish his authority and get the church back on track regarding justification by faith.
“Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)” – Galatians 1:1
Who were these individuals trying to pervert the gospel and sway the Galatians? What were they saying about him? Look up Martin Luther’s Commentary on the epistle of Galatians for background on this question.
In Martin Luther’s commentary on the Epistle of the Galatians, he writes, “These Jewish-Christian fanatics who pushed themselves into the Galatian churches after Paul’s departure, boasted that they were the descendants of Abraham, true ministers of Christ, having been trained by the apostles themselves, that they were able to perform miracles. In every way they sought to undermine the authority of St. Paul. They said to the Galatians: “You have no right to think highly of Paul. He was the last to turn to Christ. But we have seen Christ. We heard Him preach. Paul came later and is beneath us. It is possible for us to be in error–we who have received the Holy Ghost? Paul stands alone. He has not seen Christ, nor has he had much contact with the other apostles. Indeed, he persecuted the Church of Christ for a long time.”
Why was Paul so upset that they were believing these lies?
Paul had a passion to preach the gospel of Christ, and nothing but the truth of that gospel. He was invested in the lives of his converts as a father is to his children. In fact in Galatians 4:19, he refers to them as dear children, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.”
Explain verse 8. Define accursed – or, Greek ἀνάθεμα anathēma (anathema)
Anathema means to be banned or excommunicated. It can also mean a person or a thing that is doomed to destruction.
What Paul is saying here is that when someone is perverting the gospel of Christ, we shouldn’t be entertaining that person as a brother in Christ.
It’s important to note that Paul’s concern was not with differing interpretations that still align with fundamental truths of Christianity, but with false teachings that pervert the gospel of grace through faith in Christ.
These men that Paul mentions were clearly trying to sew discord. They were bad mouthing God’s anointed apostle and perverting the gospel of grace through faith in Christ.
What do we learn about Paul’s past from both this chapter and Acts 9:1-2?
Paul (Saul) was a Pharisee of the tribe of Benjamin. He excelled above his peers, exceedingly zealous of Jewish tradition. He opposed the birth of the church and the gospel of Christ. Seeking to destroy the work of God, it was his mission to seize and punish the disciples. In fact, Saul was present at the stoning of Stephen as we see in Acts 7:58.
Describe Paul’s conversion. (See Act 9:3-30)
Saul, later known as Paul, was on the road to Damascus, in fact, he was on his way to the synagogues there. His mission was to arrest any followers of Christ and bring them back to Jerusalem.
Before he got there, Jesus appeared to Paul in a bright light saying, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” He was then instructed to go to the city where he would further be instructed.
Paul was trembling–his companions were speechless.
Paul was brought to the city of Damascus where he waited. He was blind, and didn’t eat or drink for three days.
There was a disciple in that city named Ananias who was well aware of Paul’s reputation, and God told Ananias to go speak to Paul. Of course Ananias was afraid, but obedient to the command of God.
“Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” – Acts 9:17
Immediately Paul’s sight returned. He started eating again, and was strengthened.
He spent time with the disciples and without delay began to preach the gospel of Christ in the synagogues, marking a profound transformation from one of the fiercest persecutors of Christians to one of its most passionate advocates.
Explain why Paul felt the need to share his conversion.
Paul needed to establish his authority and help the Galatians understand that he was not called by man, but called by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Not only that, but we also see in chapter 2 that Paul’s apostleship was confirmed by the other apostles. They understood that the gospel of uncircumcision was committed to Paul and that the gospel of circumcision was committed to Peter.
These naysayers who spoke against Paul had no authority to do so. Paul on the other hand was given this authority by Jesus Christ.
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