Question

The primary reason Paul wrote to the Galatians was:

1) To insist that they must not convert to Judaism
2) To insist that they must convert to Judaism
3) To insist that they must be circumcised
4) To argue against their view that they already enjoyed an exalted existence

Answer 1

Paul wrote to the Galatians to argue that non-Jewish converts did not need to follow Jewish customs, like circumcision, explaining that faith in Christ alone was necessary for salvation. This was in line with his broader mission to spread Christianity to both Jews and Gentiles, helping shape it as a universal religion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary reason Paul wrote to the Galatians was to argue against the concept that Gentile converts to Christianity must adopt Jewish customs and practices, such as circumcision, to be true Christians. In essence, his letter insisted that they must not convert to Judaism as a prerequisite for salvation. Paul's theology emphasized that faith in Christ was sufficient for salvation and that the Christian gospel was universal, not limited to the Jews.

Paul, previously known as Saul before his conversion on the road to Damascus, became a major proponent for the spread of Christianity among Gentiles, and he actively sought to build a church that was inclusive of both Jews and non-Jews. His letters to various Christian communities, including the Epistle to the Galatians, were instrumental in shaping early Christian doctrine and practice. In the context of Roman and Jewish relations, Paul's mission contributed to the evolution of Christianity from a Jewish sect to a distinct religion with its own identity.