1. Galatians 5:7 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is the purpose of Paul’s rhetorical question?

Galatians 5:7 (ESV)

7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

Paul knows that the Judaizers have come and pressured the Galatians to submit to the demands of old covenant law (Acts 15:1). He asks a question in order to help the Galatians realize that they are being deceived by outsiders (Judaizers),1 and kept from obeying the truth of the gospel (righteousness through faith in Christ).2