BBB Bible Series: Galatians Trivia Quiz

Answer: an apostle of Jesus Christ

Right from the start, Paul makes the point that he
- is an apostle, with all the authority which that implies, and
- that no human being but Jesus Christ Himself appointed Paul to be an apostle.

Answer: the requirement to conform to Judaic Law

Paul's reason for writing this letter was that some Jewish Christians had come to the Galatians and were promoting the idea that in order to be saved one had also to conform to Judaic Law and custom; to be circumcised, eat only kosher foods, offer sacrifices, etc. Paul is emphatic that to accept this teaching is like voluntarily becoming a slave again after being freed.

Answer: by a revelation of Jesus Christ

Paul is quite clear that his understanding of the Gospel of salvation was taught to him directly by Jesus Christ: first, by the revelation on the road to Damascus, then through Paul's spiritual retreat of three years in Arabia and Damascus, and finally after another fourteen years in Syria and Cilicia.

These solitary times were most likely spent in prayer, meditation, and study of the Scriptures (the Tanakh).

Answer: James, Cephas, and John

These were James the Greater, the brother of Jesus, who was head of the Church in Jerusalem at that time; Peter (here called 'Cephas', the Aramaic name which Jesus gave him), chief shepherd of the whole Church; and John the beloved disciple. Accompanying Paul on this visit were Barnabas and Titus. The climax of the story is in Galatians 2:9.

Answer: eating apart from the Gentile Christians

Paul tells how, before these men (probably conservative Jewish Christians) came from Jerusalem, Peter was quite happy to eat and share fellowship with the Gentiles, but that after the men arrived, he conformed to their sense of propriety and ate apart (almost certainly only kosher food) with them. Paul sees this as a betrayal, or at least a failure to support, the principle of salvation by grace rather than by works: religious observance of the Old Covenant.

Answer: crucified

Pauline teaching expresses it most clearly, but it is upheld throughout the New Testament: by the power of God, believers share in both Christ's death on the Cross and in His resurrection, so that they are, in a sense, dead to their original, sinful natures and alive in the new-created life in Jesus Christ.
Christians will tell you that this is the enabling power of the Gospel, which transforms people and lives.

Answer: those who are of faith

Jesus taught it in the story of Zacchaeus and elsewhere; Paul teaches it here and also in Romans; it is taught in Hebrews and in James: the heirs of Abraham, in the sense of being heirs of the Covenant with God, God's people, are those who follow Abraham in the matter of putting faith into practice.

It is not a matter of inheriting particular religious practices, nor of bloodline descent, but of sharing a living faith which moves one to action in accordance with God's will.

Answer: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The important thing, Paul says, is not what gender, or colour, or age, or class, or whatever else you may be, but whether or not you are a Christian.
Your participation in Christ Jesus is so much more important, that the other things do not matter at all.

Answer: The Old Covenant and The New Covenant

Paul links Hagar to slavery (he calls her a 'bondwoman'), to the earthly Jerusalem, and to Judaism; Ishmael is born into bondage. Paul models Sarah as the free woman, the heavenly Jerusalem, and the Christian faith, which is based on spiritual life and liberty within the bounds of conscience. Isaac is born into liberty, and as the heir of the covenant.

The former is the 'Old Covenant' while the latter is the 'New Covenant'.

Answer: Nine; Love, joy, peace

Many people miss the fact that these are not nine fruits, but one fruit with nine different aspects which Paul specifically mentions here. The Greek word translated here as 'fruit' is 'karpos' and it is singular, not plural. This also accentuates the unity of the Spirit which upbuilds and equips the Church in unity.