Reading for January 14th

 Read Galatians 3.19-29. In 3.19-29: Why the law was given. Paul shows similar concern to defend the law in Romans (Rom 7.7-12). In verses 19-20: Because of transgressions: This is a very difficult phrase; as a way of dealing with transgressions that could be dealt with no other way? as a way of naming our transgressions? Ordained through angels by a mediator: The particular event this refers to is unclear. Its intent is to show that the law expressed God's will indirectly. In verses 21-22: This would seem to follow from vv. 17-18 (Rom 3.31). As in Rom 7, sin is seen as a powerful, almost personal, force capable of using the law to its own advantage. Faith in Jesus Christ: See comments on 2.15-21. In verse 23-29: Faith refers to the way of faith, anticipated by Abraham but exemplified in Christ. In verse 24: Disciplinarian refers to a teacher responsible for a child's upbringing on behalf of the parents, a temporary role. In verse 26: In Christ Jesus: Believers now enjoy that status of full-fledged children who no longer need a surrogate parent. Faith marks the way one "enters" Christ. In verse 27: Through baptism believers "die and rise" with Christ, thereby entering the sphere where God's life-giving power is operative. So engulfed are they by Christ, it is like putting on a garment (Col 3.9-11). In verse 28: The elimination of ethnic, social, and gender distinctions derives from the oneness experienced in Christ (1 Cor 7.17-24). The language here is probably drawn from an early baptismal formula. In verse 29: This is the point toward which Paul has been building. God promised Abraham that gentiles would receive blessing through his "seed." This occurred with Christ, the seed of Abraham, who enabled Abraham's way of relating to God to become a reality-- the way of faith. Those who responded to Christ in faith, both gentiles and Jews, become Abraham's children. Who, then, are Abraham's children? Jews alone? No. Everyone who shares the faith of Abraham. Christ, first, then those who exhibit faith like Christ. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 13th

 Read Galatians 3.6-18. In 3.6-18: God's promise to Abraham. This treatment of Abraham should be compared with Rom 4. In verse 6: Gen 15.6; see Rom 4.3. In verse 7: Abraham's true descendants are not the circumcised, but those who have faith like his (Rom 4.16). In verse 8: Gen 12.3;18.18. In verse 9: Those who believe, both Jews and gentiles, share Abraham's capacity for faith. In verse 10: Deut 27.26. The emphasis is on all the things: obligation to do everything the law says. Since this is impossible, the law is a curse. Romans omits this argument (see James 2.10). In verse 11: For Paul, faith as an alternative way of relating to God is expressed in Hab 2.4, however it is understood (Rom 1.17). In verse 12: Paul uses Lev 18.5 to show that the law is based on doing, not believing (Rom 10.5). In verse 13: The curse of the law is not being able to do everything in the law (v. 10). A curse was needed to break the curse: Christ's death by crucifixion broke the law (Deut 21.23). In verse 14: The blessing of Abraham is God's promise to abraham mentioned in v. 8. In verses 15:-18: The illustration of the will is based on Gen 13.15; 17.8; 24.7. Paul sees the singular use of offspring, literally "seed" ("sperma") as significant. Since it is singular, it cannot refer to Abraham's many descendants who made God's promise possible-Christ (v. 16). In verse 17: Ex 12.40. The covenant with Abraham envisioned that through a single person the gentiles would be blessed. Since this was like a ratified will, the law that came later did not void the earlier agreement. This can only mean that the law was not the channel through which the promise was kept alive. The promise bypassed the law. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 12th

Read Galatians 3.1-5. In 3.1-5: Recalling the Galatians' conversion. In verse 1: Paul's preaching and lifestyle publicly displayed Christ's crucifixion (1 Cor 2.1-2; 2 Cor 4.10-12). In verse 2: Receive the Spirit: The mark of genuine conversion is experiencing God's life giving Spirit through Christ (Rom 8.9). In verse 3: Flesh and law are closely identified in Paul (Rom 8.3). In verse 5: Work miracles (literally "working powers" ) signified sense of the Spirit (1 Cor 12.10). Comments or Questions.. 

