About This Book

Galatians is written into a moment of gospel crisis. Churches founded through Paul’s preaching are being unsettled by teachers who insist that faith in Christ must be completed by obedience to the law. Paul writes urgently to defend the truth of the gospel and to protect believers from a message that would rob them of assurance, joy, and freedom.

The letter moves from Paul’s defence of his apostolic calling and gospel message (chs.1 to 2), through a tightly reasoned argument for justification by faith alone (chs.3 to 4), and into the lived implications of freedom in Christ (chs.5 to 6). The burden throughout is pastoral. Paul is not merely winning an argument but labouring to see Christ formed in his people, so that they live as free sons and daughters rather than fearful slaves.

Galatians trains the church to stand firm in the grace of God, refusing every rival gospel and living by faith in the Son of God.

Preach Galatians with clarity and courage. Keep the gospel stakes visible, resist softening Paul’s warnings, and show how grace alone produces both assurance and a transformed life.

Structure of the Book

This outline keeps the argument of the letter clear, helping series planning stay anchored to Paul’s flow of thought.

1. The true gospel and Paul’s calling
   Paul defends the divine origin of his message and apostleship against distortion, ch.1
2. The gospel defended in practice
   Unity with the Jerusalem apostles and the confrontation with Peter over gospel consistency, ch.2
3. Justification by faith alone
   Theological argument from experience, Scripture, and promise, exposing the impossibility of salvation by law, chs.3 to 4
4. Freedom secured by Christ
   A call to stand firm against slavery and legalism, grounded in union with Christ, ch.5
5. Life in the Spirit
   Walking by the Spirit, bearing fruit, and restoring one another in grace, chs.5 to 6
6. Boasting only in the cross
   Final warnings and a closing summary centred on the cross of Christ, ch.6

Key Themes

• The uniqueness of the gospel, there is only one saving message, and any addition is a distortion.
• Justification by faith, sinners are declared righteous through faith in Christ, not by works of the law.
• Freedom in Christ, believers are liberated from condemnation and slavery to live as God’s children.
• The promise to Abraham, God’s saving purpose rests on promise fulfilled in Christ, not human performance.
• Union with Christ, the believer’s identity is grounded in being crucified and raised with Christ.
• The role of the law, the law exposes sin but cannot give life or righteousness.
• The work of the Spirit, the Spirit brings life, freedom, and visible fruit in the believer.
• The cross, boasting is excluded except in the cross that creates a new creation.

Recommended Commentaries

Galatians rewards careful study because its argument is dense and its pastoral implications are profound. A clear primary commentary will help trace Paul’s reasoning, while a second voice can assist with the Old Testament background and theological connections.

• Galatiansby R.C. Sproul, Score: 9.4

  A gospel-rich, pastorally warm exposition of Galatians that clarifies doctrine and nourishes believers with grace.

• The Letter To The Galatiansby David A. deSilva, Score: 8.8

  A substantial and rewarding scholarly guide to Paul’s commanding letter

• Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians and Philemonby William Hendrickson, Score: 8.4

  A warm, spiritually alert exposition that serves both study and devotion with steady insight.

Browse all Galatians reviews

Extra help is often most useful in chs.3 to 4, where Paul’s use of Scripture and covenant language carries the weight of the argument, and in ch.5 where freedom and holiness must be carefully held together.

Preaching and Teaching Helps

Galatians is short but demanding. Faithful preaching requires close attention to argument and careful pastoral application.

• Keep the gospel centre clear, repeatedly define what Paul means by faith, law, and grace.
• Trace the argument, avoid preaching isolated paragraphs without showing how they serve the whole letter.
• Handle warnings honestly, Paul’s strong language is meant to awaken, not to crush tender consciences.
• Explain Old Testament connections, Abraham, promise, and law are central to Paul’s case.
• Show the fruit of freedom, make clear how grace leads to Spirit shaped obedience, not moral drift.

This Book in the Story of Scripture

Galatians stands as a decisive witness to the gospel announced in the Gospels and proclaimed in Acts. It clarifies how the saving work of Christ fulfils God’s promises and establishes a people who belong to him by grace alone, apart from the works of the law.

The letter shapes assurance and holiness together. It forms believers who rest confidently in Christ’s finished work, walk by the Spirit in newness of life, and resist every attempt to ground their standing with God in performance rather than promise.

United to Christ by faith, the church lives in the freedom of grace, bearing the fruit of the Spirit as it awaits the fullness of the new creation.