Galatians

All scholars are in agreement that Galatians was written by Paul. Though some argue for a very early date, making it of the earliest letters he wrote. Some evidence for this is the lack of any reference to the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), however, his reference to taking Titus to Jerusalem with him in Gal. 2:1 means he already returned from his first missionary journey (Acts 13-14), therefore the Council probably already took place. Galatians may date to the late fifties.
“Galatia” became a province of Rome in 25 B.C. and can refer to the area occupied by the Gauls in the north, or the entire province. Scholars also dispute whether Paul is addressing North Galatia (a region in Asia Minor settled by Celts, not mentioned in Acts and only slowly Christianized) or the so-called South Galatian region (which some scholars call Phrygia-Galatica). If Paul uses the term technically, he must mean North Galatia (which includes Ancyra, …show more content…
He quotes from Habakkuk, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. In fact, he selects the only two texts in the entire Old Testament that speak of both righteousness and faith together. In verse 11, he quotes Habk. 2:4 and in Gal. 3:6 he quotes Gen.15:6 (“Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”) Jewish interpreters regularly linked texts on the basis of key words they shared. Since he contrasts faith and works in verses 11 and 12 by quoting Scripture, it is probable his audience were using these texts of the Law to make their case that faith was not enough, therefore requiring Gentiles to achieve it through works of the law. However, Paul sets them straight by emphasizing the righteousness of the law is fulfilled by being in Christ. Again in verse 13 he links the text with the key word, “curse,” by citing Deut. 21:23 to show Christ took the “curse” that fall on those who fail to perform the whole law (Deut. 27:26, quoted in v.