We begin our study of Galatians by considering the purpose for which Paul wrote this letter to the churches of Galatia. He was troubled and surprised by the fact that these churches, which he himself had founded, had already begun to drift away from the gospel he had preached to them. There was a competing “gospel” that had been introduced to these churches, one which had been easier for them to believe. Paul sets out to demonstrate the foolishness of turning from the gospel of liberty to any alternate gospel, and in so doing he alerts us to the same danger that tempts our churches today.