Analysis Of The Apostle Paul's Letter To The Galatians

The Apostle Paul wrote this epistle to the churches in the Roman province of Galatia and though there has been some disagreement about the authenticity of Galatians being Pauline in the past (Evanson, 1792 and Bruno Bauer, 1850) there is little doubt in modern scholarship as to its authenticity. Herman Ridderbos, in his commentary on Galatians, says this, “It is possible now to say that there is not a single letter that is so generally regarded as authentic as is Paul’s letter to the Galatians.” The authenticity is so certain that Galatians has become a plumb line by which to judge the authenticity of the other epistles found in Scripture.

There is some scholarly disagreement as to when and whom the letter was written, whether it was directed

In the third section, Paul presents the theological groundwork for freedom, the rightful possession of all Christians (3:1-4:31), which is followed by teaching on the inward work of the Holy Spirit, who has freed us from the flesh and legalism (5:1-6:10). Paul ends his letter with a conclusion, which he personally writes. The letter to the Galatians is the only letter to be written by Paul that did not start with his customary thanksgiving for the recipients, revealing immediately the tone in which this letter was

Jewish-Christians were teaching that salvation in Christ was only available for Jews, and so, Gentile converts must first convert to Judaism, be circumcised (5:2), live according to the Torah (5:3), and then, as observant Jews (4:10), receive of the salvation that was provided for Israel, through Jesus Christ. Paul intensely writes a response to this teaching and believed fully that the law and any reliance on it were utterly incompatible with the gospel of grace and true faith. Paul, nearly immediately