Who wrote Galatians:

Recent revelations lead most scholars to believe Paul wrote Galatians to the church in the Roman Provence of Galatia. This would date Galatians to between 49 A.D. and 54 A.D. Meaning, Galatians is probably the first letter written by Paul.

Within the letter, Paul reveals his past as a persecutor of Christians and a devoted follower of the Jewish Laws of Moses:

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Galatians 1:13-14

Paul’s revelation of his past is significant considering the message of his letter. According to the letter of Galatians, the church in Galatia was being taught opposing viewpoints regarding the Laws of Moses. As predominately Jewish converts to Christianity, the church in Galatia was especially confused about how much of their Jewish traditions they should observe. Many were being taught they were still obligated to follow the Laws of Moses.

Paul’s letter emphatically declared they were condemned by the Law and saved only by faith in Jesus Christ:

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before you very eyes Jesus Chris was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain you goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing – if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

Galatians 3:1-2