What false teaching was Paul refuting in Galatians?
In Galatians, Paul was refuting false doctrine or false teaching that had entered the Galatian churches and every church he founded. Specifically, he opposed the false teaching of legalism, which is not limited to temple worship and Judaism but appears in many subtle forms. Paul defended his doctrine rather than his person.
Les explains that in Galatians Paul is not so much defending his person as he is defending his doctrine. Unlike the Corinthian letters, where Paul constantly defended his apostleship against attacks that he was an imposter, fake, or lacked the authority of Peter, James, and John, in Galatians he is refuting false doctrine or false teaching that had crept into the Galatian churches and every church he founded. Les emphasizes that doctrine is the primary teaching; without doctrine you have nothing, and experience does not set your feet in concrete. This false teaching was not unique to Paul's day but has plagued Christianity through the centuries and is just as apropos today. Les says we are still constantly fighting the false teaching of legalism, which is not merely temple worship and Judaism but comes in all kinds of shapes and forms and is always subtle.