The Gist of Galatians Trivia Quiz

Answer: They were circumcizing Gentile converts.

A group had arisen in the early church, insisting that the Gospel was for followers of the Jewish law, and that therefore non-Jews must follow Jewish law to become followers of Christ. The major controversy centered around whether or not the gentile converts had to be circumcised like the Jews, as a sign of entering into the covenant of God and Abraham.

In Galatians 2:12, Paul writes, "For before certain men came from James, [Peter] ate with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party."

Answer: That justification comes through faith, not through following the law

Paul asserts this truth many times. Gal. 2:15-16: "We ourselves, who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, in order to be justified by faith in Christ Jesus, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified." Gal. 3:11-12: "Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for 'He who through faith is righteous shall live'; but the law does not rest on faith, for 'He who does them shall live by them.'" Gal. 3:23: "Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed." Gal. 5:18: "But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law."

Answer: Abraham

The Jewish converts placed great stock in being "sons of Abraham," and therefore inheritors of God's promise to Abraham of blessings through him to his posterity. Circumcision was Abraham's signature on the deal, if you will. So one group was having Gentile converts circumcised as a show of being "sons of Abraham". Paul pointed out the errors in this line of thought : Gal. 3:6: "Thus Abraham 'believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.' So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham."

Answer: All of these.

Gal. 3:3: "Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?" Gal. 4:7: "So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir." Gal. 5:1: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery."

Answer: Guardianship

Paul compares the Jewish life under the law with an underage child living under a gardian or custodian in Galatians 4:1-7. He sets up this explanation in Gal. 3:23-24: "Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith."

Answer: Hagar and Sarah

God had promised Abraham a son. Sarah was old and thought herself barren, so she came up with the idea of Abraham fathering a son with Hagar, the slave woman. But Sarah did conceive a child, as God promised. Paul compares these two sons as the one born to the flesh and the one born of God's promise, in Galatians 4:21-31.

Answer: All of these

Gal. 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Answer: Any of these

Gal. 5:26: "Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of another."

Answer: In a spirit of gentleness

Gal. 6:1: "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you be too tempted."

Answer: Both

Gal. 6:12-13: "It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh." In other words, that they can point to the new "sons of Abraham" with the circumcision of evidence.