Galatians is an interesting New Testament book. It was actually written to a series of churches that resided in the region of Galatia. And what is unique about Galatia? Galatia was initially derived from the word “Gaul.” As the region was conquered and settled by Gauls in 280 BC. But what about Galatia in Paul’s day?
Galatians 1: 2 “…to the churches in Galatia…”
And just what was this regional area referred to as Galatia?
“During his second missionary journey Paul, accompanied by Silas and Timothy…, visited the “region of Galatia,” where he was detained by sickness (Epistle to Galatians 4:13), and had thus the longer opportunity of preaching to them the gospel. On his third journey he went over “all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order…” During the journeys of Paul he was received with enthusiasm in Galatia.” “…he was later stoned by a crowd of Galatians…and left for dead.” Click
So I imagine for Paul he had good memories associated with Galatia and he definitely had bad memories to recall about Galatia. The visit that brought him near death via stoning was not pleasant.
“Galatia also became an early stronghold for the Christian church. The Apostle Paul visited the province around 55 AD and wrote his Epistle to the Galatians. The Celts apparently took to his teaching in earnest and the early church spread and flourished.” Click
I suppose the Galatians “…took to his teaching in ernest…” when they weren’t trying to stone him to death.
Galatians 1: 6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel…”
Now Paul is running into problems with these Galatians. In the beginning they embraced the gospel of Christ but a little later they are beginning to seriously doubt the gospel and to question their earlier decisions. What were they fussing about and coming to doubt?
“…were saying that Paul’s message was without authority and was not sufficient for salvation without keeping parts of the Mosaic Law.(We assume they were teaching that Gentiles had to first become children of Abraham by being circumcised before they could be saved.)” Click
What happened here was the fact that every where Paul traveled he was followed by these nuts from Jerusalem. And their task was to make Paul’s life difficult by encouraging his new converts to question the simple message of salvation. These Jewish troublemakers were trying to add to Gods original simple Gospel Plan. In particular they were attempting to force the new Christian converts into following Jewish Mosaic laws including circumcision. I’m sure this push for circumcision really went over real well for non Jews. These troublemakers were a real nuisance, but a problem and a presence Paul could never shake free from.
Galatians 1: 7 “which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.”
Did you catch the meaning behind the scripture we just read above? These folk from Jerusalem were trying pervert and really screw up the simple gospel message of Jesus Christ. So what can Paul preach to these fellows so they will not be drawn away by false doctrine and perversions of the truth? Read the scripture below which is Paul’s plea to these fickle Galatians.
Galatians 1: 8 “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”
Did you read the above passage? What’s happening here is that Jewish troublemakers have moved into the churches of Galatia and they are leading the church away with false doctrine. Paul is trying to warn this new and growing church to not get swayed by other seemingly attractive forms of doctrine. The Galatians (Gauls) had a tendency to be fickle. Caesar dealt with these people a hundred years earlier and left behind astute commentary about these Galatians.
Let’s read what Julius Caesar had to say about these fickle Gauls. Caesar conquered these people just under a hundred years before Paul arrived on the scene. Let’s listen to what Caesar has to say about this eccentric people.
“There are frequent references to the Gallic (Galatian) character scattered throughout Caesar’s famous commentaries on the Gallic Wars. He considered them impulsive, emotional, easily swayed; they were fickle, loved change, were credulous and prone to panic. He felt they lacked the intellectual discipline that made the Legions so formidable. Although it is obvious from his writings that Caesar viewed them with respect as worthy military adversaries, he coldly judged their struggle for freedom from Rome’s sway as no more than unstable anger whipped up by agitators with ulterior personal motives.” Click
It is important to remember that these Galatians gave Paul a hard time primarily because it was in their nature and a habit of their life style. Still no excuse.
Galatians 1: 9 “As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”
Did we ever understand well where Paul was exactly traveling in this province referred to by the Romans as Galatia?
“Where precisely did Paul go? His letters and the Acts account show that he established churches in at least two of the Roman provinces in Anatolia: Galatia and Asia. There is ample evidence, for instance, that he lived and worked in Ephesus in Asia. But his letter “to the churches of Galatia” specifies no particular city, nor does it detail in what part of the province the churches are located.” The “churches of Galatia” most likely were located in the major cities of the ancient Celtic settlement: Ankyra, Pessinus, and Tavium…” Click
What theme can we walk away with from our rough lead in to the book of Galatians? Paul’s primary task was as a church planter. And the greatest opposition he generally ran into was everyone always questioning his credentials. Everyone always questioned his authority because he was not one of the original twelve apostles. But Paul perseveres and continues at his steady task of planting churches among the world at that time.
Galatians (“Paul Is Battered Again!”)
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