Paul rebukes the Galatians as foolish for beginning in the Spirit but now seeking perfection through flesh, appealing to their experience of the Spirit and miracles received through faith, not law-works. He argues from Scripture that Abraham was justified by faith, the law brought a curse from which Christ redeemed humanity by becoming a curse, and the law served as a pedagogue until Christ came, after which there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female in Christ.
Read Galatians Chapter 3 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Places in This Chapter
Position in Book
Defense of ApostleshipChapters 1-2
Defense of GospelChapters 3-4
Justification by faith, not law; Abraham's example.
Life in FreedomChapters 5-6
Bible Bites
A Letter to Multiple Congregations
Unlike most of Paul's letters, Galatians was addressed not to a single church but to 'the churches in Galatia'—multiple congregations in the region. Paul had established these churches during his first missionary journey through cities like Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.
Galatians 1:2Paul's Angriest Letter
Galatians is the only Pauline letter with no thanksgiving or commendation for its recipients. Paul immediately confronts them: 'I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting' the gospel, showing his urgent concern over false teaching.
Galatians




