Themes
Overarching Theme: Grace over legalism.
Chapter Four Theme: Enslaved no longer
History & Context
Chapter 4 is a great chapter on being set free from the enslavement of the law so that we can live in the freedom of sonship. In it, we see clearly how Paul deals with important principles while keeping pastoral care in mind. He builds up a number of pictures to make his case. He speaks of receiving an inheritance and reminds the readers of the way in which they received him when he first came to them. He shares how the very thought of them discarding their inheritance because they have been impressed by the zeal of some who have come after him, leaves him perplexed. He is filled with a longing to see them back with the clarity they once had. He concludes the chapter by reminding them that in Christ we trace our lineage back to Isaac, the child of promise whom Abraham was led to favour.
Study Guide
Make sure to watch the video looking at Galatians Chapter 4 and have a Bible ready in front of you.
Verses 1-7
Paul breaks down the difference between being a son and being a slave, whether it is being a slave to the law or to elemental spiritual forces.
Questions
The picture of the law being a guardian to heirs who are underage is a powerful one. How does this metaphor help your understanding of the law in the Old Testament?
Describe a time in your life when you were waiting for a promise to be fulfilled. How did this compare with how you felt when the promise was finally fulfilled?
Verses 8-11
Sharing a deep concern, Paul warns the readers of backsliding into their old ways.
Questions
Can you point to any forces that you may be struggling to stay away from that Paul might have described as ‘weak and miserable’?
Paul fears he has somehow wasted his efforts on the Galatians and yet he is still writing this letter to them. How can we learn from Paul and pursue those we might feel have been a waste of effort in the past?
Verses 12-16
Paul pleads with his readers and reminds them of the first time he preached to them.
Questions
How should we welcome and bless visiting preachers?
When preachers minister to us repeatedly it could be easy to dismiss what they say by commenting ‘we’ve heard it all before’. What can we do to avoid this?
Verses 17-20
Reminding the readers to be zealous for good purposes independently, and not only when Paul is around.
Questions
How can we distinguish practically between those whom Paul describes as being ‘zealous to win you over’ for no good and those who are actually trying to increase our enthusiasm for good things?
When we become marginalised it can be difficult to see how the marginalisation happened. What strategies can we put in place to stay accountable?
Verses 21-27
Taking it back to Abraham, Paul used the story to point to two covenants.
Questions
Abraham took things into his own hands when having a son with Hagar. What can we learn from this when God is promising us things that seem impossible?
Reading the poem in verse 27, what covenant promises can you see that are alive in our walk with Jesus?
Verses 27-31
Continuing his point, Paul writes of the readers being children of promise as Isaac was.
Questions
How does being called a ‘child of promise’ make you feel?
What does being children of the ‘free woman’ mean to you today?
KEY TAKEAWAY
This is another great chapter about the freedom that comes from knowing God and being known by Him. It should mark a turning point in our lives from which there should be no going back. In the illustrations that Paul uses, we can see the folly of leaving the better for the lesser.
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,
Thank you that you know us through and through and have our best interests at heart.
Regardless of our background, you have reached out to us to bring us to Yourself, setting us free from all that once restricted us so that we can walk in Your ways.
Help us to rejoice in the strength of our salvation and in
the privilege of our relationship with You,
Amen
