Pauline Epistles · New Testament
Galatians
c. AD 48–49
- Section
- Pauline Epistles · New Testament
- Events span
- c. AD 48–49
- Written
- c. AD 49
- Author
- Paul the Apostle
Paul writes urgently to churches in Galatia who are being lured into thinking they must keep the law to be saved. He insists that a person is justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the law, defends his apostolic authority, and calls them to the freedom and fruit of the Spirit.
Historical setting: Written to churches in Roman Galatia while the Second Temple still stands, as the young church wrestles with the Jew–Gentile divide.
Key themes
- Justification by faith
- Freedom in Christ
- Law versus grace
- The fruit of the Spirit
- The one true gospel
The letter's argument
- Paul is astonished they are turning to "another gospel" and defends his God-given message
- He recounts confronting Peter and affirms justification by faith, not works of the law
- Abraham was justified by faith; the law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ
- Believers are no longer slaves but adopted sons and heirs of God
- "Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free"
- Walk by the Spirit and bear its fruit; sow to the Spirit, not the flesh
Key lessons
- There is only one true gospel, worth guarding fiercely; adding works to faith as the ground of salvation is to desert Christ for “another gospel.” Gal 1:6–9
- We are justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the law; the law could never make anyone righteous, but points us to Christ. Gal 2:16
- Christ sets believers truly free, but that freedom is for serving one another in love, not for indulging the flesh. Gal 5:13
- The Spirit produces character the law never could; a life led by the Spirit bears love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control as its fruit. Gal 5:22–23
“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.”