The Book of Galatians

Paul wrote his first letter to the churches in Galatia in order to defend justification by grace alone through faith alone, apart from the works of the law (2:15-16; 3:11-14).  In so doing, he rebukes the Galatians for embracing the teaching of the Judiazers.  This teaching added to the gospel works of the law (1:6-10), namely circumcision, as a necessary requirement for salvation (3:2; 5:2; 6:12).  After his opening remarks (1:1-5), Paul spends the next few chapters (1:6-4:11) rebuking them for embracing this different gospel.  By pointing to the example of Abraham (3:7-22), he demonstrates that righteousness comes through the righteousness of Christ.  He became a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the law (3:13; 4:5) and so Paul appeals for them to walk by the Spirit in freedom (4:12-6:10) through love (5:6-15), boasting in the cross alone (6:11-18).