Pericope: Gal. 3:15-5:1	Word Study (5 words) use studylight.org: “Lexicon”	
3 Questions or Initial Thoughts		
1. How has the Law protected the Israelites, even while showing them their sin?  Can the Law teach us anything productive?

2.  How does modern Israel interact with the idea of ancestry and ethnicity in relation to God’s covenant?

3.  What does it mean to say “scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe”?	1. kuro/w: To make valid based on authority.  To own.  “you are known by him” 2 co.- 1, Gal.- 1
2. diaqh/kh: Testament upon death Gal.-3, Heb. -15 
3. klhrono/mov: being heirs after coming of age.  Faith in the contract rights.  Gal. – 3, Rom. - 3
4. Epaggelia: Announcement, completely voluntary, beyond belief.  Gal. – 9, Heb. - 13
5.  froureÑw: protected from a siege, root out an enemy from within.  2 Co. –  1
6. sugkleiðw: Caught in a net, enclosed completely.  Lk. – 1, Gal. – 2
7. Huiothesia and doulo/w: adoption vs. bondage
8. Exagorazo: to take from a marketplace. Lk. - 4
9. Stoicheion: elemental, march in a row, letters. 
10. Oikonomos: Manager, treasurer	
3 Translation Comparisons(highlight variations in grammar)
bible.cc “translation comparison” Gal. 3:22 -	Theological Analysis (teachings, problems addressed, connections to rest of scripture) wlsessays.net	
1. ESV: But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

2. NASB: But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.

3. KJV: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
	1.  Paul is clear in his argument that one’s salvation is not a subject of your working of faith out using the law, or even you acknowledging the ratified covenant.  Rather, the work is inherently objective; outside the law (to which the law was added for protection) and fulfilled in Christ.  Jesus ratifies the covenant promise through his sacrifice.  We become heirs in the process.

2.  Paul repudiates the idea that Israel is a continuing entity apart from the fulfilled promise of Christ.  They who have the nomous are in the unique and blessed position to explain how it is ratified in Christ, not as the way of salvation, but protecting until Christ.  Gentiles and Jews are functional equivelants with God; all other “promises” (such as land/property covenants, festivals, etc.) are no longer part of the fulfilled covenant of Christ.

3.  Paul describes clearly that the Law was to be man’s guardian: one who takes an heir (possessing nothing on his own until he is of age) to and from school, feeds, bathes, protects, etc.  The nomous is a trusted advisor who teaches the heir humility, service, goodness, and strength.  Hard lessons are sometimes learned.  Christ (Lk. 16:8) even suggests that the stewards of the gentiles (“the world”) can be wiser than those whom are believers.  The law, even understand instinctively, can be kept (imperfectly) by gentiles. 	
3 Historical-Cultural Points (cite source)	Christocentric Analysis (Symbols, prophecies, archetypes, and events connected to Jesus)	
1.	 The importance of covenant in the OT.  Paul connects his facts with the allegorical reading of Abraham.  Three promises: promised land, promised son, all nations being blessed.  Israel constantly misunderstands this function of promise (a task to the other nations, not to be ethnocentric).  The promise also has kingly quality (to anoint)
2.	 The ratification of the covenant of Christ through the law, surpassing the law, and securing heirs of eternal life, is something that has started in the past and continues to inject the world with eternal living in the here and now.
3.	Often, the Greek world was full of sophists making false promises.  The philosophical world was making profit off of elemental things and announcements of worthlessness.	1.	 Christ is the fulfillment of the heir, he is both the contract, the guardian (in the garb of the noumous), the inheritance, redemption price, and co-heir by the Spirit.

2.	 Christ is the fulfillment of Isaac.  The one who takes the place of Isaac who has the power to overcome death by the Power of God.

3.	 Christ sets himself under man, under the law, to buy us back through his perfect fulfillment of the full requirement of the law, including death for sin.  The epitome of logic and rationality starts with Christ.
	
Structural Analysis (immediate context) 	3 Commentary points	

Hagar/Sarah
Dichotomy

Slave/Free Dichotomy

Allegory Argument: 4:21-5:1, “born according to the flesh and the slave woman”

Personal Argument: 4:8-17 “ in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you”

Historical Argument: 3:17, “law introduced 430 years later”

Sin/law
Dichotomy

Custody Argument: 3: 20-25, “no longer under a guardian”

Christ Argument: 4:5, “to redeem those under the law”

