Why does Romans come first in the New Testament order if Galatians was written earlier?

Romans comes first because it is the doctrinal book. Although Galatians was written earlier, the Holy Spirit placed Romans where it belongs in the New Testament, since Scripture is profitable first for doctrine. Galatians, written before Romans, appears later because it serves the next category, correction, addressing legalism.

Les explains that Romans is the doctrinal Book, so even though Galatians was written earlier, the Holy Spirit puts Romans in the New Testament exactly where it belongs, because all Scripture is given and is profitable first of all for doctrine. The next two books studied, I and II Corinthians, fit the next part of the format, reproof, because the Corinthian church had problems such as immorality, dissension, divisions, legal matters, and disputes about what they could eat. Then comes Galatians, even though it was earliest, but it is fourth in the order of the Church letters, written before Romans but after in New Testament order. Galatians was written for correction, because the Galatians were slipping into legalism; it was literally written to bring them back on course.

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Why is Romans placed first as the book of doctrine in the New Testament?

Romans is placed first because it is the New Testament’s doctrinal book. Although Galatians was written earlier, the Holy Spirit puts Romans exactly where it belongs, since all Scripture is profitable first for doctrine. The church letters then follow an order: Romans for doctrine, Corinthians for reproof, and Galatians for correction.