"Freedom" in the Letter to the Galatians

Paul's Letter to the Galatians is very often characterized as the "Magna Carta of Christian freedom". The article investigates to what extent this designation is justified and what the Apostle Paul was thinking of when he spoke of freedom in this letter. We must suppose that from the beginning of the letter Paul had in mind the main issue he wanted to persuade the addressees of, namely that the only way to attain justification before God is the way of faith in Jesus Christ, not the way of fulfilling the works of the law (cf. Gal 2:16). The Apostle must have seen this way of faith as a space that gives the freedom to live in Spirit. Although Paul's concept of freedom must have been broader, this freedom from the works of the law must always have been present in the Apostle's mind when he was instructing and trying to persuade the Galatians in his letter. However, Paul very strongly emphasizes the positive side of Christian freedom, too: this freedom must manifest itself in loving service to others.