Pauls Letter to the Galatians Class 1 Background

Paul’s Letter to the Galatians Class 1 Background 1

Class Outline Who? Did Paul write Galatians? Yes! How? Did Paul use an amanuensis? To Whom? North Galatia vs. South Galatia When? Timing in relation to Paul’s journeys Why? The “Circumcision Party” 2

Did Paul use an Amanuensis? 2 Thess. 3: 17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. 2 Cor. 16: 21 The greeting is in my own hand-- Paul. Col. 1: 1; 4: 18 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother… I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you. Rom. 16: 22 I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord. 1 Pet. 5: 12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 3

1 st Journey – Acts 13 & 14 4

2 nd Journey – Acts 16: 1 -18: 22 5

Galatia – 280 -25 BC 6

Galatia – 25 BC - 137 AD 7

Galatia – 137 AD+ 8

Northern Galatia - Reasons 1) Acts 16: 6; 18: 23 say Galatia, Acts 14 does not. • Different use of language – Luke tends to use geographic and ethnic descriptions such as Lycaonia (14: 6), Pisidia (13: 14, 14: 24), Mysia (16: 7 -8) – Paul tends to use Roman provincial names such as Macedonia, Asia, Achaia • Greek of Acts 16: 6; 18: 23 could mean “Phrygo-Galatic territory” or “the part of Galatia inhabited by Phrygians” • Acts 16: 6 could imply no preaching done here • No ecclesias named in Northern Galatia • North Galatia rather isolated 2) Gal. 2: 1 -10 is about Jerusalem conference • Some connections, but many differences too… • No mention of the result of the conference in Galatians! 9

Northern Galatia - Reasons 3) Gal 4: 13 implies 1 st of 2 visits • Perhaps, though it also could just mean “previously” 4) Gauls were known to be a fickle people by ancient writers • Very weak argument, lots of people are fickle • People of Lystra were fickle too – regarding Paul first as a god, and then stoning him 5) Style and subject matches 3 rd Journey letters (2 Corinthians and Romans) • Many points of contrast too – another weak argument 10

Southern Galatia - Timeline Date Reference 28 -30 33 Acts 9: 1 -18 33 -35 Gal. 1: 15 -17 Event Public Ministry of Jesus Conversion of Paul 3 years in Arabia 35 Acts 9: 19 -25 Damascus Preaching 35 Acts 9: 26 -30 Gal. 1: 18 -19 1 st Jerusalem Visit 15 days with Peter 35 -45 Gal. 1: 21 -22 11 years in Syria and Cilicia (Tarsus) 46 Acts 11: 25 -26 Barnabas brings Saul from Tarsus to Antioch 46 Acts 11: 27 -30; 12: 25 Gal. 2: 1 -10 2 nd Jerusalem Visit 11

Southern Galatia - Timeline Date Reference 47 -48 Acts 13 -14 Event Missionary journey to Galatia 48 Acts 14: 26 -28 Paul returns to Antioch 48 Acts 15: 1 Gal. 2: 11 -14 Judaizers in Antioch – Paul withstands Peter 48 Galatians Paul hears that Judaizers are in Galatia too Writes epistle 49 Acts 15: 2 -29 3 rd Jerusalem Visit The Jerusalem conference 49 Acts 15: 30 -35 Paul returns to Antioch 49 -50 Acts 16: 1 -6 Paul commences 2 nd Missionary journey in Galatia 12

Southern Galatia - Reasons 1) Gal 1: 20 – Paul is emphatic he is telling the truth • He mentions only 2 Jerusalem visits – Gal. 1: 18 -19 = Acts 9: 26 -30 – Gal. 2: 1 -10 = Acts 11: 27 -30; 12: 25 – If written after Acts 15, he has omitted either Acts 11 or Acts 15 2) No mention of results of Acts 15 conference • Whole problem in Galatia was circumcision 3) They knew Barnabas (2: 1, 9, 13) • v 13 (“even Barnabas” indicates they knew Barnabas! • Barnabas not with Paul on 2 nd and 3 rd journeys 4) Timothy not mentioned • In every letter but Titus and Ephesians • Timothy with Paul on 2 nd and 3 rd journeys, but not first 13

Southern Galatia - Reasons 5) Depiction of Peter in Gal. 2: 11 -14 • Incredible to believe that Peter would cave in to the Judaizers after the conference. 6) Paul founded these ecclesias (1: 8, 11; 3: 1; 4: 13 -20; 6: 17) • Matches descriptions in Acts 14 • 3: 1; 4: 13 -15 & 6: 17 appear to be references to Paul’s suffering/illness in those cities (e. g. Acts 14: 19 -20) • Also 4: 14 could be a reference to Acts 14: 11 -12? ? ? 7) Emphasis of Titus not being circumcised (2: 3) • Timothy was circumcised after the conference (Acts 16: 3) – an obvious counter-argument if Galatians written at a later date. 14

Acts 11: 27 -30 & Gal 2: 1 -10 a) A private meeting – Gal. 2: 2 • Not public like Acts 15 b) Remember the poor – Gal. 2: 10 • Acts 11 visit to provide a contribution • NIV: “continue to remember the poor” c) Previously in Syria and Cilicia – Gal. 1: 21 • This cannot mean the first missionary journey – equates to Acts 11: 25 -26 d) Confusion in Antioch – Gal. 2: 11 -14 • Corresponds to the “men coming down from Judea” in Acts 15: 1 • Situation was clear after the conference e) Barnabas and Paul’s dispute – Gal. 2: 13 • This is not the same event or cause as Acts 15: 37 -39 15