Reading for January 11th

 Read Galatians 2.11-21. In 2.11-14: Paul opposes Peter at Antioch. In verse 11: When the Antioch visit occurred is not known. In verses 12-13: This hypocrisy: Eating with gentiles indicated full acceptance. refusing to do implied their "uncleanness" before God. For Paul, gentile Christians were accepted by God. Their status before God did not change with the coming and going of conservative Jews. The circumcision faction literally "those of the circumcision," require gentile Christians to be circumcised (5.2-6). In verse 14: "How can you meet gentiles half way (not keep food laws), then require them to go the whole way (be circumcised)?" In verses 15-21: Paul's gospel: we are justified through Christ, not the law. In verse 15: Gentile sinners: 1 Thess 4.5. In verse 16: Reckoned as righteous (by God) well expresses justified; see Rom 3.21-26. Faith in Jesus Christ: Christ is the object of our faith; we trust him as God's agent of redemption.  Faith of Jesus Christ: Christ own faithfulness to God enables our salvation (Rom 3.22, 26). In verse 17: Does Christ serve sin's purpose by exposing us sinners? In verse 18: What Paul tore down was torah observance as the only basis for relating to God. In verse 19: Paul found the demands of the law suffocating (Rom 7.9-10). In verses 19b-20: Crucified with Christ: Paul reenacted Christ's death as a coparticipants. Like Christ, he experienced a death of the self (Rom 6.10). Now filled with the living Christ, his life exhibits faith defined by Christ-either trust placed in Christ or the pattern of faithfulness Christ himself displayed before God. Christ's death exemplies love for others (1.4; 2 Cor 5.14). In verse 21: This briefly states Paul's position. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 10th

 Read Galatians 2.1-10. In 2.1-10: The Jerusalem summit meeting. In verse 1: Acts 15 reports Paul and Barnaba's visit to Jerusalem conference, but not the visits of Titus. The content of that meeting differs substantially from what Paul reports here. In verse 2: Revelation; Paul felt compelled by God to go. In verse 3: As an uncircumcised gentile, Titus serves as the test case. In verse 4: These false brothers remained unidentified. "Brothers" suggests they are Christians (Acts 15.5). In verse 6: Acknowledged leaders: The Greek reads, "those who were supposed to be something." They appear to be different from those named in vv. 7-9. In verses 7-8: How Paul came up with this division of labor is not clear. Acts presents Peter preaching both to Jews and gentiles, although Paul is mainly responsible for the gentile mission outside of Palestine. V. 8 refers to Paul's call (1.15-16). In verse 9: James is probably the brother of Jesus, not the apostle (Acts 15.13-21; 12.1-5). Cephas is Peter (v. 7). John is nowhere else mentioned by Paul; he is probably the apostle (Acts 3-4; Mt 4.21). James and Peter are mentioned in Acts 15; John is not. Acknowledged pillars my be sarcastic;"supposedly pillar." It nonetheless indicates their status as leaders. In verse 10: Acts 15 does not mention the collection (see Acts 11.27-29). It figures prominently in Paul's letters (1 Cor 16.1-4; 2 Cor 8-9; Rom 15.25-27). Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 9th

 Read Galatians 1.13-24. In 1.13-24: Paul recalls his past. In verse 13: His role as persecutor was a key memory informing Paul's understanding of his apostleship (1 Cor 15.9; Acts 8.3). In verse 14: His formal training as a Pharisee is in view (Phil 3.5-6; Acts 22.3). In verse 15: The language recalls Old Testament prophetic calls (Isa 49.1; Jer 1.5). In verse 16: The experience changed Paul into the apostle to the gentiles (Rom 15.15-16; Acts 9.15). In verse 17: Paul's autobiographical accounts differs slightly from the story of his call in Acts 9. In Acts 9.26-30; 22.17-21, Paul returns to Jerusalem immediately after his conversion. Arabia was a nearby region. The return to Damascus locates the events of v. 15 (Acts 9; 2 Cor 11.32-33). In verses 18-19: This visit is sometimes identified with Acts 9.26-30, although Acts 9 mentions neither Cephas (Peter) nor James. In verse 20: 2 Cor 11.31. In verse 21: Syria is the region of Damascus; Cilicia is eastern Asia Minor. In verses 22-23: This is difficult to harmonize with Acts 9.26-30. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 8th

 Read Galatians 1.1-12. In verse 1-5: Greetings. In verse 1: Paul's strong denial of the human origin of his apostleship (1.11-12) is a hint of the controversy that drives the letter. In verse 4: Gave himself Christ's death is understood as a sin offering for others (Eph 5.2; Lev 4-5). In verses 6-12: Paul defends his gospel. Paul omits his normal opening prayer of thanksgiving for his readers, showing how angry he is with them (contrast 1 Cor 1.4-9). In verses 6-7: Different gospel refers to the view Paul opposes in the letter; mainly, that God God requires gentile Christians to observe the Mosaic law (4.21; 5.2-4). In verses 8-9: The use of a double curse is especially emphatic (1 Cor 16.22). In verse 10: The perspective of Paul's critics. In verses 11-12: Human origin renders "kata anthropon," literally "according to man," thus human. Revelation of Jesus Christ: Paul's understanding of the gospel occurred through a revelation whose content was Jesus Christ (v. 16). Comments or Questions..