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 the gospel is justification by faith in Christ alone, 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 alone
- 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.”