Book introduction
The book of Galatians
Galatians is Paul’s urgent letter to churches being told that Gentile believers must keep the Jewish law, starting with circumcision. Paul answers that people are made right by faith in Christ, not works of the law, and that this faith sets them free.
Read Galatians 5Start at chapter 1
Who wrote Galatians?
Paul. Scholars agree it is his.
When was it written?
About AD 48–55; the exact date depends on which Galatian churches are meant.
Main themes
- One gospel
- There is no other good news.
- Faith, not works of the law
- Abraham was counted righteous by believing.
- Freedom and the Spirit
- Freedom is for love, and the Spirit bears fruit.
Outline of Galatians
Key verses
I have been crucified with Christ. I am no longer the one living; Christ is the one living in me. The life I am now living in the flesh, I am living by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and handed himself over for me.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Christ set us free so that we would be free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not let yourselves be caught again under a yoke of slavery.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. No law stands against such things.
Quoted from the Lumin Translation.
Where to start
Read chapter 5, then the whole letter. It takes about 20 minutes.
Ask about this book
Questions about Galatians?
Lumin answers in a few sentences and shows each verse it cites in full.
Keep going
Keep asking in the Lumin app.Keep this conversation going on the web.
The same short answers with the verse beside each one, plus your saved questions, prayer, and the whole Bible to read in.
Make a free Lumin account and this conversation opens in Ask, ready for your next question. Your saved questions, prayer, and the whole Bible come with it.
All 66 books· Bible map· Search the Bible· Ask
Each introduction gives the traditional view and the main views scholars hold today. Where Christians disagree, it says so.
Report an error in this introduction. If we agree, we fix it and add a dated note.
This inbox is for corrections. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 in the US and Canada, call 116 123 in the UK and Ireland, or find your country’s line at findahelpline.com.