I feel we need to establish (as one does in every Book of the Bible he or she studies) the addressees of the Galatian Epistle. To whom is Paul writing?

Two ideas prevail in the theological world.

They have been summarized as “the North Galatian hypothesis” and the “south Galatian theory.”

And while I do not plan to spend a lot of time discussing this issue, I think it is important to have an answer to this question. If  for no other reason … to put faces to the various names Paul will use in the next 149 verses, the entire Epistle of Galatians. Or at least mentally put sections (historical accounts) in the Book of Acts to the names (some not very complimentary) Paul employs.

But the fact is, if the North Galatian idea is correct, we have NO record in Acts, not at all, of Paul’s preaching up there! But if the southern part of the Province is in view, Dr. Luke (who left us the Acts of the Apostles) does give us several stories about events in that area.

Primarily for that reason (there are some others) I believe and will here teach that the Churches of southern Galatia are in purview.

Still, what Churches are those?

Who is Paul “correcting” in this Masterpiece?

1 … At least the Believers in Antioch (in Pisidia as opposed to Antioch in Syria) were included. This being, Pisidia, merely a “section” of Asia Minor in those days, a “slice” of Galatia. The history: “But when they (Barnabas and Paul) departed from Perga (near the coast), they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. Acts 13:14, followed by a great Sermon by the former Saul of Tarsus!

2 … Then after the Preachers were “kicked out” of Antioch … they came to a second named City (we believe) addressed in Galatians, the saints in Iconium. “But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.” Wow, still in Acts but now chapter 14. Note souls being saved!

Cities 3 and 4 … But the agitators (Gospel of Grace haters) followed them here as well, quite willing to kill them really. Then … knowing their lives were such imminent  danger … “They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: and there they preached the gospel.” Acts 14:6-7, two more “Galatian” cities! Located at least loosely in Galatia, southern Galatia.

These are the Christians to whom Paul is writing, no co-author is mentioned.

So … the Epistle of Galatians is directed toward those “in Christ” who lived in Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe.

(Hint: It might be worthwhile to re-read Acts 13 and 14, both chapters, the inspired account of Paul’s first missionary journey, to pick up all the other “details” of that first preaching tour of Galatia!)

This information helps me “tons.”

Paul and his team faced trouble and persecution and death threats from day one … as they sought to wrestle this part of the devil’s kingdom from his grip of darkness.

No wonder opposition continued even after the men left to preach elsewhere!

Quiz: Now, name me those four churches again.

Antioch (in Pisidia).

Iconium.

Lystra.

And Derbe.

Again I suggest … see if you can learn something particular that happened in each city as Paul and Barnabas preached there. Every personal fact will help as the “Pauline denunciations” begin to fall, as we study Galatians verse by verse! For that matter, as the sublime “Pauline teaching” is so patiently applied as well!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Tomorrow’s Lesson, what Paul does NOT say in his opening paragraph of Galatians, an anomaly for sure.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell