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Unpack the theological richness of Galatians, Paul’s passionate defense of the true gospel. This article examines the letter’s historical context, major themes, and enduring relevance. Learn how Paul’s teachings on grace, faith, and Spirit-led living continue to challenge and transform believers, offering freedom from legalism and assurance of salvation through Christ alone.
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The Book of Galatians January 12, 2025
Nate Roten / Galatians / Biblical Introduction / Galatians 1:1–2
Main Idea
Galatians shows us the way to enter the kingdom and the way to live as part of the kingdom.
Before Martin Luther became an overnight star after posting his 95 Theses on the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany, he had a deeply troubled soul. As a Catholic monk, he wrestled with his salvation for years. He did everything he could to find rest and peace, the security of his eternal destination—but assurance of salvation felt like an elusive unicorn. Luther embraced the strict monastic lifestyle, immersing himself in rigorous disciplines like fasting and extended prayer. He exhausted his leadership with lengthy confessions. He sought peace in pilgrimages, even traveling to Rome to perform rituals at holy sites, but these efforts only deepened his spiritual unrest.
No matter what Luther did, he could not find the assurance he craved. His persistent fear of God’s judgment and failure to meet the demands of divine righteousness left him in constant turmoil, feeling further from God with every effort.
Then came what Luther would later describe as his Tower Experience. While studying and preparing lectures on the Psalms, Romans, and Galatians—likely between 1513 and 1517—Luther had a transformative breakthrough in the tower room of the Augustinian monastery in Wittenberg. As he meditated and studied, he read Romans 1:17: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” For years, Luther had understood God’s righteousness as an impossible standard he was meant to achieve. But now, for the first time, God opened his mind to the truth of this verse, and he realized that God’s righteousness was not a demand but a gift freely given to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ.
This lightbulb moment was reinforced as he continued studying Galatians, reading passages such as Galatians 2:16—“Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ…”—and Galatians 3:11—“Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” These verses deepened Luther’s conviction that justification comes by grace through faith, not by human effort or works of the law.
This realization brought Luther the long-sought peace his soul had craved, lifting the weight of his striving and fear. It also became the cornerstone of his Reformation theology and one of the central principles of the Reformation: Sola Fide (faith alone). His insights into these scriptures highlight the liberating power of the gospel and challenge believers to rely solely on Christ’s redemptive work for salvation, freeing them from the bondage of legalism and works-based righteousness.
So, if you have ever wrestled with issues similar to Luther – if you have ever:
• Doubted your salvation, praying the “sinner’s prayer” multiple times, just to be sure.
• Despaired because you can’t seem to live faithfully without stumbling and succumbing to temptation.
• Struggled with a background in legalism and seeing Christianity as a list of rules to follow.
• Strive to earn your salvation through works.
Then, the Book of Galatians will be a treasure trove of life-altering truths that will set you free by the power of God’s grace.
Passage
Galatians 1:1–2 CSB
Paul, an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers who are with me:
To the churches of Galatia.
Author
• Paul
• An emboldened Paul, who has been radically converted and taught by Jesus himself (Arabia).
• An eager Paul. As soon as Paul finishes his first tour (mentioned in the letter), he is keen to get back out there. This means, at minimum, Galatians was written approximately 16 years after Paul’s conversion (assuming Jesus was resurrected in AD 30 and Paul was converted 2 years afterward), so he is seasoned, knowledgeable, and has only just begun to spread the Gospel throughout the Empire.
• This isn’t any old Paul but an enthusiastic, passionate, mission-driven Paul.
Which Galatia?
But, before we get too far, there is a question we must ask because we aren’t exactly sure which Galatia is being referred to.
1. Northern Region of Modern-day Turkey – Celtic people group.
2. Southern Region of Modern-day Turkey – Roman province.
Paul journeyed through the southern Roman province on his first missionary journey.
Paul journeyed near the northern portion during his second missionary journey.
Realistically, Paul could have written to the Galatian churches after either of these. However, the deciding factor for me in choosing the earlier date is the lack of reference to the Jerusalem Council’s decision and letter. Because the theme of grace through faith alone is so prevalent in this letter, it makes zero sense for Paul not to include the letter’s contents or even a single reference to the Elders’ decision.
Genre and Timing
- Galatians is an Epistle (or letter) to the group of churches in the Roman region that Paul established during his first missionary journey.
- It nearly follows a standard letter with an opener, the body, and a farewell, but one thing is missing—an opening prayer. Paul skips this to immediately rebuke the Galatians and address a major concern he has for them.
- If you hold to the earlier date, as I do, then Paul wrote this letter after his return from his first missionary journey in 47 AD and the Jerusalem Council in 49 AD… so likely in 48 AD. This matters because if this is true, then this is Paul’s first letter, and as we will see, he gets started with a bang!
1st-Century Context
1st-century Jew. Put yourself into the mindset of a 1st-century Jew who has faithfully followed the instructions of the Torah and the guidance of the Pharisees your entire life.
Gentile Inclusion. As mentioned earlier, Paul has returned from (at least) his first missionary journey, found in Acts 13-14. Just before that, God used Peter to bring the gospel to the first Gentile household in chapter 10. So, this is at a point in time when the Gentiles are just starting to come into the Kingdom.
Current Gospel Phase. Prior to Paul’s first missionary journey, most evangelical activity has been in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria… as far north as Damascus.
The Next Phase. Paul’s first missionary journey took the gospel to the next level outward into the Roman Empire. First, he went to the Synagogue, and after being rejected, he went to the Gentiles in the city, who embraced the gospel and Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. Now, you have a mixture of two cultures: the Jews with their laws and regulations and the Gentiles who are oblivious to Jewish law and either have their own moral and spiritual regulations or live free of them.
Culture Wars. Many converted Jews were struggling with how to incorporate Gentiles into the faith, which sparked debates about what rules and regulations they had to follow. It is clear what immoralities they needed to leave behind, but what would they conform to as they entered the faith in a New Covenant? What elements of the Old Covenant still apply, and which don’t? The most problematic Jews are called Judaizers, who were hostile to Paul and who taught that obedience to the Law of Moses – especially circumcision – was mandatory for salvation. Because this is such an issue in the church, it becomes a driving theme of the letter: What does freedom in Christ look like, and how is that freedom obtained and lived out? If you can remember that one sentence, you can remember the driving force of the letter.
Or, to use an illustration, if the Christian faith were a car and the gospel its engine, Paul would pop the hood and help the increasingly diverse body of believers take a look under the hood to see how the engine works and generates the power for the rest of the car.
Purpose
Galatians for You Introduction to Galatians
Paul outlines the bombshell truth that the gospel is the A to Z of the Christian life. It is not only the way to enter the kingdom; it is the way to live as part of the kingdom. It is the way Christ transforms people, churches and communities.
1. Defend his apostleship against “false brothers” who infiltrated their ranks to spy on their freedom in Christ and enslave them to the OT Law.
2. Confronts Judaizers trashing Paul’s reputation and teaching a false gospel.
3. Correct false teachings with sound theology and doctrine.
4. Gives practical advice for living by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Themes
The themes can be broken up into two-chapter chunks, though there are bits of each peppered throughout.
• Authority (ch. 1-2)
• Grace & Law (ch. 3-4)
• Life in the Spirit (ch. 5-6)
1- Authority
In order to gain influence, these false teachers had to remove the competition, so they were trashing-talking Paul to tarnish his apostleship and authority. In response, Paul spends two chapters defending his name, reputation, the divine nature of his apostleship, and missionary work.
Galatians 1:8–10 CSB
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!
For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:11–12 CSB
For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:9 CSB
When James, Cephas, and John—those recognized as pillars—acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
2- Grace & Law
As Paul does in his other letters, he writes with a logical progression: first highlighting important doctrines and then providing practical advice on how to apply those truths and live them out in daily life. The substantial middle of Galatians presents us with a few of those truths:
A- Justification through grace, not works
Galatians 2:16 CSB
and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.
Again, this verse played a role in igniting the Protestant Reformation because while reading it, Martin Luther finally grasped the meaning of Sola Fide, or grace, through faith alone.
Galatians 3:23–24 CSB
Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith.
B- The Continuity of Faith – OT & NT
There are only one people of God. Those who are in Christ are the true sons and daughters of Abraham.
Galatians 3:29 CSB
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.
C- Covenantal Freedom
There is slavery under the Old Covenant through the guardianship of the Mosiac Laws, but in Christ, we are no longer under that guardianship.
Galatians 4:3–5 CSB
In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
3- Life in the Spirit
It’s not enough to know the doctrinal truths. As James said, an inactive faith is a dead faith. A living faith is proven through good works. So, if you genuinely want to flourish in your faith, you must live by the Spirit, not the sinful inclinations of the flesh.
A- Submission and Identity
Galatians 2:20 CSB
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 3:27–28 CSB
For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Your identity is not in what you do but in who you are and who’s you are.
B – Freedom
Galatians 5:1 CSB
For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:13–14 CSB
For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.
You are free from the crushing yoke of work-based salvation and sanctification and slavery to sin. Christ’s death frees us from all of that. Submission to Jesus gives us real freedom.
C – The War of The Spirit vs. The Flesh
Galatians 5:16–17 CSB
I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
Galatians 5:22–23 CSB
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
Many of these themes are present throughout the Epistle to the Romans, which is why some call the Galatians the ‘Little Romans.’ Or, as I like to call it, ‘ Romans concentrate.’ It is a powerhouse of a book packed with transformational truths and life-giving applications.
Galatians and the Big Picture
1. Defends a core doctrine of the Church (grace through faith alone).
2. Encourages a reliance on the Spirit.
3. Reinforces continuity between the OT and NT of God’s grand plan of redemption.
4. Apologetics – In our modern age of critics that claim the Deity of Christ was developed hundreds of years later, Galatians gives us a high Christology and acknowledgment of the Deity of Christ very early on by giving us details of Paul’s early theology and divine mentoring.
If you can relate to some of Luther’s struggles:
• Fear God’s wrathful judgment because you gave in to sin again.
