Why was Paul so urgent and frantic when he wrote the book of Galatians?
Paul was urgent because false teachers had infiltrated the Galatian congregations he had established in Asia Minor, teaching that salvation required circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses, not faith alone. He responded frantically to defend salvation by faith and faith alone against this works-based distortion.
Les explains that Paul was frantically responding to false teaching that had come into the congregations he established in Asia Minor, which is modern Turkey, with Galatia in the middle and probably the southern half. These false teachers were bombarding the believers, claiming they could not be saved by faith and faith alone but had to circumcise and keep the Law of Moses. Les compares that to adding other works today, saying such works do nothing but bring down the anathema of God Himself.
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
More Questions
What did Paul say about his persecution of the church in Galatians 1:13?
In Galatians 1:13 Paul said his past lifestyle in the Jews' religion included persecuting the church of God beyond measure and wasting it.