Assignment task: Paul's Letter to the Philippians (Phil. 1-4) & Paul's Letter to the Galatians (Gal 1-6)
1. Attempt to reconstruct the "situation" behind each letter. You will need at least one substantial paragraph for each letter.
- Where is Paul? What is happening to him?
- What does Paul's relationship with this church seem to be like?
- What is the occasion for his having written? Why is he writing? Or put another way, what problem is Paul concerned to address?
2. The issue, as it was back in Acts 15, is whether or not Gentiles need to be circumcised to join the covenant community of God. Paul is obviously thoroughly upset about this in Galatians: "Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you" (5:2). What's the big deal about being circumcised? What does this act indicate for Paul?
3. Paul is not rejecting the law or "works," but he is trying to clarify how these two interrelate. Look closely at Gal 5:2-6:10 and try to state, in a maximum of four sentences, what he is saying about the law and good works.