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Galatians Chapter Four ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) As long as the heir is a child, what did Paul say he is no different from, although he owns the whole estate, what he is subject to until the time set by his father, and when we were children, how were we in slavery?
________________________________________________________________________________ The "basic principles of the world" are the elementary stages of religious practices, whether in the Jewish or pagan religion. Paul uses the illustration of slavery to show that before Christ came and died for sins, people were in bondage to the law. Thinking they could be saved by it, they became enslaved to trying-and failing-to keep it. But we who were once slaves are now God's very own children who have an intimate relationship with him. Because of Christ, there is no reason to be afraid of God. We can come boldly into his presence, knowing that he will welcome us as his family members. 2) When the time had fully come, who did God send, who was Jesus born of, what was he born under, and for what reason did God send his Son to redeem those under the law?
________________________________________________________________________________ "When the time had fully come," God sent Jesus
to earth to die for our sins. For centuries the Jews had been wondering when
their Messiah would come-but God's timing was perfect. We may sometimes wonder
if God will ever respond to our prayers. But we must never doubt him or give up
hope. At the right time he will respond. Are you waiting for God's timing? Trust
his judgment and trust that he has your best interest in mind. 3) Because we are sons, what did God send into our hearts, what does the Spirit call out, because God sent the Spirit of his Son, what are you no longer, and since you are a son, what has God made you?
________________________________________________________________________________ Under Roman law, an adopted child was guaranteed all legal rights to his father's property, even if he was formerly a slave. He was not a second-class son; he was equal to all other sons, biological or adopted, in his father's family. Abba is an Aramaic word for father. It was used by Christ in his prayer in Mark 14:36. As adopted children of God, we share with Jesus all rights to God's resources. As God's heirs, we can claim what he has provided for us-our full identity as his children (see Romans 8:15-17). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Paul's Concern for the Gentiles ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4) Formerly, when you did not know God, who were you a slave to, now that the Galatians know God or are known by God, what did Paul say they were turning back to, what did he ask them if they wished to be, what did Paul say they have been observing for years, and why did Paul say he feared for them?
________________________________________________________________________________ At this point the formal argument for salvation by grace rather than by works is finished, but Paul seems unwilling to end the discussion without a direct and, indeed, lengthy appeal to the Galatians. He reminds his converts of their former bondage in paganism and expresses his astonishment that they could even consider a return to such slavery. In view of this possibility, he expresses concern that his labors among them may have been to no purpose. (taken from The NIV Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishers) 5) For what reason did Paul plead with the Galatians to become more like him, what was the reason Paul gave for first preaching to them, what was Paul's illness to the Galatians, how did the Galatians treat Paul then, and how did they welcome Paul?
________________________________________________________________________________ Paul's illness was a sickness that he was enduring while he visited the Galatian churches. The world is often callous to people's pain and misery. Paul commended the Galatians for not scorning him, even though his condition was a trial to them (he didn't explain what was wrong with him). Such caring was what Jesus meant when he called us to serve the homeless, hungry, sick, and imprisoned as if they were Jesus himself (Matthew 25:34-40). Do you avoid those in pain or those facing difficulty-or are you willing to care for them as if they were Jesus Christ himself. 6) What did Paul say they would do if they could, and what did Paul say he had become by telling them the truth?
________________________________________________________________________________ Have you lost your joy? Paul sensed
that the Galatians had lost the joy of their salvation because of legalism.
Legalism can take away joy because (1) it makes people feel guilty rather than
loved; (2) it produces self-hatred rather than humility; (3) it stresses
performance over relationship; (4) it points out how far short we fall rather
than how far we've come because of what Christ did for us. If you feel guilty
and inadequate, check your focus. Are you living by faith in Christ or by trying
to live up to the demands and expectations of others? 7) What did Paul say those people (false teachers) were zealous to do, and why did they want to alienate the Galatians from Paul?
