January 29, 2022

Discussion Questions

Jesse talked about how reading the New Testament epistles (or letters) is like listening to one side of phone call and trying to figure out what the conversation is about. Why would it matter whether or not we know what the conversation is about in Galatians? What would happen if we made the wrong assumptions about the circumstances of this letter? How would you go about figuring out what this letter is really about?
Paul has a lot to say about his own conversion and his relationship with the other apostles. Why is all this relevant to the nature of the letter? What does this have to do with Paul’s public criticism of Peter (2:11). What was the nature of their dispute?
It seems that the Galatian church was being tempted to add a number of extra things (e.g. lifestyle requirements) to the gospel. Paul adamantly urges them to return to the gospel of grace. Do you think that modern-day Christians can be tempted to add something to the gospel, also? Can you think of any examples? How can we keep from making the same error that the Galatian churches made?
Read Gal 2:15-21.
- What does it mean to say that someone is justified by faith in Jesus? (Some translations say “justified by the faith of Jesus, would this change your understanding of this text?)
- Paul talks about dying and being crucified with Christ, but also about being alive in Christ. What does this mean, what part of him is alive, and what is dead?
- What are the “works of the law” that Paul refers to in this passage?