Paul wrote to the Galatians because Judaizers were pressuring Gentile believers to return to the Mosaic Law, and he wrote to refute that legalism and call them back to grace.
The Galatian churches Paul had established in Asia Minor were being besieged by Judaizers who insisted that salvation required keeping the Jewish Law, including circumcision. When Paul learned that these believers were turning back to legalism, he hurriedly wrote this letter to admonish them. His central message was that believers are not under the Law but under grace.
Galatians 5:1 — Paul commands believers to stand fast in the liberty Christ provided and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage — the very issue of legalism.
Galatians 4:8-9 — Paul asks how the Galatians could turn back to the weak and beggarly elements of the Law after having known God — the core of his warning.
The Bible records Paul's urgent warning in his letter to the Galatians. In Galatians 5:1, Paul writes, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." The very next verse cautions, "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing" — showing that reliance on any fleshly work for salvation cancels the profit of Christ. Paul also asks the Galatian believers in Galatians 4:9, "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" The question is rhetorical; the Galatians had been saved by grace, and turning back to the Law of Moses was to return to bondage. Scripture thus reveals the reason for the letter: believers were drifting from grace into legalism, and Paul wrote to stop that drift.
Les Feldick explains that Paul wrote Galatians because the churches Paul had established in Asia Minor were being besieged by Judaizers. These Jewish believers were telling the Gentile converts that they could not be saved unless they kept the Jewish Law, practiced circumcision, and embraced Judaism to the fullest extent. When Paul learned that the Galatian believers were turning back under legalism, he hurriedly wrote this little letter to admonish them not to give in. Les emphasizes that the whole thrust of the book of Galatians was to prove to these Gentile believers that they were not under the Mosaic Law but under grace. Paul's admonition was to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage — which Les identifies as legalism, the Law, and Judaism. Les also notes that legalism still appeals to human nature today because people like to satisfy their own ego with what they have done, but God will have none of it.
When Paul got wind that the Galatian believers were turning back under legalism, he did not take time for his secretary to write the letter — the urgency of the hour drove him to pen it himself. The problem was that the Judaizers were convincing the Gentiles that they had to keep the Law if they wanted to experience salvation, and the believers were falling for it because works always appeals to the human intellect.
In Galatians 5:1, Paul writes, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Les Feldick identifies the yoke of bondage as legalism — the Law and Judaism. He explains that Paul wrote this admonition to the Galatian believers so they would not fall victim to the legalizers who were making inroads into the congregations.
Les explains that legalism appears to the human race because everybody likes to satisfy their own ego with "look what I've done, look what I do." Works always appeals to the human intellect. This was true of the Galatian believers, and Les says it is no different today — yet God will have none of it.
Paul asked the Galatians how, after having known God, they could turn again to the weak and beggarly elements and desire to be in bondage. Les says Paul was speaking of the Law — the Mosaic Law. The whole thrust of the book of Galatians was to prove to these Gentile believers that they were not under the Law but under grace, because the Law was weak and beggarly.
Paul's Commission to the Gentiles
Les explains that God commissioned Paul at his conversion to go to the Gentiles, which is why Paul's epistles — including the letter to the Galatian churches — are central for Gentile believers.
Stand Fast in Liberty
Les shows that Paul wrote Galatians 5:1-2 to warn the Galatian believers not to fall victim to the legalizers, and that depending on circumcision for salvation means Christ profits you nothing.
Refuting the Judaizers
Les says Galatians was written because Jewish believers were hammering the Galatians to come back under the Law, and Paul wrote to refute the idea that believers are under the Law's demands.
The Urgency of the Letter
Les explains that Paul hurriedly penned Galatians when he heard the Judaizers were convincing the Gentiles they had to keep the Law for salvation, and that legalism still appeals to human ego today.
Believers Falling for Works
Les says the Galatian churches Paul established in Asia Minor were besieged by Judaizers and were falling for the false gospel that they could not be saved without keeping the Jewish Law.
Not Under Law, But Under Grace
Les states that Paul's purpose in writing Galatians was to tell the Gentile churches they are not under the Law but under grace, because the Judaizers followed Paul everywhere insisting on Judaism.
The Law Is Weak and Beggarly
Les points to Galatians 4:8 to show that the whole thrust of Galatians was to prove the Galatian believers were not under the Mosaic Law but under grace, since the Law was weak and beggarly.
Tempted to Return to Bondage
Les reads Galatians 4:9 to show that these saved-by-grace Gentile believers were tempted to go back under the Law, and Paul asked how they could desire such bondage.
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.
Paul's direct command to the Galatian believers to stand in the liberty Christ purchased and avoid the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Paul's warning that trusting in circumcision for salvation cancels the profit of Christ.
Galatians 4:8: Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Paul reminds the Galatians that before knowing God they served false gods.
Galatians 4:9: But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Paul's rhetorical question showing the foolishness of turning back to the weak and beggarly elements of the Law.
Galatians 4:19: My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Paul expresses his urgent, travailing concern for believers who were turning back under legalism.
Paul wrote because the Judaizers were telling the Gentile believers in Galatia that they could not be saved unless they kept the Jewish Law, including circumcision. When Paul heard the Galatian believers were turning back under legalism, he hurriedly wrote this letter to admonish them. His message was that they are not under the Law but under grace.
Les describes the Judaizers as Jewish believers who followed Paul everywhere and maintained that the Gentile converts could not be saved unless they embraced Judaism and kept the Law. They were besieging the Galatian churches and convincing the believers to practice circumcision and Judaism to the fullest extent.
Paul told them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free and not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. He admonished them not to give in to the legalizers, because they were not under the Law but under grace.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Letters Are the Most Neglected in the Bible