“Lesson 43: Galatians,” New Testament Teacher Manual (2018)
“Lesson 43,” New Testament Teacher Manual
43
Galatians
Introduction and Timeline
Paul reproved the Saints in Galatia for embracing the falsehood that Gentile Saints had to observe the rituals of the law of Moses (see Galatians 1:6–7; 3:1–3; 5:2–4; 6:12; see also Acts 15:1–31). He defended his calling as an Apostle by declaring that he taught the true gospel of Jesus Christ, that he had received revelation from God, and that his ministry to the Gentiles had been approved by the Apostles in Jerusalem (see Galatians 1:1, 11–24; 2:1–9). Followers of Jesus Christ, both Jews and Gentiles, are justified not by the works and rituals of the law of Moses “but by the faith of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16). Paul supported this doctrine by citing the example of Abraham (see Galatians 3:6–18), teaching of the redemption made possible through the death of Jesus Christ (see Galatians 3:13), and explaining that the law of Moses had been given as a “schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ” (Galatians 3:24). Those who have faith in Jesus Christ and are baptized become Abraham’s seed (see Galatians 3:26–4:7). Paul called upon the Saints to live by the Spirit and to stand fast in the liberty of the gospel (see Galatians 4:21–6:18).
Chapter Overviews
Paul addressed the Church members in Galatia and marveled that they were so quickly departing from God to embrace “another gospel.” Paul testified that the gospel he had taught them was not of man but had been revealed by Jesus Christ. He recounted his conversion and declared that he had received the gospel “by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Paul described a visit he had made to Jerusalem, during which he was called by the Apostles James, Cephas (Peter), and John to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. In defense of the Gentile Saints in Antioch (in Pisidia), Paul had once rebuked Peter. People are justified not by performing the works of the law of Moses, but “by the faith of Jesus Christ.”
Abraham is an example of how one is justified by faith and not by the works of the law of Moses. Through the Atonement, Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. The law of Moses was given as a “schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.” Through having faith and being baptized, Saints “put on Christ” and become heirs of God and “one in Christ Jesus.”
Those redeemed by Jesus Christ become sons of God and are no longer servants. Paul depicted Hagar and Sarah as an allegory of the old covenant (bondage under the law of Moses) and the new covenant (liberty in the gospel of Jesus Christ).
Paul urged the Galatians to “stand fast … in the liberty” of the gospel and not to become “entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” He listed “the works of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit” and promised, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Paul encouraged the Galatians to walk in the Spirit. He reminded them of the law of the harvest and promised, “He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” He encouraged the Galatians not to be weary in well-doing and promised peace to those who became new creatures in Jesus Christ.
Suggestions for Teaching
Galatians 1–2
Paul Appealed to the Galatian Saints to Return to Their New Life in Christ
To help students understand the context and importance of the Epistle to the Galatians, pose the following situation to them: Imagine that you were not a member of the Church and had been born and raised in an area where there were no Church members. Then one day an Apostle of the Church and some missionaries came to your town and you heard them teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. You and others embraced their message and joined the Church, and your whole life changed for the better. But a short time later, after the Apostle and missionaries had left town, some other missionaries arrived and taught a different message from what you had heard earlier. Some members of the Church in your area begin to doubt the Apostle’s authority and to accept the teachings of these new missionaries. What questions or concerns would you have?
After a few students have responded, explain that this situation is very similar to the one that prompted the Apostle Paul to write his Epistle to the Galatians. Ask three students to read the following passages aloud: Galatians 1:6–9; Galatians 4:9–11; Galatians 6:12 (you may wish to write these references on the board).
Ask the rest of the class to follow along, looking for what prompted Paul to write to the Galatians. Ask:
-
According to Galatians 1:7, how did Paul describe the actions of some people among the Galatian Saints? (They were perverting the gospel of Christ.)
-
According to Galatians 6:12, what were some people constraining the Galatian Saints to do? (Be circumcised.)
To help students understand what led Paul to write to the Galatian Saints, you might ask a student to read aloud the second paragraph under the student manual section “To whom was Galatians written and why?” or the student manual commentary for Galatians 1:1–7.
