Audience: The churches in the region of Galatia (today part of central Turkey) founded by Paul during his First Missionary Journey." The letter was not addressed to a specify congregation but was a letter intended to be circulated among the churches in the region (several copies may have been produced for this purpose).
Purpose: Since Paul left the churches, a group of Christians that scholars term "the Judaizers," had come into the churches and taught that Gentile Christians must obey the Jewish laws in order to be saved. Paul writes to refute the teachings of these Judaizers and to call the Galatian Christians to faith and freedom in Christ. The matter became even more serious when "some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: 'Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved'" (Acts 15:1), that the whole question of what it means to be a Christian was being jeopardized. A council of the elders was convened in Jerusalem to resolve this question (Acts 15), which basically affirmed Paul's teaching in the letter to the Galatians.
Date: Probably 49 AD, prior to the Jerusalem Council convened in 50 AD.
Key-Verse: "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (NRS)
Unique Feature: Galatians is the earliest of Paul's letters that have been preserved for us in the New Testament.
Media Resources:
John Gerstner, Galatians. Ligonier Ministires. This is a series of 12 studies. Video N
Derek Thomas, No Other Gospel: Paul's Letter to the Galatians. Ligonier Ministires. This is a series of 14 studies. Video N
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