Philippians and Galatians

Book excerpt: The letters to the Philippian and Galatian congregations illustrate well the passion and intensity of the writing of the apostle Paul. Philippians is perhaps Paul's warmest letter, affirming the already close relationship between the Philippians and Paul with the language of partnership, joy, and humility. Galatians, on the other hand, reveals frustration and anger and lacks the expression of thanksgiving typically found near the beginning of Paul's letters. Although Paul presumes a relationship of trust and respect with the Philippians, the tone of Galatians suggests that he thinks he may already have lost this community to an erroneous vision of the gospel - a perspective that was not really the gospel at all.