Epistle to the Galatians

A letter attributed to Paul the Apostle to Christian communities in Galatia. It defends justification by faith apart from observance of the Mosaic law and argues that Gentile believers need not adopt circumcision.

Justification by faith: The teaching that people are made right with God through faith rather than by performing works of the Mosaic law. It is the letter’s central claim in opposition to requiring Gentile believers to observe the law.
Paul the Apostle: An early Christian missionary and letter writer whose epistles became foundational texts of the New Testament. The letter presents Paul as its author and appeals to his apostolic authority.
Mosaic law: The body of commandments in the Torah associated with Moses and Israel’s covenant with God. Paul’s argument turns on whether Gentile Christians must observe this law.
Epistle of James: A New Testament letter traditionally attributed to James that emphasizes faithful action and care for the poor. Its emphasis on works alongside faith is often compared with Paul’s argument in Galatians.
Circumcision controversy in early Christianity: The early Christian dispute over whether Gentile converts had to be circumcised and keep the Mosaic law. The controversy gives Paul’s defense of Gentile inclusion its immediate occasion.
Galatia: An ancient region in central Anatolia whose boundaries and political organization changed over time. The letter addresses Christian communities associated with this region.
Covenant theology: A way of interpreting the relationship between God and people through covenants and their promises and obligations. Paul interprets Abraham’s promise and the law through competing accounts of covenant membership.
Epistle to the Romans: Paul’s letter to Christians in Rome, presenting an extended account of sin, faith, Israel, and God’s justice. Romans revisits justification and the law with a broader and more sustained argument.
Works of the law: Deeds prescribed by the Mosaic law, especially those debated as requirements for belonging to God’s people. Paul argues that these works do not justify people before God.
Jerusalem Council: A meeting described in Acts 15 where early Christian leaders debated obligations imposed on Gentile converts. Its relationship to Paul’s account of his Jerusalem visit is central to reconstructing the letter’s setting.

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