When the Curse Met the Cross Study Guide

Mar 16
3 min read

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Read this article about the Galatia. Write down three things you learned about the church and letter.

1. Read Galatians 3:1–14 at least 3 times. What was the problem that Paul needed to address?

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Special Terms:

Legalism

The view that makes law-keeping a condition for salvation—salvation by works.

Judaizers

A group of Jewish Christians who believed that all Gentile Christians should “live like Jews” (Gal 2:14) by embracing Jewish customs. Although the word Judaizer does not appear in the NT, such attempts at “judaizing” conflicted with Paul’s insistence that salvation is “not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Gal 2:16). It is important to understand that Paul never encouraged Jewish Christians to abandon their Jewish way of life and national identity, though he was falsely accused of doing so (Acts 21:21).

Patzia, Arthur G., and Anthony J. Petrotta. Pocket Dictionary of Biblical Studies. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Self-Righteousness

A term that has come to designate moral living as a way of salvation; or as a ground for neglecting the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The thought is present in the teaching of Jesus, who spoke one parable particularly to such as reckoned themselves to be righteous (Lk 18:9 ff). The Pharisees quite generally resented the idea of Jesus that all men needed repentance and they most of all. They regarded themselves as righteous and looked with contempt on “sinners.” Paul in all his writings, esp. Rom 3; Gal 3; Eph 2; Phil 3, contrasts the righteousness that is God’s gift to men of faith in Jesus Christ, with righteousness that is “of the law” and “in the flesh.” By this latter he means formal conformity to legal requirements in the strength of unregenerate human nature. He is careful to maintain (cf Rom 7) that the Law is never really kept by one’s own power. On the other hand, in full agreement with Jesus, Paul looks to genuine righteousness in living as the demand and achievement of salvation based on faith. God’s gift here consists in the capacity progressively to realize righteousness in life (cf Rom 8:1 ff).

Orr, James, John L. Nuelsen, Edgar Y. Mullins, and Morris O. Evans, eds. “Self-Control.” In The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia. Vol. 1–5. Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915.

2. Read Galatians 2:11–14. What happened with Peter? Was this legalism? Why or why not?

Old Testament Topic

Paul states, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” This is a reference to the Blessings and Curses found in the Law.

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Blessings and Cursings

The blessings and curses in Torah represent the consequences of national obedience or disobedience to God’s commands. Rather than applying mechanistically to individuals, these blessings and curses address the covenant people collectively, expressing that belonging to God’s covenant brings blessings, while separation from God results in curses. Moses employed both the promises of reward and threats of punishment as pastoral motivations, reflecting God’s intense concern for covenant faithfulness.

3. Read Galatians 3:10. What do the blessings and curses teach us about God’s law and obedience?

4. Read Galatians 3:7–9. What is your relationship to Abraham? Why is his response so important to Paul’s teaching?

5. Read Galatians 3:13. From what did Christ redeem us and how?

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Theological Concept: Redemption

Redemption (redeemed) To pay the required price to secure the release of a convicted criminal, the process therein involved, and the person making the payment. In early use the idea and the words related to legal and commercial activities. They provided biblical writers with one of the most basic and dynamic images for describing God's saving activity toward mankind.

6. What are some ways people seek right standing with God other than the way of grace through faith? Why are these ways tempting?

7. How does understanding that faith, rather than works, is the basis for righteousness impact our view of the Old Testament law?

8. If someone were to tell you that God accepts us based on us just trying to be good, what might you say to them?