Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians because Judaizers were perverting the gospel and pressuring Gentile believers to keep the Law and be circumcised.
Les Feldick explains that the Galatian churches Paul had planted in Asia Minor were being besieged by Judaizers who insisted that salvation required embracing Judaism and keeping the Law (Clips 1, 3). Paul wrote in urgent response to correct the corruption and remind believers that they were not under the Law but under grace, and to stand fast in Christ's liberty (Clips 3, 5).
Galatians 1:6-7 — Paul's opening rebuke names the direct reason for writing: the Galatians were being removed from the grace of Christ to another gospel that was being perverted.
Paul opens his letter by expressing astonishment that the Galatians have moved so quickly from the One who called them into the grace of Christ to a different message. He writes, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel" (Galatians 1:6). He immediately clarifies that this is not truly another gospel, but a perversion: "Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ" (Galatians 1:7). At the end of the letter, Paul gives the practical command that summarizes his purpose: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1). He also certifies that the gospel he preached was not man-made, saying, "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12).
Les explains that the Galatian churches were located in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) and had been established by Paul. News came back to the apostle that these churches were being besieged by Judaizers—Jewish believers who followed Paul—insisting that the Gentiles could not be saved unless they kept the Jewish Law, including circumcision (Clips 1, 2, 3). The Galatian believers were falling for it because, as Les puts it, "works always appeals to the human intellect" (Clip 1). Because of the urgency, Paul wrote this short six-chapter letter without even using a secretary. Les says Paul laboriously printed it in large block letters due to his poor eyesight, so it could get to the Galatian assemblies quickly and admonish them not to give in (Clips 1, 4). The heart of Paul's correction, Les says, is that these believers were not under the Law but under grace, and that they must stand fast in the liberty Christ had purchased for them rather than being entangled again with the yoke of legalism (Clips 3, 5).
The Judaizers were Jewish believers who followed Paul everywhere he went and maintained that Gentiles could not be saved unless they embraced Judaism and kept the Law. Les says they demanded circumcision and the practice of Judaism to the fullest extent (Clips 3, 5). They were bombarding the Galatian assemblies and trying to pull these Gentile believers back under the Law (Clip 4).
Les observes that the Galatians were falling for the Judaizers' message because works appeal to the human intellect (Clip 1). The pressure was intense enough that Paul had to respond in haste. Rather than waiting for a secretary, he wrote the letter himself in large block letters because of his poor eyesight, so the urgency of the hour was reflected in the writing itself (Clips 1, 4).
Les points out that Paul says it was not truly another or totally different gospel, but the same gospel he had preached to establish them, now being perverted, polluted, and corrupted (Clip 0). Paul's opening words show he marveled that they had been so soon removed from the grace of Christ unto this other gospel (Galatians 1:6-7).
Paul's solution was to remind the Galatians that they were not under the Law but under grace (Clip 3). Les says the letter was written to refute the legalistic demands and to point believers to Galatians 5:1: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Clip 5).
The Gospel Was Being Corrupted
Les explains that the Galatians were not being handed a completely different message; the same gospel they had received was being perverted, polluted, and corrupted.
Judaizers Besieged the Churches
Les describes how Paul learned that the Galatian churches in Asia Minor were besieged by Judaizers demanding circumcision and law-keeping, and why the believers were falling for it.
Historical Setting of the Letter
Les notes that Galatians was Paul's letter to the Gentile churches in Asia Minor roughly twenty-two years after Pentecost, written amid the controversy over taking the gospel to Gentiles.
Not Under Law but Under Grace
Les says Paul wrote to tell the Galatians they were not under the Law but under grace, because the Judaizers were following Paul and claiming Gentiles had to keep the Law to be saved.
An Urgent Letter
Les details the urgency of the letter: Paul skipped a secretary and laboriously printed it in large block letters due to his poor eyesight to get it to the besieged churches.
Refuting Legalism
Les says the letter was written to refute the demand to come back under the law and practice circumcision, and he cites Galatians 5:1 as the command to stand fast in liberty.
Legalism Bombarding Galatia
Les compares Galatia's spiritual attack to Corinth's, noting that the Galatians were being bombarded with legalism while Paul certified that the gospel he preached was not of human origin.
Not Under Law, Under Grace — Galatians 1 Explained Verse by Verse
"...and all the brethren which are with me," now that of course were his traveling companions as we've seen in the Book of Acts, which would include Dr. Luke, Timothy, Titus, and some of the other fellow believers, and evidently at this particular time they were all in Paul's company. Ephesians 1. "...and all the brethren which are with me, writing to the churches of Galatia.
Galatians 1:6: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
This verse shows Paul's astonishment that the Galatians were abandoning grace for a different message, which is why he wrote.
Galatians 1:7: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Paul pins the problem on false teachers who were perverting the gospel rather than bringing a truly different gospel.
Galatians 1:11-12: But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul defends the divine origin of his gospel, showing the Galatians that the Judaizers' message did not come from Christ.
Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
This closing command captures Paul's purpose: call the Galatians back to liberty in Christ and away from legalism.
Les says the situation was urgent because the Galatian churches were being bombarded by Judaizers teaching that salvation required keeping the Law. Paul did not wait for a secretary and laboriously wrote the letter in large block letters because of his poor eyesight.
According to Les, the Judaizers were Jewish believers who insisted the Gentiles could not be saved unless they embraced Judaism, kept the Law, and practiced circumcision. They followed Paul to his churches and tried to pull believers back under legalism.
Paul says it was not truly another gospel, but the same gospel being perverted and corrupted. Les explains that the Galatians were being removed from the grace of Christ to this polluted version of the gospel.
Les identifies it as legalism—being entangled again with the requirements of the Law. Paul commands believers to stand fast in the liberty Christ paid for and not to return to that yoke.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Galatians Fell for a Corrupted Gospel — Explained