Galatians (classic)

  Few books have had a more profound influence on the history of the Christian world than the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Composed almost 2000 years ago, Galatians’ six short chapters address two important doctrines—justification by faith and freedom from the Law. It is a powerful document, a “Declaration of Independence” from legalism.In Paul’s day, the central part of Turkey was known as Galatia. It became a province of the Roman Empire about 25 BC. On Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 13–14), he founded churches in southern Galatia. On the second trip, he brought them a letter from the Jerusalem Council and confirmed them in the faith (Acts 15:1–16:5). Because no mention is made of imprisonment in the letter, Paul was probably still free to travel when he wrote. This would set the date of writing after AD 47, when he first journeyed through Galatia, and before AD 58, when he was arrested.