Galatia: Churches Besieged by the Old Law

Ancient Churches
Jerusalem - Corinth - Antioch - Philippi - Thessalonica - Ephesus - Rome - Laodicea - Galatia

Galatia: Churches Besieged by the Old Law

Galatia was a geopolitical region located in the central portion of what is today the country of Turkey. The apostle Paul is known to have visited Galatian cities like Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra on more than one occasion, where he experienced great success in the face of great opposition. According the narrative in the book of Acts, the Jews in Galatia vigorously opposed Paul’s activities there and there is little doubt that such opposition continued in his absence, as well.

In A.D. 57, while Paul was travelling through Macedonia on his third missionary journey, he wrote an epistle “unto the churches of Galatia” (Galatians 1:2). In it, he addressed them as his spiritual children (Galatians 4:19-20) and reminded them of how he brought the gospel to them (Galatians 1:8,11). He had begun to work among them while he was suffering from a physical affliction (Galatians 4:13), but his preaching was fiery and focused on the crucified Christ (Galatians 3:1). He confirmed his preaching with miracles performed in their midst (Galatians 3:5) and they received it with great enthusiasm (Galatians 4:12-15; 3:26-27). They were fiercely loyal to Paul (Galatians 4:14-15) and they willingly suffered persecution for their faith (Galatians 3:4).

After Paul had left them, false teachers came into their midst and tried to convince them to blend certain aspects of the Law of Moses with the Law of Christ. These teachers attacked Paul’s apostolic authority (Galatians 1:11 -2:14) and demanded that Gentile Christians be circumcised (Galatians 5:2,11; 6:11). They were on the verge of gaining the upper hand among the churches in Galatia (Galatians 1:9; 5:3; 4:16).

Paul was greatly disturbed by these developments (Galatians 3:1; 1:6). He feared that all his hard work among them would be laid waste (Galatians 4:11). He urged them to reject the false teachers and to hold fast to the teaching they had received from him (Galatians 1:7-9). He expressed his confidence in them, that they would do the right thing (Galatians 5:10). Still, today, we must stand opposed to false teaching.

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” – Galatians 1:6-9