• Beat yourself up because you focus on perfectionism and continue to fail in that pursuit.
• Over-reliant on religious practices and rituals to maintain your righteousness and worthiness.
• Trapped in treating the faith as a list of rules to follow and tying your worthiness to your ability to keep the boxes checked.
• Can’t shake the guilt and shame you feel when you fall short.
• Felt like your salvation prayer wasn’t said right, so you prayed repeatedly.
Then the book of Galatians is for you. My prayer during this study is that as you are exposed to these life-giving truths, you will find freedom from guilt, grace in your shortcomings, and peace through the security of your salvation based on God’s faithfulness to you, not the other way around.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about Galatians
Q: What is the main message of the Book of Galatians, and how does it relate to salvation?
- The main message of Galatians is that salvation and Christian living are based on God’s grace received through faith in Jesus Christ, not through adherence to the law or good works. It emphasizes that the gospel is not just the way to enter the kingdom of God, but also the way to live within it. This core idea was transformative for Martin Luther, who struggled with finding peace through religious works until he grasped the concept of justification by faith alone.
Q: Who wrote the Book of Galatians, and what was the context surrounding its writing?
- The Apostle Paul wrote Galatians, likely around 48 AD, after his first missionary journey. He wrote to churches in Galatia, a region in what is now modern-day Turkey. Paul was addressing the growing influence of “Judaizers,” Jewish Christians who insisted that Gentile converts must also follow the Mosaic Law, including circumcision, to be true Christians. Paul’s letter was a response to these false teachers who were undermining his authority and distorting the gospel message of salvation by grace through faith alone.
Q: Why was the issue of “Judaizers” so significant in the early church, as reflected in Galatians?
- The “Judaizers” were a significant challenge because they were teaching that salvation required adherence to the Mosaic Law in addition to faith in Christ, effectively creating a new works-based system. This threatened the core gospel message of grace and freedom through Christ. The debate was not just about practices like circumcision, but about the very nature of salvation and how one becomes right with God. If salvation were partly earned through the law, it would minimize the necessity and sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. This also brought about a question as to whether Gentiles could fully be part of the Christian faith without first converting to Judaism.
Q: What does Galatians teach about the relationship between faith and works?
- Galatians firmly establishes that justification (being made right with God) comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through works of the law. It argues that the law served as a guardian, exposing our inability to achieve righteousness through our own efforts. While good works are the result of true faith, they do not earn salvation. Instead, living a life that pleases God is achieved by submitting to the Holy Spirit, which empowers believers to do good. The letter emphasizes that genuine faith is active and bears fruit, but that these fruits are evidence of faith, not the basis of it.
Q: What is the significance of the phrase “Sola Fide” in relation to the book of Galatians?
- “Sola Fide,” meaning “faith alone,” is a key principle stemming from Galatians, particularly its emphasis that salvation is received solely through faith in Jesus Christ and not through human merit. Martin Luther’s understanding of Galatians 2:16 (“a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ”) was crucial for the Protestant Reformation. “Sola Fide” challenged the church of that era’s works-based understanding of salvation and remains a foundational doctrine for many Christians.
Q: How does Galatians address the issue of freedom in Christ?
- Galatians teaches that believers are freed from the bondage of the Law, from striving to earn their salvation, and from slavery to sin. This freedom is not a license to indulge in sinful desires, but rather an opportunity to serve others in love. The letter emphasizes that through the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to live lives that honor God, expressing love, joy, peace, and other fruits of the Spirit rather than giving in to the impulses of the flesh.
Q: What are the main themes discussed in Galatians, and how are they organized?
- The main themes in Galatians are structured around the following:
- Authority (Chapters 1-2): Paul defends his apostleship and the divine origin of his gospel message against those who sought to undermine it.
- Grace & Law (Chapters 3-4): The letter presents the core doctrine of justification by faith, contrasting it with the Law’s limitations and its role in the old covenant. These chapters delve into the themes of justification, grace, freedom and our true identity in Christ.
- Life in the Spirit (Chapters 5-6): Paul explains how believers should live out their faith, walking by the Spirit, demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit, and engaging in acts of love and service.
Q: How can the teachings of Galatians be applied to modern life, especially for those struggling with doubts, legalism, or a lack of assurance of salvation?
- Galatians is extremely relevant to modern life, particularly for those:
- Struggling with doubt: The book provides assurance that salvation is based solely on Christ’s faithfulness, not on our perfect performance. This alleviates the pressure to constantly earn or re-earn God’s favor.
- Caught in legalism: It liberates believers from the trap of seeing Christianity as a set of rigid rules. It highlights the importance of a relationship with God, driven by the Spirit, over mere obedience.
- Lacking assurance: It emphasizes that salvation is a gift, freely given through faith in Christ, and is not dependent on our works. This can bring immense comfort and peace to those who have felt unworthy or doubtful.
- Seeking freedom from guilt and shame: The letter’s message of freedom from the burden of the law and the power of the Spirit to live transformed lives offers liberation and hope for those trapped in cycles of guilt and shame.