Welcome to the first ever Bible study hosted here on StephanieAdele.com. Hosting Bible studies on this site has been a dream of mine from the very beginning. I am so excited to study Paul’s life and his letters Galatians – Colossians.
Day 1 – Monday : Acts 9:1-31
Saul’s Early Life
Today, we read the story of Saul’s conversion to Christianity (Saul’s name would later be changed to the Roman form Paul). I want to first tell you a little about Saul’s early life. Saul was raised as a Pharisee, a group who required strict adherence to Jewish law. Jesus often pointed out there hypocrisy because there zeal for the law kept them from seeing the Messiah right in front of them. Saul was highly educated at the school of Gamaliel, one of the most noted rabbis in history. There he would have learned various languages and rhetoric which benefit him once he becomes the missionary to the Gentiles.
The first appearance of Saul in the Bible is at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. These events take place in Acts 7 and the story continues into Acts 8:
“And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.”
Acts 8 : 1 – 3 ESV
Saul instigated widespread persecution of Christians and unknowingly began to fulfill Jesus’ final request to the apostles:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Matthew 28 : 19 – 20a ESV
An Unexpected Interruption
Saul was scattering Christians throughout the land, and they were bringing the Gospel with them. Today’s reading picks up in Acts 9 when Saul visits the high priest requesting to extend his persecution from Jerusalem to Damascus. The journey goes very differently than how he planned it. On the road to Damascus, Jesus breaks onto the scene in a blinding light. His question for Saul is, “Why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4) Jesus is identifying with His followers, so to persecute Christians means to persecute Jesus Himself. This encounter leaves Paul blind.
In Damascus, we meet Ananias, whom God tasks with restoring Saul’s sight and bestowing the Holy Spirit upon him. Ananias is afraid because Saul’s reputation is well known, but God declares His plans for Saul:
“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
Acts 9 : 15 – 16 ESV
Before Saul was even born, God planned to use Saul as His instrument to spread the Gospel. Saul’s conversion is a total shift from his previous character. He is now as zealous for Christianity as he was for Jewish law. Saul’s education will allow him to craft skillful arguments in support of the Gospel to instruct the newly formed church. His status as a Roman citizen will allow him to move more freely through the Roman Empire and enable him to establish churches on his travels. Also, his training as a tentmaker would provide him an income and an opportunity to converse with the locals. Consequently, he had been groomed for this role his whole life.
Paul’s ministry takes places from the mid-30s to the mid-60s A.D. Events of his death are unknown, but it is assumed he was executed during the reign of Nero, who was well-known for his persecution of Christians. Paul’s last known location was Rome.
Question for Thought:
What does Saul’s story tell you about how God is in control of our lives?
Day 2 – Tuesday : Galatians 1:1-10
About Biblical Letters
Of the 27 New Testament books, 21 are letters, 13 of which were written by Paul.
Structure of the letters:
A. The Opening
- The sender
- The recipients
- The salutation (“grace and peace to you”)
- A thanksgiving and/or prayer
B. The Body
C. The Closing
Not every letter contains each part of the opening. For example, Galatians lacks a thanksgiving or prayer.
These letters are much longer than a typical first century personal letter. The letters addressed specific situations the recipients were facing and were authoritative discourses on the issues. The letters were also copied and shared with other churches, which helped to preserve them.
While some scholars debate the author of the letters and whether their original contents, the authorship and content of the letters are upheld by most biblical scholars today. Letters were not dated so approximate dates come from studying the content of the letters in reference to known events of the time.
General Information about Galatians
Galatia is a region, not a city, located in central present-day Turkey, due north of the island of Cyprus.
Paul founded many churches in this region during his missionary journeys. There is a debate among scholars as to whom the letter was written, meaning the north Galatians or the South Galatians. The estimated date the letter was written is affected by this argument. However, these details really don’t impact our understanding of the letter. The letter was written to churches somewhere in Galatia, and was likely written in the late 40s to 50s.
Paul is writing to address false teachings within the church. Paul had recently visited the churches and is frustrated that they are being led astray shortly after he departed. New leaders have entered and are trying to require Gentile Christians to submit to Jewish law, particularly circumcision.
The two major sections of the letter are Paul’s defense of the Gospel and his affiliation with it (1:6 – 2:21) and Paul’s appeals to the Galatians to return to the truth (3:1 – 5:12).
