Paul wrote urgently because the Galatian believers were being besieged by Judaizers who insisted they must keep the Law and be circumcised to be saved.
Les Feldick explains that Paul had planted these churches in Asia Minor, but false teachers were corrupting the gospel. The pressure was so severe that Paul wrote quickly, even without his secretary, because believers were turning back to legalism and abandoning grace.
Galatians 5:1 — Paul commands believers to stand fast in liberty and not be entangled with the yoke of bondage, directly addressing the legalistic pressure.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians because they were being troubled by those who wanted to add the works of the Law to faith. In Galatians 5:1, he exhorts, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." This verse shows his urgent concern that believers not return to the bondage of legalism. Furthermore, Paul expressed his fear for the Galatians, saying in Galatians 4:11, "I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." This indicates his deep concern that his work might be undone by the false teaching. The book of Galatians is a forceful defense of the gospel of grace against those who would add the Law.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians with urgency because the churches he had established were being bombarded by Judaizers—both those who rejected Jesus and those who believed in Him but insisted that keeping the Law was necessary for salvation. These false teachers were telling the Galatians that Paul's message was not enough; they needed circumcision and the Law. Paul had to respond quickly to correct this dangerous error and remind them that they are not under the Law but under grace. Les emphasizes that the urgency was so great that Paul wrote the letter himself, even though his eyesight was poor, and he did not wait for a secretary. The letter was a hurried, passionate plea to stand fast in the liberty of Christ.
Les explains that the Judaizers, whether they were orthodox Jews who rejected Jesus or Jewish believers who accepted Him as Messiah, both insisted that Gentiles could not be saved unless they kept the Law and practiced circumcision. They were 'hung up on the fact that you had to keep the Law' and told the Galatians that Paul's message alone was insufficient. This pressure was so intense that Paul had to write quickly to refute it.
Paul wrote the Galatian letter in haste, not even waiting for his secretary, because of the urgency. Les notes that Paul was 'constantly besieged with the care of Christianity' and when he 'finds out they're going back into legalism, he has to hurriedly sit down and write the six chapters of the little letter.' He wrote to admonish them not to give in, emphasizing that they are not under the Law but under grace.
The core message is found in Galatians 5:1, where Paul says, 'Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.' Les teaches that this means exactly what it says: believers are not under any demands of the commandments, and returning to legalism is to be entangled in bondage.
Not Under Law, Under Grace — Galatians 1 Explained Verse by Verse
simplistic way of doing things, is that my whole thrust of teaching is to get you, and those of you out there on television, to teach people like I do. I don't know how many people have sat with us over the years around our kitchen table, it is a round one, and the first thing I get out is a piece of typewriter paper, and I simply draw.
The Urgency of Paul's Writing
Les describes how Paul wrote the letter in haste, without his secretary, because of the urgent threat of Judaizers turning Galatian believers back to legalism.
Context of the Galatian Churches
Les provides the historical context: the Galatian churches were Gentile churches in Asia Minor, and this letter was written about 22 years after Pentecost, when Paul was called back to Jerusalem.
The Judaizer Attack
Les explains that the Judaizers, whether orthodox or believing, insisted that keeping the Law and circumcision were necessary for salvation, directly contradicting Paul's message.
Purpose of Galatians
Les states that the letter was written to tell the Galatians they are not under the Law but under grace, because the Judaizers were following Paul everywhere and pressuring the churches.
Stand Fast in Liberty
Les quotes Galatians 5:1 to show Paul's admonition to stand fast in the liberty of Christ and not be entangled again with legalistic bondage.
Paul's Fear for the Galatians
Les highlights Paul's fear that his labor might be in vain because the Galatians were being bombarded with legalism, similar to the Corinthians facing paganism.
Constant Pressure on Paul
Les explains that Paul was under constant mental and spiritual pressure from the care of all the churches, and when he heard about the Galatians' slide into legalism, he had to write hurriedly.
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 verse is Paul's direct admonition to the Galatians to remain in the freedom of grace and not return to the bondage of legalism, which was the urgent issue.
Galatians 4:11: I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
This expresses Paul's fear that his work among the Galatians might be undone by the false teaching of the Judaizers, underscoring the urgency of his letter.
Paul wrote quickly because the Galatian churches were being pressured by Judaizers to return to the Law and circumcision, which contradicted the gospel of grace he had preached. He needed to correct this error before it completely undermined the faith of the believers.
The Judaizers insisted that Gentiles could not be saved unless they kept the Jewish Law, including circumcision. They were following Paul's ministry and telling believers that Paul's message alone was insufficient.
Watch the Teaching: Not Under Law, Under Grace — Galatians 1 Explained Verse by Verse