LETTERS FROM PAUL BLOG

“I myself can hardly believe that I was so verbose as this book shows when I publicly expounded this letter of St. Paul to the Galatians.” Martin Luther

While there are varying opinions on which part of Galatia Paul was writing to, there is no doubt about the importance and focus of this letter. God’s grace can not be compromised. Jewish Christians (Judaizers) believed that Gentile believers had to participate in the Old Testament ceremonial practices, especially circumcision. By not stressing the importance of the law, their complaint against Paul is that he was watering down the Gospel to make it more attractive to the Gentiles. This book is often referred to as “Luther’s Book” because of his many references to it as he debated during the Reformation. If we want to “Be the Church” it is important to get the teaching of grace correct.

Here are some readings and questions to guide you through reading the book in a week.

MONDAY – Galatians 1:1-9 – An Introduction

How can Paul be so certain of his authority as an apostle? Are you certain of your calling as a child of God? Are you surprised by his language “let him be eternally condemned” (literally go to hell)? What “distorted” gospel upsets you the most?

TUESDAY – Galatians 1:10-2:21 – The way Paul lives his life

Paul didn’t make up the gospel (verse 11), if you were to make up a religion, would it be based on works or grace? What got Paul off the legalism track and on the gospel track? If you had to discuss the power of the gospel in your life, what example would you give? Some say 2:16 is a key verse for understanding grace, what difference would it make if you had to keep the OT laws to earn your way to God? Re-read 2:21, if we mingle legalism it destroys grace and Christ died for nothing. Do you remember Jesus praying in the garden, “Father if there is another way…?”

WEDNESDAY – Galatians 3:1-4:31 – The Teaching of Grace

In 4:9, Paul asks them how they are “turning back to those weak and miserable principles?” What bad spiritual habits do you have a tendency to “fall back” to? What happens to you when you turn away from the true Gospel that you can’t earn (see 4:15)? Read 4:18, how can zeal without knowledge be bad? How can knowledge without zeal be bad?

THURSDAY – Galatians 5:1-6:10 – Living Free

What is Paul’s warning to those who are trying to be justified by the law (see 5:4)?  Have you ever seen Christian freedom abused? Notice the words “will not” in 5:16, what does this mean? If you are living by the spirit, what should be true of the list in 5:19-21? How about 5:22-23?

FRIDAY – Galatians 6:11-18 – One last thought

What is the danger of just trying to “make a good impression outwardly?” How is living by grace a much better way to live?

In Luther’s commentary, he refers to active righteousness (what we try to earn) and passive righteousness (that which is given to us). The law can push us to an active righteousness and hence to a “different gospel that is really no gospel at all.” As this battle rages in us, Martin Luther shares these thoughts…

“You want to climb up into the kingdom of my conscience, do you Law? You want to reign over it and reprove sin and take away the joy I have by faith in Christ and drive me to desperation? Keen within your bounds, and exercise your power over the flesh, but do not touch my conscience. By the Gospel I am called to share righteousness and everlasting life. I am called to Christ’s kingdom, where my conscience is at rest and there is no law, but rather forgiveness of sins, peace, quietness, joy health, and everlasting life. Do not trouble me in these matters, for I will not let an intolerable tyrant like you reign in my conscience, which is the temple of Christ, the Son of God. He is the King of righteousness and peace, my sweet Savior and Mediator; he will keep my conscience joyful and quiet in the sound, pure doctrine of the Gospel and in the knowledge of Christian and heavenly righteousness.”

Scholars estimate that this second letter to the Churches in Corinth was written the same year as the first, 55 A.D. It had come to Paul’s attention that other teachers had approached the Corinthians and challenged his authority. It appears that their challenge was based on the fact that Paul didn’t charge them anything (a “you get what you pay for” sort of argument) and that he was pocketing the collection he took for the followers in Jerusalem. They also attacked him because he had changed his itinerary (so he can’t be trusted).  Paul’s defense is compelling; it rests on the results of his teachings. This was a measure of true teaching: did it produce the sort of life promised by Jesus?

Following are readings to bring you through the letter in one week, with some questions to jog your thinking.

MONDAY -  2 Corinthians. 1:1-3:6
     
In chapter 1 verse 9, Paul identifies God as the one “who raises from the dead.” In the midst of persecution that made him wish for death, he put his hope in the God who raises from the dead. This way of thinking came up again in chapter 3 verse 6 when he says that the Spirit gives life. What does that mean to you? How has the Spirit given you life? Can you remember a time when the hope of resurrection encouraged you to press on?

TUESDAY -  2 Corinthians 3:7-6:2
     
Chapter 5 verse 17 is a favorite of mine. It talks about the reality of the victory of the cross. We are wholly new people, reborn in the restored image of God. This is nicely explained by chapter 6 verse 1 where Paul says, “do not receive God’s grace in vain. “ See the truth is that when you were baptized a new you was brought to life, one capable of allowing Jesus to be King. Paul is urging the Corinthians to live out of the righteousness offered them (see chapter 5 verse 21). Do you sometimes “bound” to sin, do you find yourself doing things you don’t want to do? Is it hard to believe that you are already 100% righteous? Do you feel free to follow Jesus with your actions, words and thoughts?

