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 2

1. 2:1-3 Who were Barnabas and Titus? What ethnicity were they? (See Acts 4:36,37; 9:26,27; 2 Corinthians 2:13; Titus 1:4,5)
   Class Answers: Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus, who introduced Paul to the apostles in Jerusalem. He was a companion of Paul. Titus was a Greek (Gentile), who also traveled with Paul and later preached for the church in Crete. Even though Titus was a Gentile, he was not “compelled” to be circumcised, even though that’s what the Judaizing teachers would have desired.
2. 2:2 What was the gospel Paul preached among the Gentiles? (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
   Class Answer: The gospel of salvation: the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
3. 2:3-5 Why did Paul want a private meeting with the church leaders? Who was trying to interfere?
   Class Answer: He didn’t want to be running “in vain,” to have his ministry rendered fruitless by the false teachers. He wanted to be able to speak to the leaders without the disruption of those were trying to take away freedom in Christ and impose slavery to the Law.
4. 2:6-10 What were the leaders’ responses to Paul’s
   Message - v. 6 – They added nothing to it. As far as they were concerned, the gospel Paul preached lacked nothing.
   Ministry - v. 7 – They saw he had been entrusted with the gospel to the Gentiles.
   Mission - vv. 9-10 – They gave him the right hand of fellowship, asking him only that he and Barnabas continue to remember the poor.
   Comment by John Stott: The meeting proved there was no rift among the apostles.
5. 2:11-14 How was Peter “clearly in the wrong”? What caused him to act this way?
   Answer: When men came from Jerusalem (or James), Peter withdrew from socializing with the Gentiles. In doing so, he was trying to force the Gentiles to live by Jewish customs. Why? He was afraid of those who came from Jerusalem – afraid of crossing them.
6. 2:15-16 By what are we justified? (Romans 4:1-3) Does this mean we’re not subject to any law? (See James 2:8)
   Answer: Not by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. James 2:8 states that we are subject to the “Royal” law of Christ: to love our neighbors as ourselves. Obedience to commandments of Christ by itself doesn’t save us, but it’s evidence of our faith. How can God know we believe unless we obey, as Abraham did?
7. 2:17 In what way would Christ promote sin?
   Answer: If, while claiming to be justified in Christ, we willfully sin. But that’s not the case. Justification in Christ doesn’t give us license to sin (Romans 6:1,2). Trying to follow the law will make us lawbreakers, because it is impossible to keep perfectly.
8. 2:18 What had Paul destroyed?
   Answer: His old way of life, his allegiance to the Old Law. Why bring that back again? 1:23 – In the past, Paul had tried to destroy the church. So he had destroyed that life of destruction.
9. 2:19-20 How had Paul been “crucified with Christ”?
   Answer: Paul’s identity was gone; he was now living by faith. The old Paul/Saul was gone. We are spirits in a body, not merely bodies with spirits. If our will – our spirit – has been replaced with the Spirit of Christ, then that renewed spirit will be manifest in what we do with our physical bodies.
10. 2:21 How could Christ “die for nothing”?
    Answer: If we can be righteous through the law, then Christ’s death was in vain. Commentary: To mingle legalism with grace makes grace a mockery.

Choose a verse from Chapter 2 to memorize (or to post in a prominent place).

Verses chosen: Galatians 2:16 and 2:20.

