“The Region of Galatia” from the lesson series Grab Your Passport, April 2021
our Scripture
Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia
| Acts 16:6-10 ESV | |||
| NASB
Acts 16:6-10 NASB |
NIV
Acts 16:6-10 NIV |
NLT
Acts 16:6-10 NLT |
MESSAGE
Acts 16:6-10 MESSAGE |
Other Scriptural References:
Acts 14:6-8
Acts 14:21
Galatians 1:2
Acts 16:6
Galatians 3:26-29
1 Corinthians 16:1
2 Timothy 3:11
2 Timothy 4:10
1 Peter 1:1
our Lessons
A slight pause in Paul’s journey gives us a moment to rest as well, and to review what Paul has been doing. Paul was in Antioch of Syria when he decided to take a journey to revisit the churches established on his first journey. For reasons that may be tied to incidents that happened in the area (either interactions with the Jews and their leader or health issues), Paul was not convinced John Mark was a good fit for the mission. Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and began to travel on land to the cities of Derbe, Lystra, Iconium and Antioch of Psidia.
These cities lie on the southern edge of a region known as Galatia. The region is mentioned several times in the New Testament and is the destination for one of his epistles. Galatia’s boundaries prove difficult to define. The term “Galatians” is one of the most elusive words in the entire New Testament. The problem comes in how the term Galatia is used in history. It was originally a designation for the area settled by immigration of a large body of Gauls from Europe into Asia, c. 278-277BC. After 232BC their boundaries became rather fixed and their state became known as Galatia.
Rome Changes Things
King Amyntas (36 – 25BC), the last independent ruler of old Galatia, expanded the territory to include parts of Phrygia, Pisidia, Lyconia, and Isauria. As Rome marched through the area, King Amyntas bequeathed his kingdom to Rome to avoid bloodshed. As such the entire region became known as Galatia, the Roman province.
The question is, in what sense did Luke and Paul use the term? To what people did Paul write this epistle? The Scriptures tell us that Paul was in the province of Galatia (southern Galatia) when he visited Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe on his first missionary journey. It is possible that Paul traveled through the northern Galatian regions on the second and third journeys. To which group does Paul write the letter?
Where is Galatia?
Scholars lable the latter of these two views “the North Galatian Theory.” This theory finds the earliest support from older commentators (such as J.B. Lightfoot, Conybeare and Howson). According to the Northern Theory, Paul did not visit Galatia proper until his second missionary journey. Following stops within the southern territory of Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, Paul traveled through the “region of Phrygia and Galatia” mentioned in Acts 16:6. Here he founded churches in the territory of old ethnic Galatia, including the cities of Pessinus, Ancyra, and Tavium. After traveling through this region, he finally arrived at Troas after a long journey. Since Paul did not travel into this area until his second missionary journey (Acts 16), the letter to the Galatian churches requires a later date for writing.
Theories
The former of these two views is called the South Galatian Theory and is the accepted theory since the time of Sir William Ramsay that many modern commentators (Tenny, Ridderbos) have adopted. According to this theory, the letter to the Galatians would have been sent to the churches of the cities founded on Paul’s first missionary journey mentioned in Acts 13 and 14, and this would allow for the earlier date of the letter. These churches were revisited on the second and third missionary journeys (Acts 16:1-6; 18:23).
These churches seemed to always have a special place in Paul’s heart – thus the many stops – and it would not be out of his character to also write a letter to them. From Acts we know the difficulty that these churches faced from the Jewish presence from Judea. The second tour of these southern churches would not have precluded completely a northern swing into the territory of old ethnic Galatia, but there is no mention in Acts 16 of the founding of churches there; Paul just “went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia” (Acts 16:6), northward along the Phrygio-Galatic border to Mysia and Bithynia. Prevented by the Holy Spirit from entering the provinces of Asia and Mysia (Acts 16:6-7), Paul then turned westward to Troas.
What Are the Lessons and How Do We Apply Them?
Two lessons emerge from this brief pause in Paul’s journey. We will look at one lesson here and the other in Mediterranean Moments. Does it matter what a Christian believes? Should the Christian acquiesse to the beliefs of everyone else? Using today’s vernacular, can a Christian be tolerant of other opinions, yet still hold fervently to Biblical truth?
During the journeys, Paul experienced difficulties from Judaizers – people who believed that Christians must first follow the requirements of the Jewish Law (Acts 14:19-20). The content of the book of Galatians addresses these issues in detail, even providing more information on events mentioned in the book of Acts. Evaluating the circumstance, this was another religion’s attempt to merge the two belief systems. We would hear this argument today, “Don’t all religions lead to God? Can’t we take the best from all religions?”
Interestingly, Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church addresses the attempt to somehow blend Christianity and culture. The mixture of those does not work, either.
The teaching of the Judaizers was understandable for the Jews who were coming from a legalistic background. When we stray from the truth, the teachings of Christianity become weakened. Keeping the Law for salvation makes grace no longer grace. Therefore sound doctrine requires diligence and attention. Correct doctrine produces correct behavior.
So let’s make observations for today. Are there applications into areas of our faith that still become legalistic? What do we do about it? How can we guard against the tendency to become like the Pharisees? How do you answer the question, “Don’t all religions lead to God?”
| Lesson Series | This Lesson: The Pointe | This Lesson: Mediterranean Moments |
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