Galatians 4

1. 4:1-3 How is being under the Law like being an under-age heir?
   Class Answer: As members of the class pointed out, the Law isn’t mentioned in these verses, but in context, that’s the subject of Paul’s discourse and the aim of this comparison. Though an under-age heir will one day benefit from the inheritance, as long as he’s not of age, he has no freedom, being subject to guardians and trustees. Being under the Old Law is like having the promise of an inheritance, but not the reality of the inheritance. The heir has no control, no freedom.
   
   “Religious legal systems are for the moral immature.” Studies in Galatians, R.C. Bell, pg. 49.
   
   Just as during a child’s ministry his guardian may ill-treat and even tyrannize him in ways which his father never intended, so the devil has exploited God’s good law, in order to tyrannize men in ways God never intended. God intended the law to reveal sin and to drive men to Christ; Satan uses it to reveal sin and so drive men to despair. God meant the law as an interim step to man’s justification; Satan uses it as a final step to his condemnation. God meant the law to be a stepping-stone to liberty; Satan uses it as a cul-de-sac, deceiving his dupes into supposing that from its fearful bondage there is no escape. From The Message of Galatians, John Stott, page 105.
2. 4:4-7 Name four blessings we receive because God sent His Son.
   Class Answers:
   v. 5 – redemption (for those under the law)
   v. 5 – full rights of sons, or adoption as sons (for you Gentiles.)
   v. 6 – The Spirit of His Son (Given to us)
   v. 7 – We are no longer slaves, but children of God.
   Note: All three members of the Godhead are mentioned in verse 6: God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Also note the word Abba: The Aramaic word for Father – a personal, pet name. Now the Gentiles – for whom God was formerly far away – can address him personally, as their Father.
3. 4:8-11 How were the Galatians – who had been pagans – turning back to those principles by observing special days?
   Class Answers: They were being legalistic and ritualistic. They were superstitiously observing rituals as if the rituals saved them. They were enslaving themselves to those (Judaizing teachers) who were not gods. 
4. 4:10-11 Why is Paul condemning the observance of special days? (See Colossians 2:16-17)
   Class Answers: They were only shadows of things to come, according to Colossians 2:16-17. The observance of days does not bring salvation. They were judging and being judged by whether or not they observed days and by what they ate and drank.
5. 4:12-16 How had the Galatians welcomed Paul when he first preached to them? (See Acts 13:13 - 14:26)
   Class Answers: As if he were an angel of God or even Jesus himself. They would have torn their eyes out and given them to him if they could. Possible References: In Acts 14:11, those in Lystra at first wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. In Acts 14:20, after Paul was beaten and thought to be dead, he and Barnabas went to Galatian cities. Note on verse 12: Become like me – free – because I became like you when I was among you.
6. 4:17-18 Who were “those people”? (NIV) What motivated them?
   Class Answers: Judaizing teachers: In 1:7 – “some people.” In 1:9 – anyone who was preaching another gospel. In 3:1 – those trying to bewitch them. They were motivated by envy. They were trying to ruin Paul’s influence.
7. 4:19-20 What was Paul’s motivation?
   Class Answers: He wanted to “form Christ in them,” for them to be conformed to the image of Christ. Instead, it was like going through the pain of childbirth a second time.
8. 4:21-23 What was the difference between Ishmael and Isaac? (Old Testament reference: Genesis 16:1-2, 15; 21:1-3)
   Class Answers: Ishmael – born of a slave, in an ordinary way (NIV), or according to the flesh (NKJV), not an heir. Isaac – born of a free woman, a child of promise (Hebrews 11:11). His birth was not ordinary – Sarah was too old to conceive a child. (Historical Background)
9. 4:24-27 What symbols does Paul use for the two covenants? (OT reference: Exodus 19:1-6; 20:1-2)
   Class Answers: 1) Old Law – Mt. Sinai, Hagar, the present city of Jerusalem, slavery 2) New Law – Jerusalem above, free, children of promise. (Allegorical argument)
10. 4:28-31 How was the “physical” son persecuting the “spiritual” son? (OT reference: Genesis 21:8-10)
    Class Answers: Just as Ishmael taunted Isaac, those who were Jews physically were trying to persecute, or enslave, those who were born again spiritually. (Personal application)

Choose a verse from Chapter 4 to memorize (or to post in a prominent place).