________________________________________________________________________________ "Those people" refers to false teachers who claimed to be religious authorities and experts in Judaism and Christianity. Appealing to the believers' desire to do what was right, they drew quite a following. Paul said, however, that they were wrong and that their motives were selfish. False teachers are often respectable and persuasive. That is why all teachings should be checked against the Bible. 8) When did Paul say it was fine to be zealous, how long did Paul say he will be in the pains of childbirth for them, and why does Paul say he wished he could be with them now and change his tone?
________________________________________________________________________________ Paul led many people to Christ and helped them mature spiritually. Perhaps one reason for his success as a spiritual father was the deep concern he felt for his spiritual children; he compared his pain over their faithfulness to the pain of childbirth. We should have the same intense care for those to whom we are spiritual parents. When you lead people to Christ, remember to stand by them to help them grow. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hagar and Sarah ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9) What did Paul say to those who wanted to be under the law, who did Abraham have two sons by, how was his son born of the slave woman, and how was his son born by the free woman?
________________________________________________________________________________ People are saved because of their faith in Christ, not because of what they do. Paul contrasted those who are enslaved to the law (represented by Hagar, the slave woman) with those who are free from the law (represented by Sarah, the free woman). Hagar's abuse of Sarah (Genesis 16:4) was like the persecution that the Gentile Christians were getting from the Judaizers who insisted on keeping the law in order to be saved. Eventually Sarah triumphed because God kept his promise to give her a son, just as those who worship Christ in faith will also triumph. 10) What does the two women represent, who are the children of Hagar, why does Hagar stand for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, and what are the children that are in the Jerusalem above?
________________________________________________________________________________ This basic distinction between the two sons and in the manner of their conception and birth Paul now carries out in more complete spiritual terms, using the historical account as an allegory. This does not mean that Paul's exegesis is fanciful, as some have implied, but only that he uses the story for the sake of its major principle, which he then quite properly applies to the struggle between Judaism and Christianity. The best way to understand the allegory is to carry it through in parallel columns. (taken from the NIV Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishers) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hagar; the slave woman Hagar; Ishmael, a natural birth Hagar; The old covenant Hagar; Earthly Jerusalem Hagar; Judaism (taken from the NIV Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishers) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this arrangement Hagar, the slave woman, stands for the old covenant enacted at Mount Sinai, while her son, Ishmael, stands for Judaism with her center at earthly Jerusalem. On the other hand, Sarah, the free woman, stands for the new covenant enacted on Calvary through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and her son, Isaac, stands for all who have become part of the church of the heavenly Jerusalem through faith in Christ's sacrifice. On the most superficial level, Isaac and Ishmael were alike in that both were sons of Abraham. (taken from the NIV Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishers) 11) Why does the prophet Isaiah tell the barren woman to be glad?
________________________________________________________________________________ There is no evidence that the verse Paul now quotes (Isaiah 41:1) was ever associated with the story of Hagar and Sarah and their children; nevertheless, it is highly appropriate. This verse is a prophecy of Jerusalem's restoration following the years of exile and involves the thought that the blessing of the latter years will be greater than that enjoyed formerly. The pre-exilic Jerusalem and the post-exilic Jerusalem correspond, then, to Paul's distinction between the earthly and heavenly Jerusalem's, and the promise to the blessings of God to Israel under the old covenant as contrasted with the greater blessings to the church under the new covenant. The element common to these verses is the supernatural intervention of God in order to establish Christianity. The new element is the suggestion, soon to be filled, that the numbers of Christians will outnumber those within Judaism. (taken from The NIV Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishers) 12) What did Paul say the brothers (the people of Israel) are, who did the son born in the ordinary way persecute, why does Scripture say to get rid of the slave woman and her son, therefore, who did Paul say they were children of?
________________________________________________________________________________ In the third section of this treatment of the
Hagar and Sarah story, Paul applies the allegory to all Christians, pointing out
that because they are like Isaac, who had a supernatural birth, rather than like
Ishmael, their experiences will be consistently similar to that of the younger
son. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Answers Galatians Chapter Four ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) A slave...guardians and trustees...under the
basic principles of the world ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Taken from The NIV Life Application Study Bible, Zondervan Publishers |