Memory Verse: Galatians 1:6

1. What does Paul do differently (compared to his other letters) from the very beginning? 
 
 
 

2. What does Paul say about the immutability of scriptures? How does he emphasize that point? 
 
 
 

3. Why does Paul go through his history? What purpose does it serve in his overall goal of the book? 
 
 
 

4. What was Paul’s position as a Jew? What changed that? 
 
 
 

5. After Paul’s conversion, where did he go? Where did he specifically not go? Why is that important? 
 
 
 
 

6. When does Paul finally go to Jerusalem? Who all does he see? How visible is his ministry there? 
 
 
 

7. Why were the people of Judea glorifying God?

Read through the book.

1. Make a quick two or three point outline.

A. The Gospel (Chap. 1 and 2)

B. The error of the Galatians and correction (Chap. 3-5:12)

C. Walking according to the Spirit (Chap. 5:13-6:18)

2. Who is the author of the book? What style does he write in?

Paul the Apostle.

He writes in a pretty straight forward epistle format. He is particularly harsh with the Galatians.He does use a bit imagery, but definitely not to the extent of say, Revelation.

3. Who is his audience? What do we know about them?

Galatians. There is some argument about who that means, but I believe that it is referring to the churches in Antioch, Lystra, Derbe, and Iconium (and possibly some small cities in the surrounding area). The main target is to gentile converts who were following false doctrines, although he had application for the whole church.

Paul converted them on his first missionary journey.

4. About what time frame was the book written in? What do you base this conclusion on? What other church issues (from Acts and/or other letters) might have been going on at this time?

The date is also argued by people, mainly based on who it is written to. Based on the answer to question 3, I believe it was written around 49/50 A.D around the Jerusalem council. You can see the direct tie between what was discussed in Acts 15 and what Paul is writing about. The biggest issue at this time was the Jew-Gentile dynamic within the church and what it means for each of those to become a part of the church.

5. What are the major themes of the book?

Paul’s Apostleship/Gospel Message

No longer bound to the Law

Insufficiency of the Law

Grace of God

Righteous Living

6. What verse would you use as Paul’s thesis statement, or main point?

Galatians 1:6

Read through the book. Use that and any other helpful sources to answer the following questions.

1. Make a quick two or three point outline.

2. Who is the author of the book? What style does he write in?

3. Who is his audience? What do we know about them?

4. About what time frame was the book written in? What do you base this conclusion on? What other church issues (from Acts and/or other letters) might have been going on at this time?

5. What are the major themes of the book?

6. What verse would you use as Paul’s thesis statement, or main point?