Introduction to Galatians

Where was Galatia?

• Near modern-day Turkey, between the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea.

What was Galatia?

• A Roman province with changing borders.

Who lived there?

• Numerous ethnic groups
  • Lycaonians – Acts 14:11
  • Homer and Pausanias – Barbari
  • Other languages
    • Greek
    • Syrian
    • Pisidian
    • Solyman
    • Lydian
  • Major ethnic group – Celtic

Where were the churches of Galatia?

• In Galatia, of course
  • Paul and Barnabas had visited the region (Acts 14)
    • Were run out of Iconium
    • Regarded as gods, but then stoned Paul in Lystra
    • Left to return to Antioch
  • Paul returned later with Silas to Derbe and Lystra (Acts 16)
    • Found Timothy and other brethren
    • There were churches there! (Acts 16:5)
    • Passed through Galatia region, bypassing Asia (Acts 16:6)
    • Passed back through, strengthening disciples (Acts 18:23)
  • Appear to have been churches in
    • Antioch in Pisidia
    • Derbe
    • Lystra
    • Iconium
  • Other principle city of Galatia – Ancyra
    • No record of a visit from Paul
    • Well north of Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium
    • Certainly possible

Writing of Galatians

• Who?
  • Paul (Galatians 1:1)
  • Almost universally accepted
• Why?
  • State his concerns to the churches (Galatians 1:6-7)
  • Affirm his apostleship (Galatians 1:1, 15-16)
• When?
  • AD 53
  • As early as AD 48 or late as AD 58.

Main themes of Galatians

• Salvation by grace through faith
  • No salvation by law
  • Circumcision has no effect (Galatians 5:2-3)
• Authenticity of Paul’s apostleship
  • Nor from men
  • Assigned an apostle by Jesus

End of Mark

The last twelve verses of Mark (Mark 16:9-20)

• In some translations, these verses are removed or annotated to indicate that there is some doubt about their authenticity. The evidence in favor of their authenticity is overwhelming.
• In one survey of manuscripts, out of 620 manuscripts which contain Mark, only two do not contain these verses.
• “Church fathers” dating back to the 100s AD quote from these verses, indicating that they were commonly in manuscripts at that time.

The great commission

• Luke 24:45-49
• Acts 1:8
• John 20:19-23

Return to the last twelve verses

• Mark 16:9-11 – Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene.
• Mark 16:12-13 – Jesus appears to two disciples. Compare Luke 24:13-26.
• Mark 16:14-18 – The great commission.
  • Mark 16:17 – This is not saying that all who believe in Jesus will be able to work signs and miracles. It is saying that the signs would accompany those who were going out to preach (see Mark 16:20).
• Mark 16:19-20 – The great commission executed.
  • They started in Acts 2 just like Jesus commanded.
    • Study suggestion: Memorize all of Acts 2!
  • Peter explains the plan of salvation:
    • Acts 2:22-36 – They heard the word.
    • Acts 2:36 – They believed.
    • Acts 2:37 – Confess.
    • Acts 2:38-40 – Repent and be baptized.
  • The rest of Acts is a history of the apostles doing like they did here in Acts 2.
  • Compare: Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:47-49; John 20:21-23; Mark 16:15-16
  • Mark 16:20 – And they went everywhere doing this! We need to do the same thing!