Revision #16425
Epistle to the Galatians
Localized for English-speaking readers
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Definition and Meaning
=
- Galatians is one of the Pauline epistles in the New Testament and consists of six chapters. It was addressed to several churches in the region of Galatia in central Asia Minor (modern-day Türkiye). The central theme of the letter is that justification (God's declaring a sinner righteous) comes not through works of keeping the law but through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16). Because it emphasizes the Christian's freedom from the yoke of the law, it is sometimes called the "Magna Carta of Christian liberty" (Galatians 5:1).
+ The Epistle to the Galatians is one of the Pauline epistles in the New Testament and consists of six chapters. It was addressed to several churches in the region of Galatia in central Asia Minor (modern-day Türkiye). Its central theme is that justification, God's declaring a sinner righteous, comes not through works of keeping the law but through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16). Because it emphasizes the Christian's freedom from the yoke of the law, it is sometimes called the "Magna Carta of Christian liberty" (Galatians 5:1).
=
= ## Biblical and Historical Background
=
- Some Jewish Christians had entered the Galatian churches founded by Paul and were teaching that Gentile believers had to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul called this teaching "another gospel" and vigorously refuted it (Galatians 1:6-9). The letter contains Paul's defense of his apostleship as coming not from men but from Christ, his account of rebuking Peter at Antioch (Galatians 2:11-14), the argument that Abraham was justified by faith (chapter 3), and teaching on walking in the Spirit and on "the fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23).
+ After Paul founded the Galatian churches, some Jewish Christians came among them and taught that Gentile believers had to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul called this teaching "another gospel" and vigorously refuted it (Galatians 1:6-9). The letter contains Paul's defense of his apostleship as coming not from men but from Christ, his account of rebuking Peter at Antioch (Galatians 2:11-14), his argument that Abraham was justified by faith (chapter 3), and his teaching on walking in the Spirit and on "the fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23).
=
- Scholars disagree about the letter's destination and date. The North Galatian hypothesis holds that it was addressed to the Celtic population of northern Galatia, while the South Galatian hypothesis holds that it was addressed to the southern cities Paul visited on his first missionary journey. The letter is generally dated to the mid-first century (around AD 50).
+ Scholars disagree about the letter's destination and date. The North Galatian hypothesis holds that it was addressed to the Celtic population of northern Galatia, while the South Galatian hypothesis holds that it was addressed to the southern cities Paul visited on his first missionary journey. The letter is generally dated to the mid-first century, around AD 50.
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= During the Reformation, Martin Luther held this letter in particular esteem, and his commentary on Galatians is regarded as a representative work of the theology of "faith alone."
=
- ## Practice in the Korean Church
+ ## Use in Korean Churches
=
- In the Korean church, Galatians 2:20 ("I am crucified with Christ…") is widely used as a Scripture memorization verse, and the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit in 5:22-23 are frequently treated in sermons, quiet time devotionals, and discipleship training materials.
+ In Korean Protestant churches, Galatians 2:20 ("I am crucified with Christ…") is widely used as a Scripture memorization verse, and the ninefold fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 is frequently treated in sermons, quiet time devotionals, and discipleship training materials.
=
- Emphases differ by denomination.
+ Among Korean denominations, emphases differ.
= - Reformed traditions, such as the Presbyterian churches, read the letter chiefly in terms of justification by faith and the distinction between law and gospel.
- - Wesleyan traditions, such as the Methodist and Holiness churches, emphasize not only justification but also, to a considerable degree, sanctification—growing in holiness by walking in the Spirit (5:16-25).
- - Pentecostal churches, such as the Full Gospel churches, sometimes connect the passages about receiving the Holy Spirit by faith (3:2, 3:14) with the experience of the Spirit.
+ - Wesleyan traditions, such as the Methodist and Holiness churches, emphasize alongside justification the dimension of sanctification, growing in holiness by walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25).
+ - Pentecostal churches, such as the Full Gospel churches, sometimes connect the passages about receiving the Holy Spirit by faith (Galatians 3:2, 3:14) with the experience of the Spirit.
=
- In theological scholarship there is debate over the so-called "New Perspective on Paul," which interprets Paul's phrase "works of the law" as referring to the boundary markers of Judaism (circumcision, dietary laws, and the like). Scholars who accept this interpretation regard it as more accurately reflecting Paul's original context, while some Reformed theologians criticize it for weakening the traditional doctrine of justification.
+ In theological scholarship there is debate over the so-called "New Perspective on Paul," which interprets Paul's phrase "works of the law" as referring to the boundary markers of Judaism, such as circumcision and dietary laws. Scholars who accept this interpretation regard it as more accurately reflecting Paul's original context, while some Reformed theologians criticize it for weakening the traditional doctrine of justification.
The Epistle to the Galatians is the ninth book of the New Testament, a letter written by the apostle Paul to the churches in the region of Galatia. It teaches that a person is justified not by the works of the law but by faith.
The Epistle to the Galatians is the ninth book of the New Testament, a letter from the apostle Paul to the churches of the region of Galatia. It teaches that a person is justified not by the works of the law but by faith.
Full revision
The Epistle to the Galatians is the ninth book of the New Testament, a letter from the apostle Paul to the churches of the region of Galatia. It teaches that a person is justified not by the works of the law but by faith.
Definition and Meaning
The Epistle to the Galatians is one of the Pauline epistles in the New Testament and consists of six chapters. It was addressed to several churches in the region of Galatia in central Asia Minor (modern-day Türkiye). Its central theme is that justification, God's declaring a sinner righteous, comes not through works of keeping the law but through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16). Because it emphasizes the Christian's freedom from the yoke of the law, it is sometimes called the "Magna Carta of Christian liberty" (Galatians 5:1).
Biblical and Historical Background
After Paul founded the Galatian churches, some Jewish Christians came among them and taught that Gentile believers had to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul called this teaching "another gospel" and vigorously refuted it (Galatians 1:6-9). The letter contains Paul's defense of his apostleship as coming not from men but from Christ, his account of rebuking Peter at Antioch (Galatians 2:11-14), his argument that Abraham was justified by faith (chapter 3), and his teaching on walking in the Spirit and on "the fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Scholars disagree about the letter's destination and date. The North Galatian hypothesis holds that it was addressed to the Celtic population of northern Galatia, while the South Galatian hypothesis holds that it was addressed to the southern cities Paul visited on his first missionary journey. The letter is generally dated to the mid-first century, around AD 50.
During the Reformation, Martin Luther held this letter in particular esteem, and his commentary on Galatians is regarded as a representative work of the theology of "faith alone."
Use in Korean Churches
In Korean Protestant churches, Galatians 2:20 ("I am crucified with Christ…") is widely used as a Scripture memorization verse, and the ninefold fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 is frequently treated in sermons, quiet time devotionals, and discipleship training materials.
Among Korean denominations, emphases differ.
- Reformed traditions, such as the Presbyterian churches, read the letter chiefly in terms of justification by faith and the distinction between law and gospel.
- Wesleyan traditions, such as the Methodist and Holiness churches, emphasize alongside justification the dimension of sanctification, growing in holiness by walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25).
- Pentecostal churches, such as the Full Gospel churches, sometimes connect the passages about receiving the Holy Spirit by faith (Galatians 3:2, 3:14) with the experience of the Spirit.
In theological scholarship there is debate over the so-called "New Perspective on Paul," which interprets Paul's phrase "works of the law" as referring to the boundary markers of Judaism, such as circumcision and dietary laws. Scholars who accept this interpretation regard it as more accurately reflecting Paul's original context, while some Reformed theologians criticize it for weakening the traditional doctrine of justification.