Galatians context essay plan

Authorship

Paul introduces himself, with the letter reading like Paul.

1 Peter, 1 Clement name him as author.

Unflattering things he says: No one else could have gotten away

Williams: Galatians is most secure of all Paul’s letters

Date

Mentions 2 visits to Jerusalem, but not the Council of Jerusalem (mustn't have occurred yet.)

Earlier letters, 48-49AD

Motive

Judaisers influencing church emphasizing importance of law. Also diminishing authority as a true apostle.

Longenecker: Wrote it like a lion let loose in the arena of Xnity

North Galatia Theory

• South Galatia referred to Lyconia in Acts: Lyconians weren’t ethnically referred to as Galatians

• North Galatia had reputaion for fickleness mirroring Judaisers

South Galatia Theory

North Galatia rough: Paul was ill and probably wouldn’t have went

Luke doesn’t mention Northern cities in Acts

Galatians only term that could applied to all South Galatia