Bible Groups - Digests of Bible Commentaries

Paul's Letter to the Galatians - Background

Why read Galatians? Apart from the Christian content, Gal gives us an insight into the cultural life of first century Christians at a crucial moment when the Jewish sect was becoming a predominantly Gentile religion. Luther referred much to it.
When? Paul visited Galatia probably c. 50 AD on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:6, Gal 4:13): from Phrygia they were deflected by "physical infirmity" away from Asia in the south and then away from Bithynia in the north, arriving at Troas where Paul had a vision inviting him to Philippi and Corinth (where he wrote 1 Thess c. 51-52 AD).
Roman peace and roads made some travel relatively safe, but roads in the northern part of Galatia were not built before 70 AD. Diverting off the Cilician Road the most likely town he visited in Galatia would have been Pessinus (modern Balahissar), the centre of the westernmost of the three Celtic tribes.
Paul visited Galatia again on his third journey (Acts 18:23) before going to Ephesus, where he stayed over 2 years. (c. 52-54 to 55-58). Paul probably wrote Galatians while in Ephesus, after writing 1 Cor but before the more carefully thought out theology of Romans.
Paul. A Jew and a Pharisee, well-educated and zealous, persecuting some members of the new Jesus sect, including Stephen, newly appointed to lead the "Hellenists" - presumably Greek speaking Jewish Christians. (The role of these "deacons" was close to Bishops: they were to be administrators, not "table waiters"). But he had a personal experience of the crucified Messiah which completely changed his life values (1 Cor 9:1; 15:3-8; Gal 1:15-16).
Good News. In Paul's letters we hear only his responses to problems - must guess his initial evangelisations. Can infer some things from his few hints; also from some of the terms he does not explain to the Galatians: grace, righteousness, justification, believing/faith in Jesus Christ. Main aspects of the Good News appear to be: Jesus Christ's atoning death and resurrection; the parousia (2^nd coming); God's final judgement. Implied by this is a life after death, which was presumably new - and therefore giving hope - to most Gentiles.
But in Gal Paul clearly assumes that the Galatians care what he thinks, and he also assumes that what he believes to be the issue matters to them. Else why write? Paul also believes he has a duty towards the Church communities he has founded, and that he will be held responsible by God for their success or failure - his own future eternal life is at stake (1 Cor 9:16,12).
The Agitators. Paul has heard that some people are trying to persuade the Gentile Christians to become Jews, ie Jewish Christians. We can deduce that these so-called "agitators" are: (i) Christians, since they preach a different gospel (1:6); (ii) Jews - Sinai, Jerusalem (4:25); (iii) from outside Galatia - "they" rather than "you Galatians". These agitators also have a strong motive, being in fear of persecution themselves, although it is unclear whether this might be from other Jewish Christians, perhaps from Jerusalem, or even from non-Christian Jews. Various motives have been suggested. The most likely appears to the problem of table fellowship: Jewish and Gentile Christians sharing community meals together is symbolically extremely difficult for other Jews. A possible additional motive may have been that the Gentile Christians had abandoned their pagan practices and hence social contacts, and were socially and morally adrift. The rigour and clarity of the Torah may have been attractive to them.