1. Galatians 2:4 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

To what freedom is Paul is referring?

Galatians 2:4 (ESV)

4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery

Freedom is a major theme in Galatians (Galatians 4:22, Galatians 4:23, Galatians 4:26, Galatians 4:31; Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13) and stands in contrast to slavery (Galatians 4:1, Galatians 4:7, Galatians 4:22, Galatians 4:23, Galatians 4:24, Galatians 4:25, Galatians 4:31; Galatians 5:1). In each context where it is used it refers to freedom from the need to keep the law for salvation. Bondage and slavery are the opposite teaching; it says the law is required for salvation.1