Final answer:
Paul wrote Galatians to address the false teaching that Gentile Christians must observe Jewish law for salvation. His letter comprises three parts: defending his apostleship, refuting Judaizers, and exhorting believers to live by the Spirit.
Step-by-step explanation:
Paul wrote Galatians to counter the teaching that Gentile Christians needed to follow Jewish law, specifically circumcision, to be saved. He was addressing a crisis of religious identity and theology within the early Christian communities. This Epistle reflects the spread of Christianity and the tensions of integrating diverse cultural beliefs.
The three main parts of Galatians include:
- Defending Paul's Apostleship: Paul asserts his authority and explains his conversion from Saul, a persecutor of Christians, to Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
- Argument against the 'Judaizers': Paul argues that righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not the works of the law.
- Exhortation to Live by the Spirit: Paul encourages believers to live a life guided by the Holy Spirit, contrasting the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit.
Paul's letter to the Galatians addresses the early Christian doctrine and the need for unity in the church, emphasizing that faith in Jesus is sufficient for salvation, disagreeing with the need for adherence to the Jewish law.