In the middle section of Galatians (basically Chapters 3 and 4) Paul's discussion is much more theological than that of Chapters 1 and 2. This is not to say that theology is altogether absent in the first chapters or that theology is everywhere present in the middle chapters. Rather it is to say that Chapters 1 and 2 are predominantly narrative and autobiographical; Chapters 3 and 4 are predominantly theological.

We must not assume that these chapters differ in subject matter simply because they differ in approach. Since the letter is relatively short, it does not seem unreasonable to assume that it deals with one major theme, and this all the more so, since the writer leaves behind no hints that he changes themes. It is likely, in our view, that the middle section of the letter, which discusses Paul's doctrine of justification by faith, relates directly to the theme of the inclusion of uncircumcised Gentiles into the kingdom of God, because this theme is a major motif of the first section of the letter. We will proceed by showing that most interpreters (Schmithals being a notable exception) view the individual parts of the letter as closely interrelated, although most are unclear about how the middle section relates to the first. We will then demonstrate that Paul's doctrine of justification by faith is best understood in relation to his doctrine of the inclusion of uncircumcised Gentiles.