Galatians

The Book of Galatians is a fiery, urgent letter written by the Apostle Paul around 48-50 CE. It was addressed to a network of early churches in the Roman province of Galatia (modern-day Turkey), making it one of the earliest documents in the New Testament. Paul is writing in a state of absolute shock and frustration.

After Paul left Galatia, a new group of teachers arrived, claiming that faith in Jesus wasn't quite enough. They told the non-Jewish converts that to be truly accepted by God, they also had to adopt strict Jewish laws and rituals, specifically circumcision. Paul saw this as a lethal distortion of his message, turning a freely given gift into a wage that had to be earned.

For anyone who struggles with the feeling that they aren't 'doing enough' to earn love or acceptance, Galatians is a vital read. It is the ultimate manifesto against religious legalism. Paul argues aggressively that true freedom and moral transformation come entirely through trusting God's grace, not by obsessively checking off religious boxes.