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