Paul’s urgent letter about freedom: we are made right with God by faith in Christ, not by keeping rules.
- Section
- New Testament, Letters
- Book
- 48 of 66
- Chapters
- 6
- Written by
- Paul
- When
- About AD 48 to 55
- Written to
- The churches in Galatia
The big picture
After Paul left Galatia, some teachers told the believers they also had to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to belong to God. Paul is alarmed: that is not good news at all.
He shows that God accepts people through faith in Christ, just as He accepted Abraham by faith. Then he explains what freedom is for: not to please ourselves, but to walk by the Spirit and serve one another in love.
Why it was written
To call the Galatians back to the gospel of grace, and to show how the Spirit makes a new life.
Key passages
Tap or hover over a reference to read it.
- Galatians 2:16 – Justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the law
- Galatians 2:20 – Christ lives in me
- Galatians 3:28 – All one in Christ Jesus
- Galatians 5:22-23 – The fruit of the Spirit
How it points to Jesus
Galatians is about what Christ did for us: He redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13), and He makes us God’s children and gives us His Spirit (Galatians 4:4-7).
Themes and people
Themes: Grace · Faith · Freedom · The Holy Spirit · One family
People: Paul · Peter · Barnabas · Titus · Abraham
Study it together
- Is there anything you are adding to Jesus to feel accepted by God?
- Which fruit of the Spirit do you most want to grow in you this season?
- How can you use your freedom to serve someone this week?
Bring your answers and questions to Friday Bible Study, or watch our sermons.
Prepared by Spring Valley Church, Luton. Bible references open the English Standard Version (ESV) in a pop-up supplied by Logos Reftagger.