WEDNESDAY -  2 Corinthians 6:3-7:16
     
Reread chapter 6 verse 14 - chapter 7 verse 1, what does this section mean? What does it mean to be yoked to someone? When you consider the way Paul said he was willing to be “all things to all men that by any means I may save some” what does he mean when he calls the Corinthians to be separate from the world? Is there a time where you found yourself “unequally yoked?” How did it turn out? What about someone else, have you watched someone unequally yoke themselves?

THURSDAY -  2 Corinthians 8:1-10:18
     
Consider chapter 8 verses13-15, what keeps us from living out this ethic? In verse 15 Paul is quoting from the Exodus wanderings in the dessert when the Israelites picked quail and manna off the ground and shared so everyone had enough. He is telling the Corinthians that they have been incorporated into a people with a long history of communal living. What is keeping us from living this way today? How does that ethic collide with capitalism? What does plenty look like to us now? How about then? How about now around the world? Could you find ways to give more cheerfully?

FRIDAY -  2 Corinthians 11-13:14
     
The phrase in chapter 11 verse 14, Satan masquerades as an angel of light, deserves some thinking. What does that mean? Have you seen it to be true in your own life? Reread chapter 11 verses 23-29. Tough life huh? Not that Paul didn’t also have good times, but he was making a list of struggles God had brought him through. What would your list of hardships look like? Have you trusted God in times of struggle? What does that do for your faith?

While Timothy had been sent to a church that was already started and had gotten headed in the wrong direction because of false teachings and Elders of the church that led unchristian lives, Titus was starting a new church and picking Elders for the first time. So much of Titus sounds like 1 Timothy, but Paul is not talking to Titus about holding true to the faith and resisting those that would lead him astray.

What role was Titus’ lifestyle supposed to play in growing his church? Does that apply today? How do you speak to others with your lifestyle?

Paul reminds Timothy that the end of the world is near (at least he should live that way) and people will try to entice others to follow the wrong ways. Timothy should mark those people and avoid spending time with them.  Paul says that Timothy should remember the example of Paul and his life and teachings. Paul points to the fact that he tried to live the way that he was teaching. How would any of that apply today? Is it hard? How are you doing?

In these chapters Paul encourages Timothy to remain faithful to the teachings that were given to him by his grandmother, mother and Paul himself. It seems that in the locale where Timothy was working there were several other teachers with very different teachings that were tempting to follow. What does it mean to you to “remain faithful”? Is that hard to do in today’s society?

In Chapter 4 Paul encourages Timothy not to worry about his youth but to use the gifts that God has given him and live a godly life that will convince the people around him that he is truly a man of God. Does your life say anything to the people around you?

Chapters 5 and 6 talk to Timothy about matters that must have been troubling the church where Timothy was working.  These may not always apply to our situations today.

1 & 2 TIMOTHY, AND TITUS - “The Pastoral Letters”

Timothy and Titus were disciples of the apostle Paul. Paul released them to oversee the work being done in several young churches that had experienced problems. These letters were written to his young disciples as encouragement, but they have also come to be seen as manuals for church structure and order. We need to remember that Paul wrote these letters to answer particular problems that these churches faced in the society and times of their day. Therefore not everything that he suggests would be helpful or appropriate today. Paul writes to these young Christian men to encourage them to not be intimidated by the church community or the secular community around them, but rather that they should “Be the Church” as they live boldly the faith that is within them.

Timothy 1:1-3:16 - Paul warned Timothy that he would be tempted to get involved with endless discussions of the law. He told him that this would be fruitless, and worse it would lead him away from the faith in Jesus Christ that was his true salvation vv. 3-11.  Do you think that happens in church today? To you? Paul describes the boundless grace and mercy that God showed to Paul and now has available to Timothy, trust that grace vv. 12-20. Do you feel God’s grace in your life today? There seems to have been a structure of “overseers,” people that helped with the leading of the congregation who reported to Timothy. Paul gives instruction to Timothy as he is choosing these men, just what he should look for. If chapter 3 is the job description, how hard would it be to find someone to fit that description? Would Timothy have to settle for someone who had most but not all? Do we do that today?

Living the Life Christ Won for Us
Do you feel like God’s chosen person, holy and dearly loved?
Pray Colossians 4:3-6 as your personal prayer.

Christ holds it all together, His Power and Grace
Read this section and write down all the things that God has done for you (i.e. rescued us).
Cool assignment – Re-read Colossians 1:15-18 and then watch a You Tube video. Search for Louie Giglio and lamanin. Well worth 10 minutes. Trust me.
If you received Christ by grace (2:6), why do some choose to live differently, by works? How do you live?

Finding Joy
What is God’s antidote for anxiety?
What do you spend the most time thinking about?
How does that match the characteristics in Philippians 4:8?
Do you really believe Philippians 4:13?
The Christians at Philippi learned Paul’s secret of contentment and it drove their giving. What drives your giving? What keeps you from giving?