Chapter 5 questions

[jlkoch]

Brothers,

My style changed a bit on these questions. Longer and bit more
aggressive. This is the first installment. More to come for second
half of chapter. I am thankful for this study and the relevance it
has at this juncture of life. Your thoroughness has been a blessing.

Thanks!
Justin

1) Paul begins the chapter with a "therefore." What's the "therefore"
there for? What has he just finished saying that he now turns the
corner and say, "Given what I just conluded, I now direct you to stand
in liberty." What has he just concluded?

2) What is the liberty of which Paul speaks? To what has Christ made
them free? What rights or freedoms do they have now that they would
not have under the yoke of bondage?

3) What are the elements of being under the yoke of bondage? How do
you get there and what's it look like once you're there?

4) Why and How does Christ become ineffective (of no effect)? What's
the process? What's the end? Why does he even state this to the
Galatian believers?

5) In 4:10, Paul declares their violation (something they actually
were doing); in chapter 5 is he doing the same or just warning them
against the possibility of pursuing justification by the law to the
extent of being circumcised?

6) In 5:5 why is the Spirit needed in order to wait for justification
by faith? Why wait? Isn't it already complete?

7) In 5:6 he concludes that, in Jesus Christ, only faith makes a
difference (opposed to circumcisn.) Why does he add to faith the
phrase "which works by love?"

8) In 5:7 he states that under the hindrance of ungodly men, they have
not obeyed the truth. How did obedience enter into the mix? What did
they fail to do that they were asked to do? Why the use of "obey"
rather than "believe?"

9) In 5:10 he expresses confidence in them through the Lord. How does
that compare with 3: 1 &3, 4:11

10) In other instances Paul addresses perpetrators by name (i.e. -
2Tim 2:16-18). Why does he not here? Did he not know the specific men
responsible?

11) Having addressed the false notion that he was still teaching the
necessity of circumcisn for salvation, how did he substantiate the
ridiculousness of such a claim? What does the offensiveness of the
cross have to do with it?

12) If you were to construct a sentence on the relevance of Gal 5:1-12
in 2009, what would it look like? What real problems are present to
day that Paul wrestled with back then? What would be the condensed
statement of the problem and the applicable solution?