Session V, The Letter to the Galatians, Chapters 5 & 6

 Opening Prayer

Theme hymn                         Let Us Break Bread Together, (Marilyn’s Verse!!)

Let us find grace together on our knees;

Let us find grace together on our knees;

When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,

O Lord, have mercy on me.

We are seeking a deeper understanding of God’s grace in our lives.

General introduction to Galatians

1. This letter deals with the issue of whether Gentiles must become Jews before they become Christians.

Oxford Annotated Study Bible calls Gal the Magna Carta of Christian Liberty

2.  General background:

Paul’s missionary activity to this area is described in Acts 15, 16, & 18.

Believed written around 50 CE., possibly the earliest of Paul’s letters.  During Paul’s third journey.

3. The importance of this letter cannot be overstated.  The principles here in these six chapters made Christianity a world religion instead of a Jewish sect.

4. We will find considerable biographical material about Paul here, more than in any other source.

5. Celtic Stuff

6. Paul’s 3 journeys.  See the map handout.

 Galatians, Chapters Five and Six

Chapter 5

V. 1 – note the way most Bibles have this attached to chapter 4.

Vv. 2-12 – Warning against circumcision.

Vv 2-6 – Paul points out, again, that we are justified by faith.  Note the way v. 6 puts circumcision and uncircumcision account for the same thing.

Vv 7-12 – Paul repeats his questioning of the Galatians, about why they have fallen away.  Note this is repeating a pattern, found in 1:6, 3:1-5, 4:12-20.

V. 9 – yeast is a negative image here.  Remember the place of unleavened bread in Judaism.

V. 12 – illustrates Paul’s extreme exasperation.

Discussion question:  A way to paraphrase v. 9 is “One bad apple spoils the whole barrel.”  Can you think of an example of this? 

Vv. 13-15 – Freedom for Love

In the context of Paul’s letter here, this is his expression of the greatest commandment that Matthew puts in Ch. 22:34-40.

Discussion question:  Can you think of an example of an abuse of Christian Freedom?

Vv. 16-26 – Works of the flesh and of the spirit.

Paul now shows what the ethical implications of this freedom in Christ is all about.  He does this while continuing to show the tension or polarity between law and spirit or flesh and spirit.

Chapter 6

Vv. 1-10 Bearing one another’s burdens.

Vv.1-2 give the ethical commands and the rest of the verses qualify the commands, so that we do not then become proud of our love for others or shirk our responsibilities in caring for others.  Everyone must work together in the mutual bearing of burdens.

Discussion question:  Do you ever “grow weary in doing what is right”?

Vv. 11-18 - conclusion

v. 11 – adds a note about the writing style of the times.

Vv. 12-16, the final statement of the letter’s argument. 

V. 17 – as referred to in 4:13 (2 Cor 11:23-27 & 2 Cor 12:7-10)

V. 18 – The benediction.  His use of brothers, or brother and sisters, softens the tone of the letter.

Engaging activity.  During this class we will undertake to write a letter similar to Galatians, but in a modern context.  You are to address this letter to the person you most want to pass your faith onto.

For the first class, we thought about what we would say in a salutation, and about your own faith journey.  The second class we continued with our faith journey and how grace fits into your life.  In the third class we chose from these three options

1. Try to explain the difference between living in the Spirit and following a set of rules.
2. Remember Jesus using the word “Daddy” to talk about God.  That is how close we can be to God.  In your letter, talk about how close you feel to God.
3. Paul says that anyone who believes in Christ is a child of God.  All the normal barriers between people are broken down.  How does that affect you?  How could you explain it in your letter?

For last week, tell in your letter what it is Christ frees you from.

For this final week, how could you describe something about the way you behave that is a direct reflection of your faith?  Write a benediction to your letter.

Sing our theme song, close with prayer.