This week we will track the trajectory of the gospel through the Old and New Testament in order to get a better sense of what Paul is talking about.

Today, we’ll start by reading Genesis Chapter 15. This passage relates the covenant made between God and Abraham (or “Abram” at this point), the father of faith claimed by Jews, Muslims, and Christians. It will be impossible to understand Paul’s argument for the gospel if we don’t have a sense of who Abraham was and how God related to him.

Questions for reflection:

1. What are the promises God makes to Abram in this encounter one starry night in the desert?
2. Can you find the “moment of faith” Abraham experiences with God in this passage?
3. Have you had similar moments of faith? Recount here in the comments or in a journal or to a friend.

Today we’ll step away from Galatians and read something Jesus taught. In popular Evangelical theology it’s often difficult to reconcile Jesus’ teachings with Paul’s teachings because it is widely assumed that Paul is teaching against good works, while Jesus was constantly teaching the necessity of good deeds. How can we reconcile them? Today, read the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.

Questions for reflection:

1. What are the similarities you see (if any) between this parable and the issues Paul is dealing with in Galatians 1-2?
2. How does this parable illustrate what Paul says about “the law” in Rom 3:20 (through the law we become “conscious of sin”) and Gal 2:16?
3. How does Jesus use this parable to illustrate the fulfillment of the law through the Samaritan?

Today we continue our closer look at the “works of the law” or “observance of the law” from Galatians 2:16. This is important because ever since the Reformation it has been widely proposed that Paul was refuting a Jewish belief that a person was “saved” by earning their salvation through good works, and that those good works are what Paul meant by “works of the law.” Nowadays, we extend that same formula to condemn any attempts to “be good” or do good things as a form of “legalism.”

The problem – as any informed Jew will tell you – is that the Jews never taught a form of works-based righteousness. In other words, they were never trying to “earn their way into heaven” (and I would argue hardly anyone today, Jew or otherwise, is trying to do so either).

• Read Psalm 143, paying special attention to verse 2.
• Read Galatians 2:11-21, paying special attention to verse 16.
• Read Romans 3:9-20, paying special attention to verse 20.

Paul is quoting a variety of OT sources (he quotes Psalm 143:2 in both Gal 2:16 and Rom 3:20) that echo the Jewish understanding that none were righteous in God’s eyes.

So, if Paul isn’t coming against an early form of earning salvation by good works, what might he be speaking against? This is not an easy question to answer, but look for clues in Galatians chapters 1-2. As yourself, what is the issue at hand? Is it doing good deeds or something else?

Keeping in mind the backdrop of Acts 10 (Peter and Cornelius), and Acts 15 (The Jerusalem council where they dealt with the controversy of Gentile Christians becoming Jews), go back and read Galatians 2 and circle or highlight everywhere you find the word “law,” by which Paul means Torah.

Question:

1. Given the issue at hand, what do you think Paul means specifically by “observing the law” or “works of the law” in Gal 2:16?

Yesterday we read about Peter refusing to eat with the Greek Christians in Antioch, and how Paul called him a hypocrite because, before the group came from Jerusalem, Peter had been eating with the Greeks. There is some history to this for Peter, so today we’ll go back to Acts 10 to read about an incident that occurred before this conflict.

Read Acts Chapter 10.

Questions:

1. How does the story of Peter and Cornelius help put the Galatians issue into perspective for you?
2. If Peter had already received this revelation from God about no longer separating from Gentiles, why do you think he might have separated from them in Antioch?
3. Based on what we’ve read so far (Gal 1-2, Act 10, Acts 15), what would you say was the purpose of “The Law” or Torah?

Read Galatians 2:11-21

Questions:

1. What key practice that caused this argument to arise between Peter and Paul? Why do you think this would have been a problem for Paul?
2. What similarities or parallels can you find between this passage (2:11-21) and the first part of the chapter (2:1-10)?
3. How does Paul’s story about confronting Peter illustrate his conclusions in 17-20?

Yesterday we read about the first council at Jerusalem, and read about James speaking up from Amos 9:11-12. Today, let’s read that passage in it’s context. Read the whole chapter of Amos 9.

Questions:

1. What is this chapter about? What is being described?
2. How does the chapter make a shift from judgment to hope towards the end?
3. Why do you think James pointed to this prophecy in order to validate the decision to allow gentile believers to free free from Jewish laws? In other words, how does his use of this prophecy make sense?

Today, read Galatians 2:1-10 alongside Acts 15:1-35.

Questions:

• How does the Acts 15 passage clarify the controversy of Galatians for you?
• After Acts 15, what would you say is the “freedom” Paul is referring to in Gal 2:4? What is it freedom from, exactly? What isn’t it freedom from?

Yesterday we read that Paul was upset about the Galatians turning away from the gospel he preached to “another gospel.” Today, lets hear the gospel Paul preached in his own words. Read Acts 17:16-34.

Questions:

1.What is different about Paul’s gospel to the Athenians than other versions of the gospel you’ve heard? Specifically, what does he emphasize that you haven’t heard emphasized before, and what does he omit that you have typically heard emphasized?

2. If you heard the gospel articulated exactly this way in a public place today, do you think it would be criticized by some Christians? If so, why?

3. Read earlier in this chapter, Acts 17:1-9. In this passage the local Jews from Thessalonica are upset about Paul’s gospel, and summarize it as “There is another King, one called Jesus” (v7). Do you think this is a fair summary of what Paul says to the Athenians in 17:22-31? If so how, and if not, why?

3. Setting aside your previous concepts of the gospel, how would you summarize Paul’s gospel from Acts 17 in one sentence?

Read the opening of Paul’s letter to the Galatians again today (Gal 1:1-2:10).

1. 1. What seems to be the reason for Paul’s letter?
2. 2. What passages strike you as clues to the differences between Paul’s gospel and “the other gospel” he’s coming against?
3. 3. What questions, if any, do you have about this passage?