Themes
Overarching Theme: Grace over legalism.
Chapter One Theme: Accountability and personal foundations
History & Context
After planting many churches alongside Barnabas, Paul goes on a second missionary journey to check on how those churches are doing. When he returns to his base in Antioch, Paul hears about some churches that are coming under pressure to follow the legalism of the Law of Moses rather than the liberty found in Christ.
This letter is Paul's response and weighs in on many important principles whilst also keeping pastoral care in mind. It is written before the Council Meeting of Acts 15 but after his other two visits to the Jerusalem Church (Acts 9:26, Acts 11:30)
Study Guide
WATCH VIDEO - GALATIANS CHAPTER 1
Verses 1-5
Paul uses a standard introduction to open his letter to the Galatians; first introduces himself in a way that is relevant to the recipient, and second, introduces the gospel he is bringing to them in his letter.
Questions
Paul refers to being sent by Jesus and the Father, which brings a sense of authority, but he also refers to ‘the brothers and sisters with me’, which brings a sense of relationship. How should we be working out the balance between relationship and authority in the Church today?
Although Paul's introduction is very brief, he manages within a few words to mention a number of key Gospel themes. Discuss the relevance of all his brief references, given that he is addressing church members that need to hold on to the liberty he has previously preached to them.
Verses 6-10
Paul gets straight to the point of his letter early on - as if there is no time to waste. There is a sense of urgency in his text.
Questions
Paul implies that pleasing people and compromise go hand-in-hand. Discuss how much of a tendency this might be in the church today.
Paul writes of those who pervert the Gospel as being ‘under God's curse’. This was a particularly relevant observation as those perverting the Gospel in his day were trying to bring the gentiles into legalistic practices in which the Law pronounces curses as well as declaring blessings. How should we regard those whom we consider to be perverting the Gospel today?
Verses 11-17
Again, Paul repeats the authority for what he is teaching and reminds the recipient of his history to further affirm the divine origin of the Gospel.
Questions
Paul speaks of having been set apart since birth although it was years later when God's grace led to his transformation. How can we explain the reason for the time gap?
When Paul was given an assignment that no one had previously undertaken, he went and sought God in isolation. Discuss what you might have done in a similar situation.
Verses 18-24
Paul continues his testimony to display the praise God is due because of the transformation He made in Paul.
Questions
Discuss why you think it took Paul three years to eventually meet Cephas (Peter).
Paul, like Jesus, knew that ‘a prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home’ (Mark 6:4), but that is exactly where he went. What could this mean for us in terms of how we position ourselves and where we serve?
KEY TAKEAWAY
In Chapter One of Paul's letter to the Galatians, it is clear that he doesn't just hold on to mere theories of how God's grace works, rather he puts everything he has learnt into practice.
We need to make sure we have a good scriptural foundation for our calling and, that as we seek to do what God wants us to do, we remain accountable to one another within the body of Christ.
PRAYER & REFLECTION
End your time as a group, or individually, in a time of prayer.
If it is helpful, below is a written prayer you can use as a reflection on John and Mary’s encounters that we have looked at today.
Lord,
We thank You for the example of Paul's life:
for his clear sense of being called and sent by You,
for his concise understanding of the gospel,
and his loving concern for those he had brought to You.
We thank you that Paul was not a people pleaser.
He was a person of integrity who enjoyed his liberty in Christ
and wanted others to hold fast to that freedom too.
Help us to stand firm for Your gospel, as people
who are uncompromising and compassionate,
fearless in our God-given freedom, taking our calling seriously
and setting our hearts to do Your will
Amen
