Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Context of Galatians

I still remember my intro to New Testament class in college and the professor discussing Paul’s letter to the Galatians. All of Paul’s other letters begin with words of adoration, gratitude for his relationship with that community. You don’t have to look far (see Colossians 1 or Philippians 1 for example) to the community to which he writes, the blessings he experienced as part of his relationship with them. The gratitude for their sincere faith and devotion to the gospel.

Galatians is different.

Where his words of praise begin in other letters, this is how he begins after the customary greeting:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to…