Epistle to the Galatians

Paul's Epistle to the Galatians
''Some of this text taken from the Zondervan NIV Study Bible, p. 1780-81. (C) 1984 by International Bible Society''

"Paul, an apostle - sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead - and all the brothers with me.

To the churches in Galatia:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us form the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen." - Galatians 1:1-3 (NIV)

Purpose
After Paul's successful evangelism work in Galatia, the church of had suffered the problem of Judaizers preaching that Christians were still bound to some Old Testament laws and practices, among others, circumcision and certain dietary restrictions. Judaizers argued that Paul was not a "real" apostle, claiming that in order to sugar-coat the gospel, he had removed legal requirements. Paul replies by reassuring his apostolic authority, and explains how legal requirements perverts the Gospel. This is where the fundamental of Christianity, sola fide is introduced.

Theology
It is in this book that the essential doctrine of justification by faith in Christ alone is best explained. See verse 2:16, "...a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified."

Chapters
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6