Study 0 From The Book of Galatians Is: Introduction to Galatians
The particular situation with which the
Epistle deals must be kept in mind if its great argument is to be understood.
Paul had preached the gospel of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ to the Galatians,
who were of Gentile race. They had
welcomed him with enthusiasm, and many had believed (4:14, 15). But, they had
later been visited by Jewish-minded Christian teachers who had told them that
it was not enough simply to believe on Jesus Christ: they must also be circumcise
and keep the law of Moses. These
teachers had further cast doubts upon Paul’s apostleship, and had sought to
undermine his authority. We can understand with what mingled sorrow,
indignation and deep concern Paul refutes the teaching of the legalists, and
defends both his own position and the truth of the gospel which he had
proclaimed.
The question at issue assumes a different form
today, but is nonetheless vital. Is acceptance with God to be obtained by any
effort of ours, or is it, as the gospel declared, the free gift of God’s grace
through the redemptive work of Christ, to be obtained by faith alone? The enduring value of this Epistle lies in
the answer given by Paul, under the inspiration of the Spirit, to this
question.