Studies in Acts–Lesson 9

Read Acts 14:21 – 15:41

1. In Derbe Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel and converted many. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. (14:21)
2. Upon the return visit to the churches, Paul and Barnabas:
   a. Preached and gave the Lord's Supper
   b. Preached and appointed elders (14:22-23) Note: Although it doesn’t specifically say they preached, general consensus was that it was probably involved in the encouragement.
   c. Encouraged the brethren (14:22)
3. Pisidia and Pamphylia were
   a. Cities
   b. Villages
   c. Provinces (14:24)
4. Upon the second visit to Perga, they
   a. Passed through
   b. Preached and appointed elders
   c. Just preached (14:25) Note: There’s no record that they preached there earlier (Acts 13:13-14).
5. Attalia was
   a. A seaport (14:25,26)
   b. A town in the journey where they preached
   c. A province
6. Back at Antioch, Paul and Barnabas spoke about the Gentiles, saying:
   a. God gave them a great opportunity
   b. God had baptized them in the Holy Spirit also
   c. God had opened a door of faith unto them (14:27)
7. What was taught by certain men from Judea that caused such a stir?
   Answer: They taught that Gentile Christians should be circumcised. (15:1)
8. Why go to the apostles and elders about the trouble?
   Answer: 1) The apostles had authority (Matthew 28:18-20); 2) The troublemakers had come from Jerusalem, so they were going to the source. 3) They couldn’t come to an agreement among themselves. (15:2)
9. What encouragement did Paul and Barnabas have on their way to Jerusalem?
   Answer: When they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, the believers in Phoenicia and Samaria rejoiced. (15:3)
10. Who especially objected to uncircumcised Christians? What sect?
    Answer: Believers from the sect of the Pharisees (14:5). They not only wanted to bind circumcision, but the whole law of Moses. Note: Verse 4 tells us that the whole church was present when Paul and Barnabas gave their report. Verse 6 says that only the apostles and elders met to “consider the matter.”
11. Who said that God had chosen him that by his mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe?
    Answer: Peter (15:8). Note: In Acts 10:34-35, Peter states that he realizes that God is not partial to one group of people over another.
12. What was the “yoke” which neither the fathers nor the Jews of Peter’s day could bear?
    Answer: The law of Moses (15:10). They were “putting God to the test” – disclaiming that God had opened the gospel to the Gentiles. V. 11 – “On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
13. What was the point of argument in the speeches of Paul and Barnabas?
    Answer: God had performed signs and wonders among the Gentiles, indicating His approval. (15:12)
14. What did James add that had not been said before?
    Answers: 1) 15:15 - This was a fulfillment of prophecy (Amos 9:11,12); 2) That they write the Gentiles not to be troubled by the Judaizing teachers. (15:19)
15. Why ask the Gentiles to abstain from “what is strangled, and from blood”?
    Answer: So the Gentiles and Jews could eat together in clear conscience. Not eating of these meats was part of the Jewish culture (Leviticus 17:10-14), a thing Jews couldn’t do in good conscience – so it was a matter of respect for their Jewish brethren. See 1 Corinthians 8 for Paul’s in-depth discussion of this principle.
    Here’s what Lenski (Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles) writes about this attitude (pg. 616)
    [Paul’s] prime consideration was love….Many who today deem themselves strong are impotent in this application of love. They scorn the idea that they should consider their brethren, they hurt and stagger the weak without a qualm, and they offend where they are themselves often wrong in fact and where the offense is gratuitous and wholly uncalled for. Go to school to James and take a full course with Paul. One thing that made them so great was this considerate love for the brethren.
16. What purpose did Paul have in making a second journey?
    Answer: To see how the believers were doing. (15:36)
17. What was the disagreement over John Mark?
    Answer: He had deserted them in Perga, Pamphylia (15:38). Note: Barnabas and John Mark were cousins (Colossians 4:10). Also, Barnabas was a “native of Cyprus” (Acts 4:36), so it appears that Barnabas and Mark were going home. Later, Paul and John Mark became reconciled, because in Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 1:24, Mark was with him, and he asked for Mark at the end of his life (2 Timothy 4:11).

Studies in Acts–Lesson 8

Read Acts 12:25 – 14:20

1. Who returned from Jerusalem to Antioch?
   Answer: Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark. Note: Barnabas is mentioned before Saul.

2. For what were Barnabas and Saul separated?
   Answer: For the work to which the Holy Spirit had called them. (13:2)

3. They were sent on their way by the Holy Spirit. They went to Seleucia ,and sailed from there to Cyprus. They visited the city of Salamis, then traveled through the whole island to Paphos. (13:4-6)

4. Elymas was struck blind for a while and led by the hand. (13:6-11) Note: Elymas was also known as Bar-Jesus, which means “son of Jesus” or “son of salvation.” In v. 10, Paul calls him a “son of the devil.” He was a Jewish false prophet (v. 6). Also note: From verse 9, Saul is referred to as Paul – possibly a transition from his Hebrew name to one that is Greek.

5. Sergius Paulus  [the pro-consul, or governor of the region] believed and was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (13:12) Note: He was astonished at the teaching, not the miracle.

6. Sailing from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphilia, where John Mark returned to Jerusalem. But Paul and Barnabas continued until they came to Antioch of Pisidia, where on the sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down. (13:13,14) Note: Now it’s “Paul and his companions.” Paul has taken (and Barnabas has given up) the leadership role.

True or False

1. Paul's sermon here is similar to Peter's on Pentecost. True – although it was more like Stephen’s in Acts 8. He does speak of David, death, and resurrection.

2. Many Jews and a few proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas. False – Apparently many proselytes also followed them. v. 43

3. The following Sunday almost the whole city came to hear Paul preach. False – It was the following Sabbath, which was a Saturday. v. 44

4. When the multitude saw the Jews, they were filled with jealousy. False – When the Jews saw the multitude…. v. 45

5. God judged the Jews unworthy of eternal life, so Paul turned to the Gentiles. False – The Jews judged themselves unworthy. v. 46

6. Some of the Gentiles were ordained to eternal life. True. It doesn’t say God pre-ordained them, leaving them with no free will. The word here, according to Lenski, conveys the concept of being pre-disposed to hear.

