Galatians is Paul's manifesto of freedom to the young church that he started in Asia Minor (Turkey). Paul communicates in no uncertain terms that Christianity, with its emphasis on faith in Christ, is antithetical to religion which approaches God based on good works.

Paul argues strongly in this letter that there is nothing that can be added to Jesus' sacrifice for our sin, not circumcision or any other external religious forms. The gospel according to Paul means faith in Jesus Christ plus nothing.

Galatians was written in 48-49 AD just before the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) at a time of crisis. First century Christians were wrestling with what it meant to be a Christian in a non-Jewish context.

“What is Christianity? Does one have to be a Jew in order to be a Christian?” The book of Galatians is where Paul defines the gospel as given to him by Jesus Christ. It is this message of faith in Jesus Christ alone that found a warm reception among so many non-Jews and set the course for Christianity to change the world.

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