Galatians study section

Galatians chapter summaries

A one-line summary of every chapter. Open any chapter for the full study.

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Chapter list

Chapters 1–2

The Gospel Defended

Paul insists his gospel and apostleship came directly from Christ, not from men, and recounts how he defended justification by faith even by confronting Peter to his face at Antioch.

  • Chapter 1 (c. AD 48): Astonished at their desertion, Paul pronounces a curse on any other gospel and defends that his came by revelation from Christ.
  • Chapter 2 (c. AD 48): Paul’s gospel was affirmed by the apostles, and he opposed Peter at Antioch to uphold that we are justified by faith, not works.

Chapters 3–4

Justified by Faith, Not Law

Arguing from the Galatians’ own experience and from Scripture, Paul shows that righteousness comes by faith like Abraham’s, that the law was a temporary guardian pointing to Christ, and that in Christ believers are sons and heirs, not slaves.

  • Chapter 3 (c. AD 48): The Galatians received the Spirit by faith, not law; like Abraham, all are justified by faith, and Christ bore the curse for us.
  • Chapter 4 (c. AD 48): Formerly slaves, believers are now adopted sons and heirs; Paul appeals to them and allegorizes Hagar and Sarah.

Chapters 5–6

Freedom and the Spirit

Called to freedom, believers are not to submit again to the yoke of the law nor to indulge the flesh, but to walk by the Spirit, bear His fruit, and carry one another’s burdens.

  • Chapter 5 (c. AD 48): “For freedom Christ has set us free”; walk by the Spirit and bear His fruit rather than gratifying the flesh.
  • Chapter 6 (c. AD 48): Bear one another’s burdens, do good to all, and boast only in the cross, by which the world is crucified to Paul.

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