Encourage students to remember the circumstances of the Saints in Galatia as the lesson progresses. Ask them to consider how Paul’s teachings would have helped those Saints and how his teachings are of value in our day.
Have students read Galatians 2:1. Explain that by the time Paul wrote Galatians, he had been laboring among the Gentiles for at least 14 years. Summarize Galatians 2:2–15 by explaining that Paul defended his ministry by telling the Galatian Saints that he had traveled to Jerusalem, where Peter, James, and John had given their approval of his apostolic labors among the Gentiles. If students have questions about the apparent disagreement between Paul and Peter recorded in verses 12–15, consider using some of the information in the student manual commentary for Galatians 2:11–16. Because we know so little about this experience, it is wise not to spend too much time discussing it. Paul told of this experience to emphasize that Gentile converts to the Church did not need to be circumcised.
Ask a student to read aloud Galatians 2:16, and ask the other students to listen for what Paul taught about faith in Jesus Christ. Then ask:
-
What did Paul teach about faith in Jesus Christ?
As students share their answers, you may need to review the meaning of justification (see the student manual commentaries for Galatians 2:15–16 and for Romans 1:16–17). You might ask follow-up questions such as, “According to Galatians 2:16, what justifies a person? What does not justify a person?” Make sure that students understand this truth: We are justified by the faith of Jesus Christ, not by the works of the law of Moses.
-
Why was Paul’s teaching about justification by faith in Jesus Christ an important message for the Galatian Saints? (The Galatians were straying from faith in Jesus Christ by emphasizing the rituals of the law of Moses.)
-
Why do you think justification by faith in Jesus Christ is an important doctrine for us to understand?
As students respond, consider having them read the statement by President Dallin H. Oaks in the student manual commentary for Galatians 2:15–16. Help students understand the importance of relying upon Jesus Christ and His power to justify us.
Write the following phrase on the board: Paul—Before and After.
Ask students to briefly summarize what they remember about Paul before his conversion and after his conversion. As students respond, you might summarize for them Paul’s account of his conversion found in Galatians 1:13–17, 22–24.
Ask a student to read aloud Galatians 2:18–19.
-
Why would Paul “make [himself] a transgressor” if he were to return to his former way of life? (If students need help understanding these verses, see the student manual commentary for Galatians 2:18–20; 3:10–11, 22.)
-
What do these verses teach us, as disciples whose lives have been changed by our faith in Jesus Christ?
Ask a student to read aloud Galatians 2:20, and ask the class to follow along, looking for Paul’s description of how his life had changed. To help students identify and explain gospel principles, ask:
-
Why do you think Paul was so completely converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ?
-
Why do you think Paul so strongly encouraged the Galatians not to return to living the law of Moses?
As students share their responses to these questions, make sure they understand this principle: The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to have a new life in Christ as we place our faith in Him, repent, and continue to “live unto God.”
Ask students to ponder silently for a few moments how they would respond to these questions:
-
In what ways has your life changed because you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ?
-
Do you feel that you are living a new life in Christ? Have your sins and bad habits been “crucified with Christ” and left in the past?
Invite students to do whatever is necessary to more fully experience the new life in Christ that Paul described.
Galatians 3:1–4:20
Paul’s Defense of the Gospel
Explain that Paul’s teachings found in chapters 3 and 4 of Galatians focused on teaching the true gospel of Jesus Christ so that the Galatian Saints would turn away from their Judaized version of the gospel and return to the truth. Assign students to work in small groups (two to four students in each group). Assign each group one of the three following reading assignments and the questions that accompany it. (This activity will work better if you have the reading assignments and questions ready to hand out to each group.) Ask students to read their assigned passages aloud in their groups and then discuss the questions that follow. Ask them also to think of a gospel principle that is taught by the verses.
The Need for the Savior’s Atonement. Read Galatians 3:10–13 and the student manual commentaries for Galatians 2:18–20; 3:10–11, 22 and for Galatians 3:13.
-
What did Paul teach in these verses about why every person needs the Atonement of Jesus Christ?
