Deck 14: Paul and the Crises of His Churches: Galatians, Philippians, and Philemon

Question 1

Why is Paul so angry with the Galatians? Why does Paul think their actions put them under God's curse?

Answer 1

Unlike almost all of Paul's other letters, the letter to the Galatians does not begin with a thanksgiving. Paul's letter to Galatia is a stinging reprimand of their behavior. After Paul left Galatia, a group of missionaries arrived who preached that it was necessary to follow the Jewish Law. In direct opposition to Paul's teachings, the men in the congregation accepted the rite of circumcision. According to Paul, these actions were not simply unnecessary; they were unacceptable. By participating in this Jewish rite, the Galatians displayed a lack of belief in the salvation offered by Jesus. Paul's principle message was that the Galatians were erroneously seeking justification by the works of the Law instead of through belief in Christ.

Question 2

Discuss Paul's teachings on the relationship between justification and the Law, specifically as it appears in Galatians.

Answer 2

As a Jew, Paul believed that the Law was given by God and was good. The Law, though, could not justify a person. Only faith in Christ made a person right before God. The Law was a disciplinarian: It provided instruction until God's promise was completed in Jesus.

Question 3

What are the overarching points of Paul's letter to the Philippians?

Answer 3

There are several key themes in Philippians. Paul emphasizes that those who follow Christ will suffer until he returns in judgment and stresses that all will be made right in the end. Another major focus is that of self-giving love for one another, especially expounded in the Christ poem of chapter 2, which recounts the actions of Christ as a model of humble obedience and service for all in the community to follow. Paul also emphasizes his own willingness-as well as that of Timothy and the Philippians' own Epaphroditus-to be sacrificed for the sake of others, further highlighting this theme.

Question 4

What is the occasion and purpose of Paul's letter to Philemon?

Question 5

The primary reason Paul wrote to Galatia was _____.

A) to insist that they not convert to Judaism
B) to insist that they convert to Judaism
C) to insist that they be circumcised
D) to argue against their view that they already enjoyed an exalted existence

Question 6

According to Paul, circumcision _____.

A) was painful and therefore unnecessary
B) was of the utmost importance for Christians
C) made no difference in whether a person was righteous
D) was a personal choice for Christians

Question 7

Galatians is unique among the undisputed Pauline letters because _____.

A) it is a compilation of two letters
B) it contains no thanksgiving
C) it is not addressed to a Christian community
D) it contains no prescript

Question 8

Paul founded the Galatian churches _____.

A) by setting up shop in an insula
B) by preaching in the synagogue
C) by sending Timothy to the area
D) when he fell ill in the area

Question 9

Paul's opponents in Galatia appear to have _____.

A) questioned Paul's authority to preach
B) fully supported Paul's gospel
C) insisted on rebaptizing the Galatians
D) preached primarily in the local synagogue

Question 10

Paul countered his Galatian opponents by saying that he _____.

A) received knowledge about Jesus from the disciples
B) was an eyewitness to Jesus' ministry
C) received his knowledge directly from God
D) had been baptized by John

Question 11

Paul admitted that he saw Cephas in Jerusalem _____.

A) immediately after his Damascus road experience
B) three years after his conversion
C) before he began his ministry to the gentiles
D) ten years after his conversion

Question 12

One way Paul argued against his Galatian opponents was _____.

A) to point out that the apostles agreed with him
B) to point to the Gospels
C) to send Phoebe to them
D) to work miracles

Question 13

Which of the apostles joined Paul in Antioch and stopped eating with the gentiles?

A) Cephas
B) James
C) Titus
D) Matthew

Question 14

According to Paul, a person is justified by _____.

A) adhering to the Law
B) being circumcised
C) faith in Christ
D) believing in the virgin birth

Question 15

Paul calls the law _____.

A) evil
B) a disciplinarian
C) essential for salvation
D) a prison

Question 16

Paul appeals to _____ as an example of justification by faith.

A) Abraham
B) Hagar
C) Ishmael
D) Moses

Question 17

According to Paul, gentiles fulfill the law by _____.

A) circumcision
B) keeping the Sabbath
C) observing the dietary laws
D) loving one another

Question 18

Paul wrote Philippians from _____.

A) Philippi
B) Corinth
C) prison
D) Galatia

Question 19

Paul wrote to the Philippians to _____.

A) assure them of the coming judgment
B) assure them of Epaphroditus's health
C) assure them of the resurrection of the dead
D) assure them of the equality of Jews and gentiles

Question 20

Like 2 Corinthians, many scholars think the letter to the Philippians _____.

A) may be a composite letter
B) addresses sexual immorality in the church
C) corrects misunderstandings of the resurrection
D) argues against the super-apostles

Question 21

Euodia and Syntyche were _____.

A) missionaries who traveled with Paul
B) bishops in Galatia
C) women causing problems in Philippi
D) Paul's patrons

Question 22

Philemon is different from the other undisputed letters because _____.

A) it is addressed to a church he did not found
B) it argues against an apocalyptic worldview
C) it argues that gentiles must be circumcised
D) it is addressed to an individual

Question 23

Onesimus was _____.

A) a missionary
B) a slave
C) one of Jesus' disciples
D) a slaveholder

Question 24

Paul wrote to Philemon from _____.

A) Philippi
B) Corinth
C) prison
D) Galatia

Question 25

Which Pauline letters includes a Christ poem?

A) Philemon
B) Philippians
C) Galatians
D) Romans

Question 26

The name Onesimus means _____.

A) slave
B) useful
C) happy
D) single

Question 27

Epaphras is reportedly a member of the church in _____.

A) Colossae
B) Thessalonica
C) Galatia
D) Philippi

Question 28

Galatia is _____.

A) a capital city
B) a region located in what is modern-day Turkey
C) the residence of Philemon
D) Rome's neighbor

Question 29

According to tradition, Philemon is a leader of the church in _____.

A) Colossae
B) Rome
C) Philippi
D) Galatia

Question 30

Paul's letter to the Galatians is best characterized as _____.

A) friendly
B) justified
C) pro-circumcision
D) angry

Question 31

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul claims that he and the Jerusalem apostles _____.

A) never met
B) disagreed on many points
C) agreed there is no distinction between Jew and gentile before God
D) agreed that there authority was above Paul's, given their relationship to Jesus

Question 32

What is one likely reason for Paul's relative lack of attention to social inequities?

A) his apocalyptic outlook
B) He noted other apostles were taking care of such issues.
C) the absence of such issues in the Gospels
D) His correspondence never offered occasions to deal with such issues.

Question 33

Paidagogos is the Greek term for _____.

A) blessing
B) disciplinarian
C) slavery
D) lawlessness

Question 34

Some scholars believe Paul is considering suicide in what letter?

A) Galatians
B) Philippians
C) Philemon
D) 2 Corinthians