Notes and Intro to Galatians

Introduction Notes to Galatians:

Written probably in 48 AD

Around the Year 47 AD Paul and Barnabas travel through Galatia and plant churches in several areas. Antioch of Pisidia, Lystra, Iconium, and Derbe are all listed in Acts. There are some of the first Churches Paul helps plant on his first journey. Sadly in each city starting in Antioch of Pisidia, they are run out of the city by the Jews in the Synagogues who do not like Paul's teachings about Jesus. Eventually Paul and Barnabas and return to Antioch in Syria.

These new churches, planted in probably 3-5 months time, do not have Bibles. The NT has not been written, and so far, none of the Gospels have been recorded. Because of the great persecution of the Jewish people, access to the Jewish scrolls stored in the Synagogue will be limited.

After some time it is believed that Peter visited Antioch in Syria where Paul was sent out. Peter begins his time with both Jewish & Gentile believers. BUT some Jews from Jerusalem did not believe the two groups should be together and quickly traveled to Antioch to stop Peter. Their arguments are so convincing even Barnabas stops sitting with the Gentiles. This leads to Paul getting very upset and confronting Peter publicly.

Having lost the argument in Antioch of Syria, these Jewish men then choose to travel to Antioch of Pisidia, Lystra, Iconium and Derbe to spread their view of Jewish conversion being required for new Christians. This is strongly supported by the Jewish Synagogues as it elevates their standing in the community and makes the new Christian churches dependent on the Synagogues to exist.

To answer these ideas, Paul writes Galatians.