	Through Christ, God fulfills the promise He gave to Abraham. All united to Christ by Baptism become heirs of the promise and therefore are righteous before God. The Law, as between Moses and Christ, still serves the good purpose of revealing sin and our need for a Savior. However, Christ does what the Law cannot do. He gives forgiveness and life. • Lord, help us to see that in our congregation all are to be welcomed, whatever their background or place in life. Help us also to reach out to all with the message of Jesus’ love. Amen
Through faith (3:26), the Holy Spirit is received (3:2, 14). Abba! Aram for “Papa,” an address of special intimacy not typically found in Judaism. The “Spirit of His Son” prompts the prayer of God’s Son (“Our Father”) and so bears witness to the sonship of those who so pray (Mk 14:36; Rm 8:15).
Paul appeals to the Galatians as a pastor with affection and tenderness, genuinely desiring to restore their friendship and especially the freedom in Christ they once so gladly embraced. Tragically, enemies of the Gospel continue to camouflage their dishonorable intentions as they seek to draw people away from Christ. When pastors proclaim the Gospel, Christ Himself is inviting all to return to Him for forgiveness and renewal of faith. • Heavenly Father, I pray for all ministers of the Word and the blessings they bring. Through them, open our eyes to the truth. Amen.	
Trinitarian Analysis (describe the interaction of Father, Son, and Spirit)	

Father:  Makes the contract with Abraham.   Sets up mediation through Moses

Son:  Shows no need for angelic or elemental mediator, since “God is one”, Christ is the mediator (God incarnate) who ratifies the promise of Abraham and secures salvation to ALL Israel (all people who trust and rely on Christ for salvation, Jew and Gentile alike). 

Holy Spirit: Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out,“Abba,[e] Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (4:6)	
Prayer (Use your data to write back to God!  Tell Him your concerns throughout the week)	
Lord, Thank you for another successful week.  I appreciate the small triumphs at school.  Thank you for a mind to teach and a hear that is ready to serve neighbor.  I ask that you would continue to bless my vocation, my family, my health and our well-being.  Thank you for the small comforts you provide for us in the modern world.  We have great liberty in Christ to serve neighbor in ways that are culturally creative, engaging and comprehendable to a generation so far removed from ancient Palestine.  Thank you for being the foundation of all rationality; that we look to you for our understanding of contracts, of salvation and redemption, and what it means to be free-thinkers.  

I pray for continued care for students who are homeless, for students struggling to find work, for districts in need of financial help.  I pray that you would let teachers who know your voice continue to be important lights in the world.  Thank you for the recognition of our freedom and how we can use that freedom to serve neighbor.  

I ask that you kindle a desire to stay active and organized in the months ahead as I anticipate new roles, including Sunday HS bible class, visiting of the sick with Mike, and beginning more active volunteering.  I pray that you foster an energy and desire so that I may pursue these goals for your Kingdom. 	

URL List from Friday, Sep. 28 2012 14:16 PM
To copy this list, type [Ctrl] A, then type [Ctrl] C. 

Gal. 3:15-5:1 NIV - The Law and the Promise - Brothers and - Bible Gateway
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gal.%203:15-5:1&version=NIV

Interlinear Study Bible on StudyLight.org
http://www.studylight.org/isb/bible.cgi?query=gal+3%3A15-5%3A1§ion=0&it=nas&oq=gal.3%3A15-5%3A1&ot=bhs&nt=na&new=1

New Testament Greek - StudyLight.org
http://www.studylight.org/isb/view.cgi?number=3623

STR - Verse Display containing Strong's Number: 3623 - Oikonomos - Greek Lexicon
http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/frequency.cgi?number=3623&book=lu&translation=str

GREEK WORD STUDY on διαθήκη (Gtr. diatheke) meaning Covenant Strong's 1242
http://www.logosapostolic.org/greek_word_studies/1242_diaqhkh_diatheke_covenant.htm

New Testament Words - William Barclay - Google Books
http://books.google.com/books?id=ngnOdquk9DUC&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=Epaggelia&source=bl&ots=IsTbTOjmX_&sig=9En30qypVD1Dy25kjnjDM-ROLmg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sANmUM2WH-KXiQKf1AE&ved=0CFYQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Epaggelia&f=false

Galatians 3:23 KJV/ESV - But before faith came , we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed .
http://www.biblestudytools.com/parallel-bible/passage.aspx?q=Gal.+3%3A23&t=kjv&t2=esv

pedagogies - Google Search
https://www.google.com/search?sugexp=chrome,mod=7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=pedagaigoes&surl=1&safe=active#hl=en&safe=active&sa=X&ei=8whmUL-jIMjWigK7roDoBQ&ved=0CB0QvwUoAQ&q=pedagogies&spell=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=e144f1b25e45ee57&biw=704&bih=747

Pistis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistis

Oeconomus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oeconomus