Lastly, the most significant thing Paul emphasizes is the importance of becoming a new creation in Christ. There must be a true transformation of the heart. Paul says in Gal 2: 20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Today’s Reading
The opening to Galatians is Paul’s shortest and does not include a thanksgiving. He is quick and to the point, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him.” (vs. 6) In comparison to the other letters we will be studying Galatians opening is 5 rather short verses, Ephesians is more than 20, Philippians is 11 and Colossians is 14. This is the first indication that this is not a friendly letter.
In verse 1, Paul identifies himself as an apostle “through Jesus Christ and God the Father.” In doing so, he claims authority to speak on the issues in the church and that his words should be accepted as truth. Paul stresses that he received the Gospel directly from God, not through man.
Paul’s emphasis on Jesus sacrifice for our sins, found in verse 4, will be a key point in his argument against the false teachers. Christ’s saving work leads to salvation. We cannot earn salvation through our actions.
Verse 6 begins the body of the letter. Paul proclaims there is only one Gospel, so beware of anyone who tries to change it, add to it, or tell you something altogether different. Paul views the Galatians as questioning the very core of the Gospel, because requiring any adherence to Jewish law contradicts the true Gospel of Christ dying for our sins and freeing us from the law.
Lastly, in verse 10, Paul says you cannot focus on pleasing man and also be a servant of Christ. Paul doesn’t want the church to be led astray by the men who have come in and are trying to persuade them from Paul’s teachings.
Question for Thought:
What does it mean to be a servant of Christ?
Day 3 – Wednesday : Galatians 1:11-24
In today’s reading, Paul is again pointing out his qualifications to write authoritatively to the churches. This is his first point in his argument against the false teachers in Galatia.
Paul tell the story of his conversion and that he received the Gospel “through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (vs. 11) God radically transformed Paul’s life and chose him, even before he was born, so that he would become an apostle to the Gentiles. Paul is acting out God’s plan for his life.
He is also setting himself apart from the false teachers the church is dealing with by telling how he spent time with the apostles in Jerusalem (Cephas is another name for Peter), whose authority is already well established.
Question for Thought:
What hope does Paul’s testimony give us for our world?
Day 4 – Thursday : Galatians 2:1-14
Paul continues to prove his authority by describing a previous visit with the apostles in Jerusalem. The apostles approved of Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles and upheld his teaching that Gentiles were not bound to Jewish law (nor were Jews who converted to Christianity).
Following this meeting, however, Paul has a public confrontation with Peter over Peter’s hypocrisy. Peter is eating with the Gentiles, but when men sent from James in Jerusalem arrive, Peter goes back to following Jewish dietary guidelines. Gentile Christians can only join him if they also choose to follow the dietary restrictions. Peter’s actions cause the Gentiles to feel like second-class Christians. Paul challenges Peter because Peter was setting a poor example by requiring adherence to laws when Christ brought freedom from those laws.
Paul is equally zealous to the adherence of the Gospel as he was to the adherence of Judaism before his conversion. Now, he is adhering to the Truth, and he does not want to see a division in the church between Jews and Gentiles. For this reason, Paul calls out Peter publicly because Peter has influence over many through his position as an apostle, and his actions are leading others astray.
Question for Thought:
Early Christians struggled to figure out how to be a Christian in everyday life. How do we deal with these challenges today?
Day 5 – Friday : Galatians 2:15 – 3:14
In today’s reading, Paul is comparing justification by faith versus that of works. Justification by works implies that certain actions are necessary for salvation, such as following Jewish law. The true purpose of the law given to Moses in Exodus was to show a need for salvation. The people were not able to fully commit to the law. Their sacrifices were never enough to cover all their sins. Paul emphasizes this in Galatians 3:10 -12. The law only proves we are all cursed by our sinfulness. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, and by taking our place and becoming the curse, he was fully able to pay the debt of sins of every person. Salvation through faith alone is essential to the Gospel. To require works, is to change the Gospel entirely.
Paul emphasizes the power of faith to transform our lives in Galatians 2:20. Our sinful natures died with Christ, and when we believe in Him, we are no longer led astray by our own interests but are living in light of what Christ has done for us and are being led by the Holy Spirit.
Question for Thought:
Why was Christ’s death necessary?
I would love for you to share your thoughts or things you are learning as you read through Galatians! Look for Week Two study materials next Monday.