The situation in Antioch surely was tense: Paul and Peter, two leaders in the church, were in open conflict. And Paul holds nothing back as he calls Peter to account for his behavior. What reasons does Paul give for publicly confronting Peter? Gal. 2:11–14. As Paul saw it, the problem was not that Peter had decided to … Continue reading –>
“Live in harmony with one another…” Romans 12:16, NIV I enjoy concerts. I marvel at how many different instruments in an orchestra can blend together to produce something of great power and beauty. I also thrill at the many different voices that blend together to produce the majestic strains of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” Whether it … Continue reading –>
I have about as many bones as the average adult female does, and that’s enough for me. Some of those 206 bones are long and narrow, some are short and stubby. They attach to other bones by various means. Some of them are “fused” together. Others fit together by means of a hinge. And I … Continue reading –>
Some time after Paul’s consultation in Jerusalem, Peter made a visit to Antioch in Syria, the location of the first Gentile church and the base of Paul’s missionary activities described in Acts. While there, Peter ate freely with the Gentile Christians, but when a group of Jewish Christians arrived from James, Peter—fearful of what they … Continue reading –>
Read Galatians 2:1–10. Paul says that the false brothers “slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery”(Gal. 2:4, ESV). What are Christians free from? Read ; Rom. 6:6, 7; 8:2, 3; Gal. 3:23–25; 4:7, 8; Heb. 2:14, 15. How do we experience for ourselves the reality of this freedom? Freedom, as a … Continue reading –>
Why was circumcision such a focal point in the dispute between Paul and certain Jewish Christians? See Gen. 17:1–22; Gal. 2:3–5; 5:2, 6; Acts 15:1, 5. Why is it not that hard to understand how some could have believed that even the Gentiles needed to undergo it? Circumcision was the sign of the covenant relationship that God established with Abraham, the … Continue reading –>
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10–13. What does this passage tell us about how important Paul believed unity in the church was? Having refuted the allegations that his gospel was not God-given, Paul directs his attention in Galatians 2:1, 2 to another charge being made against him. The false teachers in Galatia claimed that Paul’s gospel was not in harmony … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gal. 2:1–14, 1 Cor. 1:10–13, Gen. 17:1–21, John 8:31–36, Col. 3:11. Memory Text: “Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (Philippians 2:2, NKJV). Protestant reformer John Calvin believed that disunity and division were the devil’s chief device against the church, and … Continue reading –>
“In almost every church there were some members who were Jews by birth. To these converts the Jewish teachers found ready access, and through them gained a foot-hold in the churches. It was impossible, by scriptural arguments, to overthrow the doctrines taught by Paul; hence they resorted to the most unscrupulous measures to counteract his … Continue reading –>
Naissance (nay-SAHNS) lives in a tiny shanty home in Haiti. Like many in her homeland, she cannot read or write. She makes a meager living by selling boiled eggs and bananas on the street. Five years ago her teenage son gave his life to God and joined the Adventist Church. He urged his mother to … Continue reading –>
“Hey, look at this,” Fred said. “The Mormons are getting energized to preach their message around the world.” It was the first day of the General Conference session of the Church of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons, in October of 2011. “They’re building six new temples,” Fred continued. “Look at this.” He held up … Continue reading –>
The Origin of Paul’s Gospel The troublemakers in Galatia were claiming that Paul’s gospel was really driven by his desire to obtain the approval of others. What might Paul have done differently in his letter if he were merely seeking human approval? Consider Gal. 1:6–9, 11–24. Why did Paul not require Gentile converts to be circumcised? Paul’s opponents … Continue reading –>