-
How would these teachings have helped the Galatians deal with the controversy about how salvation is obtained?
-
Why is it important for us to understand why every person needs the Atonement of Jesus Christ?
The Purposes of the Law of Moses. Read Galatians 3:19–25 and the student manual commentaries for Galatians 3:19–25 and for Galatians 3:24–25.
-
What did Paul teach in these verses about the purposes of the law of Moses?
-
How would these teachings have helped the Galatians deal with the controversy about observing the law of Moses?
-
Why is it important for us to understand the purposes of the law of Moses?
Entering the Gospel Covenant. Read Galatians 3:26–29; 4:1–7.
-
What did Paul teach in these verses about how we enter the gospel covenant and become heirs of God’s promises?
-
How would these teachings have helped the Galatians deal with the controversy about whether to follow the law of Moses or accept the gospel taught by Jesus Christ?
-
Why is it important for us to understand how one accepts the gospel and enters the gospel covenant?
After students have had several minutes to read and discuss their questions in their groups, conclude the group activity. Bring the class together by having one student from each group report the answers to their questions to the entire class. Ask students to share the gospel principle taught by their verses. Consider writing their gospel principles on the board.
As students share their responses, make sure they understand these truths: Through the Atonement, Jesus Christ suffered the penalty for our sins and made it possible for us to “live by faith.” (Galatians 3:10–13.) The law of Moses was given to prepare the people of Israel for Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:19–25.) By entering the gospel covenant, followers of Jesus Christ become “one” in Christ and heirs of God. (Galatians 3:26–29; 4:1–7.)
You might ask some of the following questions to help students understand and feel the importance of these truths:
-
According to Galatians 4:7, when we are in a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ, how is our relationship best described? (The relationship of a child to his or her Father, rather than the relationship of a servant to a master.)
-
What are some differences between seeing one’s relationship with God as a child to a Father rather than as a servant to a master? (You might ask students to consider whether they think of themselves more often as God’s servant or as His child.)
-
What does it mean to you to know that you are an heir of God?
Galatians 4:21–6:18
The Call to Liberty through Living the Gospel
Explain that as Paul concluded his Epistle to the Galatians, he made a final point about why the Saints should embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ask students to read Galatians 5:1 and 5:13, looking for the word that describes an important blessing enjoyed by Christ’s followers. (“Liberty.” Consider inviting students to mark key phrases in these verses, such as, “Ye have been called unto liberty.”) Then ask:
-
In Galatians 5:1, what do you think the “yoke of bondage” can refer to? (Help students understand that in this context, Paul was referring to the law of Moses. Elsewhere in the scriptures, the “yoke of bondage” can refer to the bondage of sin and ignorance.)
-
How can false beliefs be a “yoke of bondage” for people who are seeking salvation? (As students respond, consider having them read the first paragraph of the student manual commentary for Galatians 5:1, 13.)
To help students understand what it means to live in spiritual bondage or spiritual liberty, display the following references and questions on the board:
Spiritual bondage. Galatians 5:19–21. If people did not have the Spirit of the Lord and did whatever they felt like doing, what would be the result?
Spiritual liberty. Galatians 5:16, 22–25. In what ways does the Spirit of the Lord affect people?
After students have had a few moments to read the scripture passages silently, invite them to respond to the questions written on the board.
As students respond, make sure they understand this principle: If we are led by the Spirit of the Lord, we will enjoy spiritual freedom and the “fruit of the Spirit.” As time permits, consider having students read the quotations from President Howard W. Hunter and President Gordon B. Hinckley found in the student manual commentary for Galatians 5:1, 13.
To invite students to share their experiences and testimonies regarding this truth, you might ask:
-
What are some ways you have experienced “the fruit of the Spirit”? How have you experienced the “liberty” of the gospel?
Close the lesson by inviting the students to silently consider the following questions to help them evaluate their personal religious life: “Is your religious life based more on observance of law than on faith in Christ? Are you enjoying the blessings of the Spirit and the liberty of the gospel?” Bear your testimony of the blessings of the gospel.