Galatians

Overview

Who

Written by "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father...)" (1:1), writing with "all the brethren which are with me" (1:2). He closes, "Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand" (6:11).

Written to "The churches of Galatia" (1:2), whom Paul calls "O foolish Galatians" (3:1) and "My little children" (4:19). Paul had first preached the gospel to them "through infirmity of the flesh" (4:13).

When

Traditional view: About AD 48-57. Some date it about AD 48-49, before the Jerusalem council of Acts 15; others about AD 53-57, during Paul's third journey.

Scholarly view: Scholars agree that Paul wrote it. They differ over whether "Galatia" means the southern churches founded on Paul's first journey (Acts 13-14) or the ethnic Galatians further north, which affects the date.

Where

Written to "The churches of Galatia" (1:2), in the Roman province of Galatia in central Asia Minor.

Written from Not stated. Suggestions include Syrian Antioch, Ephesus and Macedonia.

Why

To answer those who "would pervert the gospel of Christ" (1:7); to defend Paul's gospel as received "by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1:12); to show that "a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ" (2:16); and to call the readers to "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" (5:1) and to "Walk in the Spirit" (5:16).

Soon after Paul's visit the Galatians were "so soon removed" to "another gospel" (1:6). Some "that trouble you" (1:7) were pressing them to be circumcised (5:2-3, 6:12-13) and to observe "days, and months, and times, and years" (4:10).

Outline

1. 1:1-10 Greeting and no other gospel
2. 1:11-2:21 Paul's gospel came from Christ
3. 3:1-4:31 Justified by faith, not by the law
4. 5:1-15 Stand fast in liberty
5. 5:16-26 Walk in the Spirit
6. 6:1-18 Bear one another's burdens; the cross

Key themes

• "A man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ" (2:16).
• "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (2:20).
• "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (3:26).
• "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" (5:1).
• "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace" (5:22).

From the letter's own text, compared with Acts; dating views summarized from standard introductions.