Galatians 1

Introduction (1:1-5)

1Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2and all the brothers with me,

Who is Paul?
At what point in his life did he write this letter?
What was an apostle?
What key belief did Paul state in his introduction?
Who were the brothers with him?
Are there still apostles like Paul today?
Are people still called by God today?
What is the key difference, if any?
What beliefs should be dearest to us?

To the churches in Galatia:

Where was Galatia?
What was the status of its churches?
How are our churches similar to their churches?
How are our churches different from their churches?

3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

What does Paul bring to the Galatians from God?
What did Jesus do for Christians?
What was the world like at that time?
What belongs to God foroever?
How do we give something from God away?
Does Jesus rescue us ‘in’ the evil age or ‘from’ the evil age?
What is the present ‘present age’ like?
When we give God the glory, are we giving Him something he lacks?

The Gospel (1:6-12)

6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all.

How long had the Galatian church existed?
What does the term ‘gospel’ mean?
What ‘different’ gospel were they turning to?
Why wasn’t this gospel a gospel?
Is it possible for our church to desert God?
What ‘other’ supposed gospels are popular today?

Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

What does it mean to pervert something?
Should we trust an angel that preaches another gospel?
What happens to the one who preaches another gospel?
What gospel had they first accepted?
How important is this issue to Paul?
What do people pervert the gospel today?
Why shouldn’t we trust even an angel preaching another gospel?
How important should the content of the gospel be to us?

10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Who is Paul trying to please?
How many masters did Paul have?
What should a Bible-teachers goal be?
Are you a people-pleaser or a God-pleaser?

11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Did Paul receive the gospel from any man or school?
How did Paul receive the gospel?
Where must we receive the gospel today?
Who can we trust to convey the true gospel?

The Change (1:13-24)

13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

What was Paul’s background?
Why did Paul persecute the church?
Was Paul a religious person before his conversion?
What was your ‘previous way’?
Is there saving power in sincerity?
Is there saving power in religion?

15But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me

When was Paul set apart?
Was Paul changed by Religion or by Revelation?
What is your experience concerning God’s calling?
How has Jesus been revealed to you

so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

For what purpose was Christ revealed to Paul?
Was Paul’s first priority fellowship or evangelism?
Where did Paul go?
For what purpose is Christ revealed to us?
What is your first priority?
Why do you think Paul returned to Damascus?

18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord's brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24And they praised God because of me.

Who did Paul get acquainted with in Jerusalem?
What did Paul do in Syria, Cilicia & churches in Judea?
What did people know about Paul?
Why is it important to connect with other Christians?
What thought does your name bring to the mind of those who know of you?