The Book of Galatians
Paul's urgent defense of grace against a gospel of works and rule-keeping.
Galatians is one of Paul's most intense letters, written to counter teachers insisting that Gentile believers had to keep Jewish law to be truly saved. Across six chapters Paul argues that justification comes through faith in Christ alone, not through religious performance. Begin at Galatians chapter 1.
About Galatians
Galatians is the forty-eighth book of the Bible, written by the apostle Paul around AD 48-55 and spanning 6 chapters. It is one of Paul's most urgent and passionate letters, written to the churches of Galatia to counter the influence of Judaizers -- false teachers who were insisting that Gentile Christians must be circumcised and keep the Mosaic law in order to be fully saved. Paul responds with fierce intensity, declaring that such a gospel is no gospel at all and pronouncing an anathema on anyone who preaches a different message. The letter establishes with unparalleled clarity that justification -- being declared righteous before God -- comes through faith in Christ alone, not through any human works or religious performance. Major themes include justification by faith alone apart from works of law, freedom from the law's bondage, the new life of the Spirit, the unity of all believers in Christ regardless of ethnicity, and the fruit of the Spirit as the evidence of true transformation. Key chapters include Galatians 2 (Paul's confrontation with Peter), Galatians 3 (faith versus works of law), and Galatians 5 (freedom in Christ and the fruit of the Spirit). Famous verses include Galatians 5:22-23 -- The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control -- and Galatians 2:20 -- I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians KJV Bible reading is the Magna Carta of Christian freedom. Read the Book of Galatians online here in full.