The apostle Paul (1:1), who writes the ending in his own hand (6:11). Written: Probably about AD 48-49, shortly before the Jerusalem Council (others propose about 55)

Paul's letters · New Testament · 6 chapters

The book of Galatians

The charter of Christian freedom

Author: The apostle Paul (1:1), who writes the ending in his own hand (6:11)
Written: Probably about AD 48-49, shortly before the Jerusalem Council (others propose about 55)
Time covered: After the first missionary journey, when Judaizing teachers demand the circumcision of converted Gentiles (Acts 15:1)
Key word: Freedom

Paul is amazed that the Galatians are so quickly turning to “another gospel” and pronounces a curse on anyone who preaches it. He shows that his gospel came by a revelation of Jesus Christ, that the pillars of Jerusalem recognized it, and that he even rebuked Peter at Antioch. A person is justified by faith, not by works of the law. Abraham was justified by faith; Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, which was only a schoolmaster until his coming. Believers are sons and heirs, children of the free woman and not of the slave. Let them stand firm in freedom, walk by the Spirit, bear his fruit and glory only in the cross.

Main theme

A person is justified by faith in Jesus Christ and not by the works of the law; set free by Christ, believers must not return to bondage, but walk by the Spirit in love.

Outline

Galatians 1-2 — A gospel received from Christ
Paul defends the divine origin of his gospel and his apostleship, even to the point of rebuking Peter at Antioch.
Galatians 3-4 — Faith rather than law
Arguments from experience, from Abraham, from the role of the law and from the allegory of Hagar and Sarah.
Galatians 5-6 — Free to love, led by the Spirit
Standing firm in freedom, walking by the Spirit, bearing one another’s burdens and glorying in the cross.

Key points

There is no other gospel: anyone who preaches another, even an angel from heaven, is accursed (1:6-9).
Paul received his gospel by a revelation of Jesus Christ, and the pillars of Jerusalem recognized it (1:12; 2:9).
At Antioch, Paul rebukes Peter to his face because his conduct betrayed the truth of the gospel (2:11-14).
A man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ (2:16).
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us (3:13).
The law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ; in him, all are children of God by faith (3:24-28).
Christian freedom is not license: it is lived by walking in the Spirit and serving through love (5:1, 13-16).
The fruit of the Spirit has nine qualities, from love to temperance (5:22-23).

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:16 — The thesis of the letter: justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the law.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 — The secret of the Christian life: crucified with Christ, it is Christ who lives in me.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Galatians 3:13 — The meaning of the cross: Christ took upon himself the curse we deserved.

Jesus in Galatians

Galatians presents Christ as the one who gave himself for our sins (1:4), who loved me and gave himself for me (2:20), and who became a curse in our place (3:13). He is Abraham’s one “seed” in whom the promise is fulfilled (3:16), the Son sent “when the fulness of the time was come” to give us adoption (4:4-5), and his cross is the believer’s only ground for boasting (6:14).

Did you know?

This is the only letter of Paul to churches where the greeting is followed neither by a thanksgiving nor by a blessing of God: Paul goes straight to “I marvel” (1:6).
Paul stresses that he writes “with large letters” in his own hand (6:11): he usually dictated his letters and added only the ending himself.
Luther was so attached to this epistle that, according to his Table Talk, he called it “my Katharina von Bora,” after his wife’s name.

Quiz on Galatians

What is Paul’s reaction at the start of the letter, in place of the usual thanksgiving?

Complete: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, …”

Which of these does Paul include in the fruit of the Spirit?

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.