Galatians

Author: Paul
Date of Writing: AD 60
Type of Book: Epistle
Theme: Grace and Justification by faith

This is the only letter Paul wrote that was addressed to a group of churches rather than to just one specific church. Galatia wasn't a city but rather a whole region in Asia Minor. The Galatians were originally Celtic people who had migrated from Gaul to the area south of the Black Sea, near present day Armenia. Evidently Paul had been instrumental in starting several churches in the area of Galatia and was now hearing about some false teaching circulationg there. he wrote to correct these dangerous heresies.

We don't know when this letter was written, but probably during Paul's thrird missionary journey. The Galatian churches had apparently become infectected by Judaizers, who taught that salvation would only come to those who kept the Law of Moses. Paul was deeply concerned for the galatians, because he saw them leaving the truth of the gospel and adding legalism to it, watering down the grace of God.

Whereas the book of Romans presents the truth of the gospel in a doctrinal outline, the book of Galatians defends the gospel with a personal and practical appeal. It is one of the most passionate books Paul wrote, as he stressed to them what was at stake if they left the grace of God and traded it for a legalism that would destroy them.

There are no preliminary thanksgivings or prayer requests in this epistle, nor any personal greetings to or from individuals. Paul expresses his amazement right off the bat that they had begun to follow after "a different gospel", which wasn't really good news at all (Gal. 1:6-7). He confronts the false teachers head-on who were trying to "pervert the gospel of Christ". So what we have in Galatians is a beautiful and powerful presentation of the gospel of grace.

Paul not only reiterates that salvation is by grace alone, but he goes on to describe the life of grace as a life in the Spirit. Legalists would argue that the teaching of grace results in a fleshly, self-indulgent life. Paul demonstrates that just the opposite is true. When we understand the grace of God, we receive the power of the Holy Spirit to walk in the Spirit in a wonderful relationship with the Lord. Only grace can make a person righteous.

This book served as an inspiration to Martin Luther, John Wesley, and so many others, and my prayer is that it will inspire you as well, to accept the grace of God and enter into life in the Spirit.

-from Pastor Chuck Smith from The Word for Today Bible