Those who had come into the Galatian church and insisted on circumcision and keeping the ceremonial law, were creating division between the Jewish and the Gentile believers. Paul is showing that this should not be so, the Gospel should instead be creating loving unity (v6).

These believers had started well in their faith but others had come in to hold them back (v7). The teaching regarding the law, which they were now accepting was not from God who called them (v8); like leaven this false teaching had spread through the whole fellowship (v9).

Paul is confident of turning these people back to the true Gospel (v10). His argument is that if he Paul, had preached what the false teachers had taught, then he would have not suffered for the Gospel (v11). The offense of the cross is, that we’re guilty and helpless sinners who can do nothing for our salvation, except rely on the work of Jesus on the cross alone.

Paul is strong in his language about the false teachers (v12), because they have dishonoured Jesus and broken the love in the church (v13-15). Is your knowledge of Christ and the Gospel causing you to grow in love for believers?