Paul traveled through Galatia during his first missionary journey and wrote his letter to the Christians there after he had returned to Antioch.
The early Christian church, initially made up of Jewish believers, had to wrestle with the necessity of following the rituals of the Mosaic Law now that they were under the New Covenant in Christ, made possible by Jesus’ death and resurrection. This wrestling became all the more necessary as the Lord gave His Spirit to Gentile believers. What has come to be known as the “Council at Jerusalem” on this question took place after Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 11:1-31). Paul’s letter to the Galatians deals with these new Christians being falsely taught that they must follow rituals of the Mosaic Law. Paul exposed the motivation for this false teaching in Galatians 6:12, “Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.”
A summary of the events in the book of Acts, which is helpful in the timeline of the apostle Paul’s letters, can be found here. In this letter to the Galatians, Paul fills in information about timelines in the events of his conversion and subsequent ministry. After his conversion in Damascus, he spent 3 years in Syria and Arabia before going to Jerusalem (Galatians 1:18, Acts 9:26). Certain Jews there wanted to put him to death, so they sent him away to Tarsus, in Cilicia, where he was from (Galatians 1:21, Acts 9:29-30). Barnabas eventually brought him to Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). Paul, Barnabus, and Titus eventually went up to Jerusalem, but it had been 14 years since Paul had been there (Acts 11:28-30, Galatians 2:1). Thus, Paul had been a Christian for a minimum of 17 years before he left on his first missionary journey.
CHAPTER SYNOPSIS:
Chapter 1: The Galatian church is being influenced by those who want to distort the gospel, inserting requirements under the Law, and Paul asserts such men should be accursed. The entirety of Paul’s letter balances the fact that we are bond-servants of Christ, but free of the requirements of the Law. We don’t change the gospel to please men. In Paul’s era, the men who wanted to be pleased were the men who still demanded adherence to the Law. Paul makes clear that he was taught the gospel by a revelation of Jesus Christ, not by men. He reviews his history to show how long it was (3 years) after seeing Jesus on the road to Damascus before he met the leadership of the Christian church in Jerusalem, verifying that even they did not have an influence on the gospel Jesus taught him.
Chapter 2: It was then another 14 years before Paul returned to Jerusalem, with Barnabas and Titus, meeting James and Peter and John. He submitted to them the gospel that he taught to the Gentiles and, seeing that the Lord worked effectually for him in his ministry to the Gentiles, they extended the right hand of fellowship, adding nothing to this gospel taught to him by Jesus himself, but only asking him to remember the poor. He does tell of false brethren secretly brought in to spy out their liberty in Christ Jesus, in order to bring them into bondage to requirements of the Law, but they did not yield to them, so the truth of the gospel would remain. Not even Titus, a Greek, was compelled by their influence to be circumcised. Paul tells that when Peter later came to Antioch, Paul had to oppose him to his face. He ate with Gentiles until Jewish men, who Paul calls “the party of the circumcision,” came from Jerusalem. The rest of the Jews, even Barnabas, joined him in hypocrisy. Paul asked Peter, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified….I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
Chapter 3: Paul asks the Galatians to reflect, “did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?…Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?…does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” He reminds them that “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” God knew He would justify the Gentiles by faith, so He told Abraham, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” God’s promises to Abraham were spoken to him and his “seed,” who is Christ. The Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, did not nullify the promise. Paul addresses the obvious question, “Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions….before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law….the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor….if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”
Chapter 4: Paul uses a helpful illustration to explain the the concept, from the previous chapter, of being kept in custody under the Law: “as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” Paul then tells an allegory about Abraham’s two sons, which represent two covenants. One is the son of the bondwoman, and represents the Jerusalem of Paul’s time, enslaved to the Law. The other is the son of the free woman, children of the promise to Abraham.
Chapter 5: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Paul asserts that Christ is no benefit to any man who receives circumcision thinking it is necessary for salvation. “I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” Paul uncovers why men in his era desired to require circumcision: If circumcision is preached, then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. He then addresses the question of whether our actions matter: “you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” The whole Law is fulfilled in “‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF’….walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh….if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control….those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
Chapter 6: “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load….Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith…..Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world…..The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.”
LONGER CHAPTER SUMMARIES
Chapter 1: Paul is concerned for the new Galatian Christians that “there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” He gives an uncompromising warning: “even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” He then tells how he became a believer, an apostle, and a bond-servant of Christ: “the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;….But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother….Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, ‘He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.’ And they were glorifying God because of me.”
Chapter 2: It was then another 14 years before Paul returned to Jerusalem, with Barnabas and Titus. He tells of false brethren secretly brought in to spy out their liberty in Christ Jesus, in order to bring them into bondage, but they did not yield to them, so the truth of the gospel would remain. Not even Titus, a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. They met James and Peter and John. He submitted to them the gospel that he taught to the Gentiles and, seeing that the Lord worked effectually for him in his ministry to the Gentiles, they extended the right hand of fellowship, asking him to remember the poor. But when Peter came to Antioch, Paul had to oppose him to his face. He ate with Gentiles, but when certain men came from James, he held himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision, so that the rest of the Jews, even Barnabas, joined him in hypocrisy. He asked Peter, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified….For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.’”
Chapter 3: Paul asks the Galatians to reflect, “did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?…Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?…does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.’ Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, ‘THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’ However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, ‘HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE’— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith….Now the promises were spoken to Abraham….‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ…..the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise…..Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made….Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”
Chapter 4: Paul uses a helpful illustration to explain the the concept, from the previous chapter, of being kept in custody under the Law: “as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave,but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God….when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?” He speaks of the love the Galatians once had for him that has now obviously affected by those teaching them a different gospel, who desire to have a power over them: “have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.” He gives them a long example to explain their freedom in Christ: “Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written, 'REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE
THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.’ And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? 'CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.’ So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.”
Chapter 5: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery….if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love…..who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you…the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is….if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished….you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’…walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”
Chapter 6: “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load. The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith…..Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.”