The New Testament’s fourth Pauline Epistle; the ninth book of the New Testament; the forty-eighth book of the Bible.
Author: Paul, directly stated in Galatians 1:1.
Audience: Paul wrote to the churches in southern Galatia, which consisted of both Jewish and Gentile believers. He wrote strong words to defend against the rise of false teaching in these congregations. In particular, this was regarding those who insisted Christians must keep the Mosaic Law. This included circumcision, with people dividing over whether to fellowship with believers who were not circumcised. Paul countered this false teaching with a focus on salvation by faith apart from works.
Date: Approximately AD 49; Galatians is perhaps the first of Paul’s New Testament epistles to be written.