The Epistle to the Galatians is one of the most important books in the New Testament of the Bible. This letter, along with the one written by Paul of Tarsus to the Romans, represents the texts of greatest revelation and Christian doctrinal teaching. Let us discover its purpose.
book of galatians
The book of Galatians is a letter that the apostle Paul wrote to the established Christian churches in the region of Galatia. The apostle when writing the letter already knew these churches, from his third missionary trip, Acts 18: 22-23
22 Having arrived in Caesarea, he went up to greet the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he left and traveled systematically throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Paul writes the important letter to the Galatians in a historical context, of a church that emerged from the conversion of Jews to Christianity, called Messianic Jews, and the Gentiles converted to the gospel of Jesus. A gospel that had spread rapidly outside the territory of Jerusalem, because its message was for all the nations of the world.
When Paul carried out his missionary journeys there were as many Messianic Jews as Gentiles converted to the cause of Christ. But, between these two sources of believers, a certain friction or dispute had begun, which caused Paul great frustration when he found out and decided to write profound doctrinal teachings to the Galatians.
As is known from the Old Testament, God's covenant at the time of Moses was established with the Hebrew civilization, the nation of Israel. This story was part of the story of the ancestors of the Messianic Jews. What made many of these feel different from the Gentile converts and therefore turned away from them. Since these did not keep the Jewish customs established in the Torah, such as circumcision, Jewish diet, Sabbath, etc.
The Jewish Christians then wanted the converted Gentiles to actually be God's people, to carry out Jewish customs.
Galatians book date
According to various scholars of biblical texts, the letter to the Galatians was written approximately between 50 or 56 years after Christ. The letter makes it clear that it was written after the missionary journeys of Paul and Barnabas. According to the book of Acts, Paul and Barnabas were in Galatia approximately between 47 and 48 years after Christ. Later Paul would return to the region after his return from the council held in the city of Jerusalem in the year 49 after Christ. From this, Paul may have written the letter when he was in Corinthians during the years 50 and 52, or according to other authors around the year 56 after Christ.
Contents of the book of Galatians
The letter to the Galatians is clearly a teaching of Christian doctrine on the part of Paul, directed at the Judaizing movement that was taking place in the churches of this region. This movement was undermining the Christian faith by requiring the circumcision of Gentile male converts. Even many of these did. The letter contains six chapters in all, but his account can be divided into three parts of two chapters each:
- Paul reminds the Galatians of the gospel message of Jesus. Making a summary between chapters 1 and 2
- Between chapters 3 and 4, Paul tells the Galatians that from the gospel of Jesus there arises a universal people of God and not exclusive to Israel
- Paul in the last two chapters says that the new universal people of God is transformed by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit
Chapter 1
In chapter 1 of the letter, Paul makes the Galatians see his discontent and astonishment that they have diverted the teachings they had received from him about the gospel of Jesus. Allowing himself to be influenced by those who opposed him and who demanded that he carry out circumcision. He makes them see that his teachings have sufficient authority and authenticity. Because it was the risen Jesus himself who commissioned him as an apostle to bring the gospel message to the non-Jewish people. He gives them a brief summary of the story contained in the book of acts.
Chapter 2
Already in chapter two Paul tells them that he only gets to go to Jerusalem after having been commissioned by Christ. In order to meet with the apostles Peter and James. On that occasion, Paul makes them see that circumcision was not necessary for non-Jewish Christian men, or that they keep other Jewish customs. The other apostles agreed on this with Paul.
However, when Peter visited the non-Jewish Christians in Antioch, he yielded to the pressure of the Judaizers. Pendro began to withdraw and stop eating with the uncircumcised Christians. Knowing this, Paul reprimands Peter in Antioch for failing to be faithful to the gospel; all this he makes the Galatians see. He tells them that requiring circumcision or following the Torah was wrong, since man is not first justified by works but through faith in Christ Jesus.
It means then, Paul affirms, that when people believe in Jesus, what is true for him is also true for the believer. The life, death and resurrection of Christ become alive also for the one who believes:
Galata 2: 20
20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; And what I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
In this way, if someone says that he is from the people of God or that he belongs to the universal family of the new covenant of Jesus, it is not because he obeys the law of the Torah. But by the sacrifice of Jesus crucified. No one by himself can ever achieve justification before God.
