GALATIANS

(Answers)

 

(Updated 02/2024)



CHAPTER 1

  1. The Galatians had tuned from following the simplicity of the gospel of Christ.
  2. The people were being taught a doctrine to go along with the gospel (likely to uphold the Mosaic Law of circumcision (Galatians 2) along with the gospel of faith).
  3. Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus made known to him that the truth of the gospel.
  4. Paul conferred with no one immediately. It was three years before he met with Peter. Paul was lead and taught by the Spirit.

CHAPTER 2

  1. Paul was compelled to go to the apostles and communicate to them the substance of his labor and teachings of the gospel to the Gentiles.
  2. a. Paul and Titus avoided being circumcised. b. They wanted to show the freedom they had in the gospel from the rituals of the law.
  3. The apostles put no Mosaic burden on the Gentiles but asked only to remember the poor saints.
  4. Peter was hypocritical because he would eat with the Gentiles who were uncircumcised, but not when the "pillars" (the leaders of the Jews) would be present.
  5. The Mosaic Law and its rituals would not justify anyone but having faith in Jesus Christ and the atonement that came from His sacrifice would justify them.

CHAPTER 3

  1. The Holy Spirit will enter us after we hear the word and believe in it.
  2. The Gentiles had fallen to practicing the law and circumcision.
  3. Abraham believed God through faith while uncircumcised (430 years before the law).
  4. The law identified sin and guided and cleansed them until Jesus would come who would give atonement for sins and send the Spirit to guide us.
  5. Moses was mediator of the law and Jesus was the mediator of the Spirit.
  6. God and Israel were the parties in the first mediation. (God and the world in the second. The law was the tool between God and the Jews. The Spirit is the helper between God and people of all nations).

CHAPTER 4

  1. The Holy Spirit by whom we are guided in the faith is our guardian.
  2. God knows us by our faith in His son and by His Spirit who is in us.
  3. a. The people had turned to the rituals of the law and observing days and seasons, etc. b. Paul was afraid he had labored in vain because the law could not save them. Only faith in the gospel could save them.
  4. Here, Paul’s infirmity may be referring here to his lost eyesight. Because of this event he began preaching the gospel. (In 2 Corinthians 11:30-33 Paul’s infirmity seems to be his small stature).
  5. Isaac was the child of the free woman. Ishmael was the child of the bondwoman. Those of the faith of Abraham and Isaac are free from the works of the law. Those who hang onto the law are still in bondage.
  6. The physical Jerusalem in the time of Paul was still in bondage to the law. The spiritual Jerusalem is of above in those who have faith in the gospel.

CHAPTER 5

  1. The Galatians were trying to uphold the law of circumcision. They are in bondage to the whole law to do all things it requires.
  2. They fell from the freedom they had in Jesus. Jesus did away with the sacrifices of the law and all its seasonal and ritual observances.
  3. We are free from the law but not its virtues and restraints to indulge in the passions of the flesh. We should love and serve one another.
  4. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are characteristics of walking in the Spirit.
  5. If we are Christ’s we must crucify the corrupt passions and selfish desires of the flesh.

 

CHAPTER 6

  1. a. We must restore those who are in sin in a spirit of gentleness. b. We must consider that we too can fall into the same sin and would want to be restored by a loving and forgiving spirit.
  2. We should not form an improper opinion of ourselves but examine our works and character against the word of God.
  3. a. Fulfilling your soul of worldly desires, corrupt passions, and selfish desires is sowing to the flesh. b. Sowing to the flesh reaps things that are temporal and will perish including your soul at the judgment.
  4. Circumcision was being promoted by some to gain converts and for the approval of men so they could boast in their zeal for their religion (though they may not be pure in it) and to avoid persecution for the cross by the prominent Jews.