Book 48 of 66 · New Testament

Galatians

Paul's fierce defence of the gospel of grace: we are put right with God by faith, not by keeping the law.

6 chapters149 versesWritten in GreekSet To the churches in Galatia

Overview

Galatians is Paul at his most urgent. New teachers had told the Galatian believers that faith in Christ was not enough — they must also keep the Jewish law, beginning with circumcision. Paul is alarmed, and writes to insist that people are put right with God by faith alone, and that to add the law is to abandon the gospel. It ends with the "fruit of the Spirit."

Book facts

Author: PaulWritten by the apostle Paul to the churches of Galatia.
Date written: c. AD 48–55One of Paul's earliest letters; the exact date is debated.
Original language: GreekUrgent and forceful, with no opening thanksgiving.
Setting: To the churches in GalatiaWritten in alarm as they drift toward law-keeping.

How it came to be

Galatians was written by the apostle Paul. He writes in alarm, without his usual opening thanks, because the churches were abandoning his gospel.

It is one of his earliest and most forceful letters.

What is arguedExactly which churches "Galatia" means, and the letter's date — which affects how it fits with the book of Acts.

The whole book, chapter by chapter

Chapter	What this chapter covers
Paul's defence — his gospel and his authority, chapters 1–2
Chapter 1The other gospel	Paul is astonished they turn to "another gospel," and defends his calling.
Chapter 2The meeting at Jerusalem	Paul recounts confronting Peter and defending the truth of the gospel.
Faith, not law — justified by faith, like Abraham, chapters 3–4
Chapter 3The promise before the law	The promise to Abraham came by faith, before the law was given.
Chapter 4The two covenants	An allegory of two covenants: slavery and freedom.
The life of freedom — the fruit of the Spirit, chapters 5–6
Chapter 5The fruit of the Spirit	Live by the Spirit, whose fruit is love, joy, peace, and the rest.
Chapter 6The burdens shared	Bear one another's burdens; a man reaps what he sows.

All 6 chapters. Start reading →

Worth knowing

Key people

The apostle who wrote the letter.

Key places

Written to the churches of Galatia.

Known for

Some of the best-known verses in Galatians — tap the verse to read it.

"I am crucified with Christ"Galatians 2:20
"Neither Jew nor Greek"Galatians 3:28
The fruit of the SpiritGalatians 5:22
"Whatsoever a man soweth"Galatians 6:7