This profound understanding or revelation of what Jesus accomplished on the cross becomes of great relevance to whoever is included in God's new covenant family and what it means to live in Christ.
Galatians 3
Paul in a way to get his message more deeply to the Judaizers and teach non-Jewish Christians at the same time. He goes back in the story of Abraham and how he was justified by God, his faith being reckoned to him for righteousness, for remaining confident in the promise God had made to him, Galatians 3:6-9
6 So Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness. 7 Know therefore that they that are of faith, these are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the good news to Abraham beforehand, saying: Through you all nations shall be blessed. 9 So those of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
Later Paul tells them about the purpose of the commandments of God's law. And that the Lord within this law kept the purpose of possessing a people that encompassed all nations. Achieved from faith and not by compliance with the laws of the Jewish Torah. But if this is so, why are the commandments of the law established for Israel?
In this letter, Paul gives a very brief explanation of the purpose of the law. However, he explains it more fully and with great doctrinal teaching in his letter to the Romans. I invite you to follow this link to learn more about the letter to the Romans.
Paul indicates that the commandments of the law were given by God to Israel at Mount Sinai. Long after the promise given to Abraham about his great offspring. This is why Paul says that the law had a temporary character and that it would only be fulfilled many years later, see Galatians 3:21-22
21 Then the law is contrary to the promises of God? In no way; because if the given law could vivify, justice would be truly by law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up all under sin, so that the promise which is through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Learn here what the Commandments of God's law are , which are the statutes that contain the Law given by the Lord through Moses, first for the people of Israel and then for all his church.
Galatians 4
In chapter 4, Paul develops something very interesting and explains that the law contains a positive part but also a negative part. The one that allowed sin to be seen was the negative, the one that exposed Israel in a humanity with iniquities. A people that constantly strayed from the law of God, but since the law is good, I declare Israel guilty and set sentence on humanity. The law then, according to Paul's words, shut up all under sin. Galatians 4:1
But I also say: As long as the heir is a child, he differs in nothing from the slave, although he is master of everything;
On the other hand, the law has its positive side by acting as a rigid tutor or governess. That role was exercised by the law in order to keep Israel under order until the promise of the descendant of Abraham, the Messiah, was fulfilled. Fulfilling then the final purpose of the law in favor of Israel.
The messiah descendant of Israel is Jesus, who was faithful in doing what his father did, who loved God and his neighbor. Also being king of Israel and dying on the cross brought redemption from sin. Therefore only through Jesus the descendant of Abraham the Blessing of God is extended to every Jewish or non-Jewish person.
Paul then says that non-Jewish believers do not have to keep Jewish customs. Because it would be as if in the person of Jesus the promise of God had not been fulfilled. And he was still in the condition of a slave to sin. Galatians 4:3
31 So, brothers, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free woman.
Galatians 5 and 6
Paul in chapters 5 and 6 is dedicated to developing the teaching that it is through Jesus and his Holy Spirit that the true transformation of the believer takes place. Which guides him to live according to the will of God. He affirms that the commandments of the law are good and wise, and that they can be summed up in the way Jesus fulfilled loving your neighbor as yourself. Because Jesus fulfilled the law by putting himself in our place and who also now lives in us through his spirit.
Paul goes on to differentiate what is the old and the new nature of man. And that the habits that were had with the old nature take away people's morals, being able to destroy relationships and even nations. And that even though the law forbade these habits, Jesus nailed them to the cross. Therefore if a believer puts his trust in Jesus and lives subject to the spirit, the life of Jesus becomes the life of the person. Manifesting in the fruit of the spirit
Galatians 5: 22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galata 5: 24
24 But those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires
This is how Jesus wants the believer to live so that he can be transformed.
Galata 6: 7
7 Do not deceive yourselves; God cannot be mocked: for whatever man sows, that he will also reap.
But the fruits of the spirit are not overnight, they need to be cultivated in the same way as the fruits of the trees. Therefore, it is necessary to have the willingness to recognize and prune old habits in order to cultivate and produce new ones. Doing so allows the Holy Spirit to make the transformation according to the mind and heart of Jesus. This is how the people of God formed through Jesus come to fulfill the law of Christ.
One of the greatest teachings our Lord Jesus left us is love and forgiveness for our neighbor. Verses about forgiving others can help heal your heart and foster reconciliation with your brother or sister. Don't miss reading them.