New Testament · Letters of Paul · World English Bible
Galatians
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
— Galatians 3:28 
The Reading LensEvery verse pulled to the top of a book is chosen by three questions: Where is God’s heart here? Who is He protecting? Who is being saved by the action? It marks the place where those answers come into clearest focus — a “look at this, in this book.”
About the Letter
The angriest of Paul’s letters, and the only one with no thanksgiving after the greeting. He goes straight from “grace to you” to “I marvel that you are so quickly deserting.”
The issue is whether Gentile believers must take on the law — circumcision in particular — to belong fully. His answer is that adding it does not supplement the gospel; it replaces it.
It is also the closest thing to autobiography he wrote: his own account of his calling, his visits to Jerusalem, and the confrontation at Antioch where he opposed Peter publicly over who was welcome at the table.
6 Chapters
No Other Gospel
Straight to astonishment, with no thanks first. Then his own account — the gospel he preached came by revelation, and he did not go up to Jerusalem to have it checked.
Antioch
The agreement with James, Peter and John about the mission to the Gentiles — and their one request, that he remember the poor, which he says he was eager to do. Then Peter withdrawing from the table when certain people arrived, and being opposed to his face.
Neither Jew nor Greek
The argument from their own experience and from Abraham, counted righteous centuries before the law existed. The law as a guardian until faith came — and then the line that dissolves the three divisions that ordered the ancient world.
Sons, Not Slaves
The heir who is no different from a slave while still a child. The Spirit crying Abba. Paul recalling that they received him despite the condition he arrived in, and would have torn out their own eyes for him.
Freedom
Stand firm and do not take the yoke up again. Freedom is not licence — through love, be servants to one another. The works of the flesh listed against the fruit of the Spirit.
Bear One Another’s Burdens
Restore someone gently, and watch yourself. Carry each other’s loads and also your own. Do not grow weary in doing good. Then a closing paragraph he takes the pen to write in his own large letters.