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Introductory Information:
Paul is now engaging in a direct address to the Galatians. Previously he has been using the episode with Peter and his own correction of Peter as a mirror to show them their error by way of a sideline.
There are 6 rhetorical questions here in 5 verses with 1 statement appealing to how Paul preached Christ among them. Believe it or not, Paul is building a watertight argument with these questions.
Questions for Groups:
1. Paul describes his preaching among the Gentiles at the end of verse 1. What does he mean by what he says? Compare 1st Corinthians 2:1-5. How close is the point Paul is making to the Galatians with the one he is making to the Corinthians? What about the two contexts is different? similar? How does this illuminate the principle behind the concrete issue that Paul is invoking in each case?
2. What is the answer to Paul's rhetorical question in verse 2? In conjunction with verse 2, look at Acts 15:7-9. How does Peter's statement there--as well as the history of the book of Acts behind it--support Paul's argument here? How does hearing connect to faith (see Romans 10:17)? How are both hearing and faith necessary for receiving the Spirit?
3. Based on the rhetorical question in verse 2, how did we get to the Spirit from faith (since Paul has basically only been talking about faith up till now)? What is the implied relationship between the two here? Look at the footnote for "being perfected by" (ESV). What two stages is he referring to? Where did the idea of "the flesh" come from in Paul's argument and what is Paul referring to by it? What does "the flesh" naturally contrast with in this rhetorical question? Why do you think Paul sets up this contrast between flesh and Spirit, works of the law and faith? Can't you have both?
4. Look at the footnote for "suffer" (ESV) in verse 4. What is the difference that it would make to take the verse with either of these options? Which meaning, "suffer" or "experience", do you think makes the most sense in this context? Why? Paul poses the possibility of their suffering or experience having been "in vain". What is the problem that might make it vain, and why? Look up at verse one and verse three where Paul calls the Galatians "foolish". How do you deal with the blow of Paul saying this to them? Imagine him saying this to you. What effect would that have?
5. Where do miracles come into the discussion here given Paul's train of thought? Look at Acts 15:7-9. How does Peter's statement at the Jerusalem Council help build this connection with the miraculous? Talk in your group about whether the Holy Spirit or the miraculous ever came by works of the law in the OT or NT (think the Exodus, the wilderness wanderings, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus' miracles, the early Christian church). Finally, what do you think Paul had in mind in the Galatians own case, especially as it relates to Paul's own ministry among them in verse one?
Full Group Study and Application Points:
1. Paul characterizing his preaching among the Galatians as displaying Christ crucified, just like among the Corinthians. Read 1 Corinthians 1:21-25. This gospel, he says, is "a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks". What does this say about how we in our contexts should preach the gospel?
2. How do you endeavor to "get people saved"? How do you think about the process of receiving the Spirit? What implications does Paul's account have for how we think about evangelism?3. Based on the rhetorical question in verse 2, how did we get to the Spirit from faith (since Paul has basically only been talking about faith up till now)? What is the implied relationship between the two here? Look at the footnote for "being perfected by" (ESV). What two stages is he referring to? Where did the idea of "the flesh" come from in Paul's argument and what is Paul referring to by it? What does "the flesh" naturally contrast with in this rhetorical question? Why do you think Paul sets up this contrast between flesh and Spirit, works of the law and faith? Can't you have both?
4. Look at the footnote for "suffer" (ESV) in verse 4. What is the difference that it would make to take the verse with either of these options? Which meaning, "suffer" or "experience", do you think makes the most sense in this context? Why? Paul poses the possibility of their suffering or experience having been "in vain". What is the problem that might make it vain, and why? Look up at verse one and verse three where Paul calls the Galatians "foolish". How do you deal with the blow of Paul saying this to them? Imagine him saying this to you. What effect would that have?
5. Where do miracles come into the discussion here given Paul's train of thought? Look at Acts 15:7-9. How does Peter's statement at the Jerusalem Council help build this connection with the miraculous? Talk in your group about whether the Holy Spirit or the miraculous ever came by works of the law in the OT or NT (think the Exodus, the wilderness wanderings, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus' miracles, the early Christian church). Finally, what do you think Paul had in mind in the Galatians own case, especially as it relates to Paul's own ministry among them in verse one?
Full Group Study and Application Points:
1. Paul characterizing his preaching among the Galatians as displaying Christ crucified, just like among the Corinthians. Read 1 Corinthians 1:21-25. This gospel, he says, is "a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks". What does this say about how we in our contexts should preach the gospel?
3. How do Christians today, including ourselves, often have a similar mentality to the Galatians of starting with the Spirit (faith) but finishing with the flesh (works of the law)?
4. Is there any danger of our own experiences of belief and the Spirit ultimately being "in vain"? In what ways are you and I perhaps foolish like the Galatians?
5. What does the idea that hearing with faith leads to God's giving of the Spirit, rather than works of the law, mean for our thinking about how to build a ministry empowered by the Holy Spirit?
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