40. Galatians Explained: Freedom in Christ and Justification by Faith

Rev. Dr. Sarah Hinlicky Wilson unpacks Galatians, Paul's explosive letter on freedom and faith.

Galatians may be the most explosive book in the Bible. In this episode of The Bible in a Year podcast, Rev. Dr. Sarah Hinlicky Wilson joins Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Rev. Katie Langston to explore Paul’s fiery letter. She explains why Galatians is not a battle between Judaism and Christianity. Instead, it detonates every human effort to earn God’s approval. Through a lively game of Bible Bingo, Sarah unpacks key pairs in Galatians: flesh and spirit, freedom and slavery, and faith and works of the law.

Sarah also explores what Paul means by justification and why it became the hot point of the Reformation. She shares how Martin Luther’s commentary on Galatians shaped her own faith. You’ll hear about Paul’s mysterious health problems and the “marks of Jesus” branded on his body. Most of all, you’ll discover the good news at the heart of Galatians. For freedom, Christ has set you free!

Featuring

Sarah Hinlicky Wilson

Sarah Hinlicky Wilson is Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in York, Pennsylvania, and Founder of Thornbush Press. She co-hosts the podcast "Queen of the Sciences: Conversations between a Theologian and Her Dad" and writes a quarterly e-newsletter called "Theology & a Recipe." Learn more at www.sarahhinlickywilson.com.

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Hosted By

Kathryn Schifferdecker

Kathryn M Schifferdecker is Professor and Elva B. Lovell Chair of Old Testament at Luther Seminary. Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2001, Schifferdecker was associate pastor for five years at Trinity Lutheran Church, Arkdale, Wisconsin, before coming to Luther in 2006. Schifferdecker is a frequent contributor to Working Preacher, Word & World, and the author of "Out of the Whirlwind: Creation Theology in the Book of Job" (Harvard University Press, 2008). She is currently writing a commentary on the book of Esther.

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Katie Langston

Katie Langston is a doubter by nature and a believer by grace. She grew up Mormon in a small Utah town and still isn't sure she fits in anywhere sophisticated enough to have a Target. She's the author of Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace, an acclaimed spiritual memoir about her conversion to orthodox Christianity. Katie is Pastor of Mission and Outreach at New Promise Lutheran Church in St. George, Utah. From 2020-2025, she was the director of digital strategy for Luther Seminary's innovation team, where she oversaw digital projects aimed at cultivating vibrant Christian spirituality in a post-modern, post-Christian cultural context.

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About The Bible in a Year Podcast

This podcast guides you on a journey through the books of the Bible, providing insights on how Scripture can shape your life today. Each episode focuses on one or two books of the Bible in fun, engaging, and authentic conversations between Luther Seminary faculty and guest Bible scholars who are experts on the book(s) in question. Join us as we make our way through the Bible in a year — new episodes drop every Wednesday in 2026!