Galatians - Introduction

Galatians - Introduction

Galatians is one of the most important letters in the New Testament. It dealt with crucial events in Paul's day, and was one of the key letters in establishing the basis of salvation. Martin Luther was deeply influenced by Galatians. Indeed it was his reading and understanding of Galatians that led him to become the fundamental figure in the Reformation that he was.

It was probably written in the early 50's or even earlier. However, there is debate about where it was sent. The answer might seem obvious, the Galatians. However, there is debate over whether it was sent to North or South Galatia. North Galatia was the region where “ethnic” Galatians lived. South Galatia was an administrative region in the Roman empire, and included several people groups (included Pisidians, Phrygians, Lycaonians, Jews and Greeks).

Acts tells of Paul’s missionary trip to south Galatia (Acts 14), but makes no mention of north Galatia.

Some of the arguments for the two alternatives are:

North Galatia

• The view of the Early Church.
  
• The term “Galatians” would only be used of ethnic Galatians.
• The characteristics of the people is typical of Gauls.
• The circumstances alluded to in the letter do not match with those described in Acts 14 (which refers to south Galatia).
• Acts allows for unrecorded missionary trips.
• Paul assumes that the majority are Gentiles. South Galatia had a significant Jewish population, so North is more likely.
• The sorts of problems dealt with in Galatians are more likely to have arisen in the north. In the south they would have been an issue from the very beginning

South Galatia

• There is no direct evidence for a church in North Galatia.
• “Galatians” is the most obvious common name for Paul to have used in addressing the people of south Galatia.
• It is more likely that the Judaisers would have pursued
  
• Paul to the south, rather than the remote northern regions.
• Seems to fit the details given in Acts, e.g. Barnabas is known to them.
• Paul’s list of delegates who accompanied him to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4) includes two from south Galatia, but none from the north.
• Paul’s supposed trip to north Galatia is unlikely.

For what it is worth, I think the south is more likely. The significance of the destination is in how relevant the information in Acts is to helping understand it. If the letter went to the south, then Acts is more relevant.

Galatians is probably the earliest of Paul’s letters, maybe before AD49. The most important factor is whether it was written before or after the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). It seems likely that it was written before this, otherwise one wonders why Paul did not refer to the Council’s decision in Galatians.

More information can be found in commentaries on Galatians, such as the following book from which much of the above information comes.

R.A. Cole, Galatians, IVP,Leicester, 1983.

The book deals primarily with the question of the place of Gentile Christians in the church, and in particular did they need to keep the Law. The Judaizers were Jewish Christians who argued strongly that they did, and in the process attacked the apostleship if Paul. Paul argues the specific points, but also brings out what the gospel is all about, primarily that we are justified by faith and nothing else.