Galatians is one of the clearest, most forceful defenses of the Gospel of grace in all of Scripture. It confronts legalism head-on, rebukes compromise, and elevates the sufficiency of Christ above all else.
Paul was writing to the churches in Galatia, a region in modern-day central Turkey. These were Gentile believers, many of whom he personally led to Christ during his missionary journeys (see Acts 13–14). They had started well in the faith but were being led astray by false teachers—specifically, Judaizers, who insisted that salvation required obedience to the Law of Moses, including circumcision.
When and Why Was Galatians Written?
Galatians was likely written around A.D. 49–50, making it possibly Paul’s earliest epistle. This would place it shortly before the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, where the apostles officially declared that Gentile believers were not bound to keep the Law of Moses.
The churches in Galatia had embraced the Gospel, but were now being bewitched into legalism. Paul writes to:
Defend his apostolic authority—He was not a second-hand apostle. He received the Gospel directly from Christ.
Correct doctrinal error—They were abandoning grace for the Law.
Reaffirm justification by faith alone—Righteousness comes through faith, not the works of the Law.
Expose the Judaizers—Those teaching legalism were false brethren (Galatians 2:4).
Call believers back to freedom in Christ—Liberty, not bondage, is the mark of the New Covenant.
Structure of the Book
The book breaks down into three major sections:
Personal (Chapters 1–2) – Paul defends his apostleship and personal testimony.
Doctrinal (Chapters 3–4) – He explains the doctrine of justification by faith.
Practical (Chapters 5–6) – He applies the Gospel to Christian living, walking in the Spirit.
Chapter Walkthrough
Chapter 1: No Other Gospel
Paul opens with urgency and rebuke. He is “astonished” that they are turning away so quickly (Galatians 1:6). He makes it clear:
“If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9).
Paul then defends his divine calling—not from man, but from Christ Himself (Galatians 1:11–12).
Chapter 2: Paul Confronts Peter and the False Brethren
He recounts his visit to Jerusalem, where he defended the freedom of Gentile believers. Even Titus, a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised. Paul exposes false brethren who tried to bring them into bondage (Galatians 2:4). He also recounts confronting Peter for hypocrisy—living like a Gentile while compelling Gentiles to live like Jews (Galatians 2:14). The chapter crescendos with a key verse:
“I have been crucified with Christ… and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20).
Chapter 3: Justification by Faith, Not by the Law
Paul turns fully to doctrine.
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” (Galatians 3:1).
He reminds them they received the Spirit by faith—not works. Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness (Galatians 3:6). The Law brings a curse (Galatians 3:10), but
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13).
The Law was a tutor to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24)—but now that faith has come, we are no longer under that tutor.
Chapter 4: Sons, Not Slaves
Paul shifts to identity. We are no longer slaves under the Law—we are sons of God through faith in Christ (Galatians 4:7). He pleads with them not to go back into bondage. He uses Hagar and Sarah as an allegory: Hagar (Mount Sinai) bears children to bondage; Sarah (Jerusalem above) represents freedom (Galatians 4:24–26).
Chapter 5: Stand Fast in Liberty
Paul moves into application.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).
Circumcision profits nothing (Galatians 5:6). He warns that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Then he describes life in the Spirit versus life in the flesh. The works of the flesh are evident, but
“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” (Galatians 5:22–23).
Chapter 6: Bear One Another’s Burdens
Paul concludes with instruction on Christian living—restoring the fallen, bearing burdens, sowing and reaping.
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked” (Galatians 6:7).
We reap what we sow. He signs off by emphasizing the cross:
“God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).
Theme and Ultimate Point
The theme is simple and strong: Salvation is by grace through faith alone—not by works of the Law. The ultimate point? Christ is sufficient. The Law was never meant to save—it was meant to lead us to the Savior. To return to the Law is to fall from grace.
This book calls us to walk in liberty, to live by the Spirit, and to cling to the cross. It is a letter of fire—a trumpet blast against legalism and a call back to the pure Gospel.
My Final Thoughts
Galatians is a sword—it cuts away every religious work, every legalistic bondage, every false gospel. Paul wrote not to comfort, but to confront. And we need it. In a day when so many still try to mix law with grace, Paul’s words echo louder than ever:
“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)
Stand fast, beloved. Don’t be moved. Christ is enough.
