Galatians

Why was this book written?

      It seems that the church in Galatia was being hindered by false teachers. Paul, in several different versus addresses this problem (2:5, 4:17, 5:10, 6:12-13). The false teachers were bringing in lies to the church. They were trying to bring the church back to what Christ had come to fulfill on the cross (3:3-5). The false teachers taught that the must uphold the law and that they were not as free as Paul had said. The church seems to have bought in to what these teachers were saying and this letter goes after these lies from the false teachers.

What is the main idea of this book?

      Paul addresses the problem going on in the church with the lies the false teachers are bringing. He explains that they are free in Christ by their faith and that it would have been useless for Jesus to die and rise again if they still had to live under the law (2:21). Paul explains to them what freedom is and that it should lead to love for their neighbors (5:13-15). He makes harsh contrasts between sinners and those who live by the spirit. Though they don't live under the law, living under the Spirit means they are lead by the Spirit. Their lives should reflect this in the way they treat one another and in their morality (5:21-22, 25-26). Twice he gives contrasts between living by the flesh and living by the Spirit (6:8). The main idea Paul is getting across is that they are free in Christ and what freedom in Christ looks like as they the Spirit leads them.