Verses chosen were 4:4-5, 4:6, 4:7, and 4:18.

Galatians 3

1. 3:1-2 What are the answers to the questions Paul asks: “Who has bewitched you?” and “Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?” (NIV)
   Class Answers: 1) The Judaizers – the ones insisting that Gentile Christians should also obey the Old Law; Satan – through Jewish Christians. 2) They received the Spirit through faith.
2. 3:3-5 How were the Galatians trying to attain their goal?
   Class Answers: verse 3 – by human effort. From verse 2 – by works of the law.
3. 3:6 Why does Paul mention Abraham? Why was Abraham considered righteous?
   Class Answers: 1) Because he was their physical father. They were “sons of Abraham.” He lived before the law was enacted. 2) Because he believed God. Our works are proof of our faith as opposed to trying to prove our faith.
4. 3:7-9 Who are the true children of Abraham?
   Class Answers: Those who are his spiritual children, those who believe the promises of God. See verse 16: those who are of faith.
5. 3:10 What are the results of obeying the law? (CB Note: This question should have read: “What are the results of relying on obedience to the law?) What law is Paul talking about?
   Class Answers: 1) Being cursed, for no one can keep the law perfectly (Deuteronomy 27:26). The law can only condemn, it cannot save. 2) The Old Law – the “Book of the Law” – the Law of Moses.
6. 3:11-13 How did Christ become a curse for us?
   Class Answers: He hung on the cross – the sign of a man who has been condemned. See Leviticus 18:5; Habakkuk 2:4; Deuteronomy 21:23; Romans 8:3.
7. 3:14-18 To whom did God give these promises? What were the promises? (See Genesis 12:1-3)
   Class Answers: 1) To Abraham and his seed: Christ and all who are in Christ; 2) God will make him a great nation; He will make his name great; He will bless them that bless Abraham; all families of the earth will be blessed.
8. 3:19-20 What was the purpose of the law? How long would it last?
   Class Answers: From John Stott: “The function of the law was not to bestow salvation but to convince men of their need for it.” See Romans 7:7-10 – The purpose of the law was to define sin. 2) It would last until the Seed (Christ) came.
9. 3:21-23 Did the Old Law stand in the way of God’s promises? What was its limitation?
   Class Answers: 1) No. It reminded us of our sins, which only Christ could remove. 2) It held us prisoners to sin. It can not give life but is the antithesis of life. It couldn’t save, it revealed the sin that alienates God from man.
   Stott’s explanation of “But God is one”: In Christ, both Abraham and Moses come together, because God is one. To Abraham he gave a promise (Genesis 12:1,2), and to Moses he gave a law (Exodus 20). In Christ, both the promise and the law are fulfilled.
10. 3:24-25 What was the purpose of the Law?
    Class Answers: To act as a tutor (ASV), disciplinarian (NRSV), someone put in charge (NIV) to bring us to Christ. The Greek is paidagogus – a custodian, guide, guardian of boys, disciplinarian, like a strict governess. When a man is mature, he doesn’t go back to boarding school.
11. 3:26 How do we become “sons” of God?
    Class Answers: Through faith in Christ Jesus (not by physical birth). Ed Wharton: “full grown sons.” Stott: …who obey their father out of love, not coercion. By adoption, being made full heirs.
12. 3:27 How do we “clothe” ourselves in Christ? What does that mean?
    Class Answers: Through baptism, raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-4). It means we make no provision for the flesh (Romans 13:14). We envelope ourselves in Christ so that we look like him.
13. 3:28-29 In what ways does belonging to Christ unify us?
    Class Answers: We are one body. Our backgrounds no longer matter; we are all children of God, spiritual brothers and sisters.

Choose a verse from Chapter 3 to memorize (or to post in a prominent place).
Class choices: Galatians 3:21, 3:28, 3:29.