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Galatians

Galatians were the apostle Paul's new Christians who converted from paganism. These people thought to be descendants of Celts who had invaded western and central Asia Minor in the third century probably B.C., (before Christ) and settled near the territory of Ancyra (modern Ankara, Turkey). There were two regions in Galatia in the time of the apostle Paul. There was North and South Galatia. He passed through there in his second and third missionary journey, (info. found Bible Acts 16:6 and Acts 18:23).

The apostle Paul wrote a letter to his newly converts addressed to the Galatians in the north, the letter was probably written around A.D. (after death of Christ) year 54 or 55, probably from Ephesus after Paul's arrival there for a stay of several years on his third missionary journey (Acts 19; Acts 20:31).

Paul is addressing new converts from paganism who were now being enticed by other missionaries to add the observances of the Jewish law, including the rite of circumcision, to the cross of Christ as a means of salvation. For, since Paul's visit, some other interpretation of Christianity had been brought to these neophytes, probably by converts from Judaism (the name "Judaizers" is sometimes applied to them); it has specifically been suggested that they were Jewish Christians who had come from the austere Essene sect.
These people were teaching that certain precepts of the Mosaic law along with faith in Christ must be followed when all this teaching were false and erroneous.

They sought to undermining place doubt on Paul's authority, by asserting that he had not been trained by Jesus himself. Claiming that Paul's gospel did not agree with the original and true apostles in Jerusalem. Insisting that he had kept from his converts in Galatia the necessity of circumcision other key obligations of the Jewish law, in order to easily to win them to Christ,. (Gal 2:2). Paul also wrote of another set of opponents, people who in their emphasis on the Spirit set aside all norms for conduct and became libertines in practice.

Paul wrote a testimony of his apostolic authority and of the correct understanding of the faith. He maintained the truth of Christ and his redemptive sacrifice on the cross. The old law was abolished by his death and sacrifice. There was only need of Christ and of faith in Christ as the way to God and to eternal life, and the beauty of the new life of the Spirit.

At the conclusion of the letter (Gal 6:11-18), Paul wrote in his own hand (cf 2 Thes 3:17-18) a vivid summary of the message to the Galatians. He vigorously emphasis on the absolute preeminence of Christ and his cross as God's way to salvation and holiness (Gal 3:19-29). He made it clear that pious Jew saw in there interpretation of the law a way to win divine approval by a life of meticulous observance of ritual, social, and moral regulations, which was the result of been a Christian and not the way to achieve salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. His enthusiasm for this new vision of the life of grace in Christ and of the uniquely salvific role of Christ's redemptive death on the cross shines through this whole letter.

Explanation of the Bible: Book of Galatians