Rightly Dividing is an in-depth look at a particular topic. All essays will be biblically based; but may include  discussions of cultural issues and other topics from a Christian point of view. Comments or questions may be sent to cuddysark@gmail.com. Emails containing vulgar and obscene language will  deleted and not answered . Essays will not always be written by me; in that instance credit will be given at the bottom of the article. 

Instead of specifying one main purpose for Paul’s letter, it is better to recognize several purposes that arise from Paul’s missionary situation. He wrote the letter to: (1) apply lessons from his recent conflicts in Galatia and Corinth; (2) prepare for the looming crisis in Jerusalem; (3) secure a missionary base for his work in Spain; (4) unify the church in Rome around the gospel; and (5) defend his theology against accusations that he is anti-law and even anti-Jewish (see Rom. 3:8). 1

Each of my essays will be built around the chiastic structure of the letter. 

1. Cf. Will N. Timmins, “Why Paul Wrote Romans: Putting the Pieces Together,” Themelios 43 (2018): 387–404.

"The epistle to the Galatians is my epistle. To it I am as it were in wedlock. It is my Katherine." Thus spoke Martine Luther, who considered Galatians the best of all the books in the Bible. It has been called "the battle cry of the Reformation," "the great charter of religious freedom," "the Christian declaration of independence." 

It is important because in any age it answers the basic question asked by the human heart, "How can I find true happiness?" "How can I obtain peace, tranquility, freedom from fear?" William Hendriksen, commentary on Galatians.