   “Here we have a contrast: the Jews thrust away the Word; these Gentiles glorify the Word…the Jews regard themselves unworthy of eternal life; these Gentiles are in line for eternal life. Who put them in line? God did so by sending Paul and Barnabas and his Word and his grace and by making both come in contact with their hearts. (Lenski, pg. 552)

7. Devout women of honorable estate helped Paul and Barnabas. False. The Jews incited them against Paul and Barnabas.

8. Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet; the disciples were happy. True. (13:51,52) Note: This “shaking the dust” was commanded by Jesus in Matthew 10:14. Verse 52 is reminiscent of Acts 5:41, when the apostles “rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.”

Fill in the Blank

1. In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas entered the synagogue of the Jews, and spoke so effectively that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. (14:1)

2. Although the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, Paul and Barnabas stayed a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed their words with signs and wonders. (14:2-3)

3. The city was divided, part holding with the Jews and part with the apostles. 14:4)

4. At Lystra, after healing the man with crippled feet, the multitude, in the language of the Lyconians, exclaimed that the gods were come down in the form of humans, calling Barnabas Zeus (or Jupiter) and Paul Hermes (or Mercury). (14:8-12) Note: Zeus and Hermes were the Greek names for the King of the Gods and the Speaker, or Messenger of the gods; Jupiter and Mercury were the Roman names.

5. When Paul and Barnabas understood, they tore their clothes, and rushed into the crowd, asked why the people did this, because Paul and Barnabas were only mortals. (14:14,15)

6. Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and persuaded the crowds, and they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. (14:19)

7. As the disciples gathered around Paul, he got up and went back to the city (Lystra). Then he and Barnabas left for Derbe. (14:20)

Studies in Acts–Lesson 7

Read Acts 11:19 – 12:24

1. For what purpose was Barnabas sent to Antioch?
   Answer: The church in Jerusalem had heard that Hellenists were being converted in that area. (11:19-22) Comment: According to Lenski’s commentary on Acts (page 447), there were 25,000 Christians In Jerusalem at the time of Stephen’s death – before the dispersion of Acts 8:1. According to BibleHistory.com, “Josephus says that at the siege of Jerusalem the population was 3,000,000; but Tacitus’ statement that it was 600,000 is nearer the truth.” If 600,000 is the figure, then at one time, 4% of Jerusalem’s population were Christians. Other sources say it may have been as many as 100,000 during feast days.
2. Barnabas saw the grace of God had been extended to the Gentiles. (23)
3. Where did Barnabas go to find whom? How long did they stay in Antioch?
   Answer: To Tarsus to find Saul. They stayed one year. (25-26)
4. What significant thing happened in 11:26?
   Answer: The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Comment: This is one of three places in the New Testament where the word Christian is used. The other two are Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. Also note that they were called Christians only after salvation in Christ was offered to the Gentiles.
5. What caused the disciples to send money to Judea? Who took it for them?
   Answer: Agabus prophesied a severe famine. Barnabas and Saul took it to the elders. (11:27-30) Comment: Note the trust involved here. They trusted in Agabus’s prophecy enough to give their money; they trusted Barnabas and Saul with the funds. This is one blessing of being a Christ–  the ability to trust others’ judgment and integrity.
6. Whom did Herod the king kill? Why?
   Answer: James, the brother of John, because he belonged to the church. (12:1-2)
7. Why did he also then arrest Peter?
   Answer: Because he saw that the death of James pleased the Jews. He would have executed him, too, but had to wait until after the Passover.
8. How was Peter secured in prison?
   Answer: With 4 squads (4 quaternions – 4 soldiers each), probably in 6-hour shifts for each squad. Comment: Note verse 5 – while he was in prison, the church prayed for him fervently.
9. Who was smitten on the side? By whom?
   Answer: An angel “smote” or “tapped” (NSRV) Peter on the side (12:7). Comment: Here it was the night before he was to be executed, and he was fast asleep.
10. How was Peter able to leave the prison?
    Answer: He followed the angel, and just walked out. The outside gate opened by itself. (12:8-10) Comment: Apparently, the guards were oblivious to what was happening, too.
11. What was Peter’s reaction when he was left by himself on the street?
    Answer: He emerged from what seemed like a dream and said, “I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me.” (12:11)
12. Where did Peter immediately go? Where else do you hear of this woman’s son?
    Answer: To the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, who later accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first journey out of Antioch of Syria(12:25. See also Acts 15:37,38 and 2 Timothy 4:11). He also wrote the gospel of Mark. Comments: They were praying for Peter (v. 5), yet were astonished when their prayers were answered.
13. What humorous incident occurred next?
    Answer: Rhoda, a maid, answered Peter’s knock and was so overjoyed at seeing him she left him standing there. (12:13-17)
14. What happened to the guards back at the prison?
    Answer: After questioning them, Herod ordered that they be put to death. (12:19)
15. What happened to Herod?
    Answer: He was eaten by worms when he accepted praise as a god. (12:22-23). Comment: Don De Welt, in Acts Made Actual (pg. 164), quotes Josephus on this: “Herod was seized with violent pains in the bowels, and …lingered in great torture for five days.” According to this, it was an internal attack – maybe a bacterial infection?