There is absolutely no doubt that Paul preached in the Roman Province of Galatia. There are many indications of this in the Book of Acts as well as in the Book of Galatians. When you consider several passages concerning Paul’s travels it is easy to conclude that he and Barnabas did in fact preach there during his first missionary journey as well as visit there during his second. For instance, when Paul suggested to Barnabas that they should go and visit the churches to see how they were doing, Galatia was specifically mentioned, implying that they had been there before. “And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.” (Acts 15:36) “And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,” (Acts 16:5-6)
Also, in the book of Galatians, Paul makes several references that indicate that he was not only personally acquainted with them, but had in fact preached the gospel to them and led them to Christ: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:” (Galatians 1:6) Then Paul makes reference in the following passage to the affection they had had for him previously when he said in the past tense: “Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.” (Galatians 4:15)
The main purpose of this epistle was to make it clear that Christians are no longer under the law, but are free in Christ Jesus. “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13) In doing this it would correct the heresies that had been sown there after Paul’s departure. It seems that false teachers had come in to repudiate the message of the salvation by grace through faith only doctrine that Paul had preached. Involved in these false teachings were three-isms that had to be dealt with. Simply stated they were galatianism, legalism, and antinomianism. Galatianism, is defined as saved by grace, but kept by works. Legalism, is defined as saved exclusively by law-keeping, making no claim whatsoever to the grace of God. Antinomianism, is defined as saved by grace, kept by the power of God and totally exempt of all moral responsibility. These false teachings will be dealt with as I make my way through the six chapters of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians.
194 pages.
