Where Is Galatia, and Why Did Paul Write to the Galatians?

As an early missionary to the Gentile people of the world, the Apostle Paul went to many places. He also developed a reputation, and churches would seek him out for advice. One of these groups were the Gauls of modern day Anatolia in Turkey. These people were related to the Celtic people; they were very different from the Jews living in Jerusalem, or even from the Romans. They had their own language, customs, and religious observances.

As they began to hear the good news of a Savior, the Galatians began to turn to Him. But they needed guidance. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Galatians to help assist these early churches, primarily to address the concern of whether or not they were also subject to the Mosaic law, like the Jews were.

This book provides a bridge from the Old Testament to the New, and shows that while there are divisions in this life, all are one in Christ. One day we shall live as one people in God’s kingdom.

About the Book of Galatians and Its People

Galatia as a formal region no longer exists, but scholars know that it was located in modern day central Turkey. The people group that lived there were actually related to the Gauls, for whom the region was named by the Romans. They had relocated to that region from further inland on the European continent.

While they had begun to assimilate into the Hellenistic cultures around them – during Jesus’ life and ministry, and well after Paul’s missionary journeys – they maintained a separate sense of identity. It is unclear whether or not Paul wrote the book to the churches in the region of Galatia, in southern Anatolia in Turkey, or to the broader people group called the Galatians.

Paul visited the region three times, and it is believed this letter was written between his first and second missionary journeys, meaning the Epistle was written between 47-48 AD. In it, he addressed confusion occurring amongst the gentile church.

Why Was There Confusion?

When Jesus came to live on earth, He was born into the family of David, one of the Jewish nation. As a people, they knew to be looking for a Messiah, as they had been given the Law and the Prophets. God has pursued a direct relationship with the nation of Israel for centuries, and wanted them to share His truth with the world.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, thousands of Jews put their faith in Him and began to share the good news with the Gentile world. One of the changes believers experienced when they realized the Messiah had come was the new freedom they had. Many felt they should still uphold the Law, while others still believed Gentile converts had to take on the Law, or at least markers of the Law. One of the crucial ones pushed on the Galatians, and other Gentile churches, was circumcision.

The act of circumcision, the removal of part of a man’s foreskin, was a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham.

“This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.  You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you” (Genesis 17:10-11).

Many gentiles began to feel pressure to undergo circumcision, and others desired guidance. The Book of Galatians cuts through the confusion of whether or not circumcision applies to Gentile Christians, as well as other elements of the Law.

This letter was not the first to address this topic. Other letters show that this question arose in other locations. For example, Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth: “For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God” (1 Corinthians 7:19). Some of the Jews pressuring Gentiles to conform to the Law were well-intended, but confused, while others were trying to make it difficult for them, as they were reluctant to see outsiders come into the faith.

Key Verses from Galatians

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9).

“Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

“Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Galatians 3:7-9).

“Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:23-26).

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God” (Galatians 4:6-7).

Freedom in Christ

Even today, many gentile Christians struggle with how much of the Old Testament Law they should obey. Jesus clarified in His ministry that God looks at the heart, and the Law exists to condemn people.

Now that Jesus has paid the price for the sins of each individual human, the Law no longer holds people who go to Him for forgiveness under a heavy yoke. All someone needs to do to be saved is to go to Jesus, and ask for forgiveness, put their faith in Him for eternal life. And that begins an eternal relationship with the living God. Paul clarified for all people, much of what defiled the body under the Law is now clean, and that circumcision is a commitment between God and the Jews.

In today’s culture, Gentiles do sometimes get circumcised, but for non-religious reasons. Whether or not that is something Gentile parents wants to pursue for their sons is a personal decision, but the Book of Galatians makes it clear they are not under obligation, and that all people now have the opportunity to approach God as a son, and a co-heir with Jesus Christ. 

Sources

Stephen Mitchell, 1993. Anatolia: Land, Men, and Gods in Asia Minor vol. 1: "The Celts and the Impact of Roman Rule." (Oxford: Clarendon Press) 1993.

Vos, Howard. Galatians A Call to Christian Liberty. Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute, 1970.

Wiersbe, Warren. Be Free (Galatians): Exchange Legalism for True Spirituality. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2010. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/BrianAJackson

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.