WHO WROTE:  Paul.  According to Galatians 6:11, this teaches us that Paul wrote the entire Letter himself.

 

 

WHAT TIME PERIOD IS COVERED:  50 A.D. - 57 A.D.?

 

 

WHEN WRITTEN:  The Epistle was probably written very soon after Paul’s second visit to Galatia (Acts 18:23).  The visit to Jerusalem, mentioned in Galatians 2:1-10 was identical with that of Acts, Chapter 15, and It is spoken of as a thing of the past.  Consequently, the Epistle was written subsequent to the council of Jerusalem (51 A.D.).

 

The similarity between this Epistle and of that to the Roman Epistle has led to the conclusion that they were both written at the same time; namely, in the winter of 57-58 A.D., during Paul’s stay in Corinth (Acts 20:2-3).

 

 

INTRODUCTION:  Any Book written by Paul must be classified with this important statement from Peter, that all the writings of Paul are “hard to be understood,” Second Peter 3:16.

 

We learn from Chapter 4, verse 13, that the only reason the Galatians heard the Gospel was because -- providentially of course -- Paul was detained by physical weakness.

 

The Churches of Galatia were founded by Paul himself (Acts 16:6; Gal. 1:8; 4:13 & 19).  The Church fathers themselves uphold the authority and authorship of the Book as being Pauline.  The Epistle is historically confirmed by Irenaeus, in his work, “Adv. Haer.,” 3:7, section 2, when he refers to Galatians 3:19.  Polycarp, in his comments on Philippians 3, quotes Galatians 4:26; 6:7.  Justin Martyr, in his work, “Orat. ad Graecos,” alludes to Galatians 4:12; 5:20.  And Tertullian, refers to the entire Book of Galatians, in his work, “De Praescr.,” 60, along with Marcion, who placed the Book of Galatians at the head of his “Apostolikon” (140 A.D.).

 

In an interesting side note, in Galatians 3:16 & 19-20; 4:21-31, we have examples of the rabbinical exegesis Paul had learned from his Jewish masters.  It has been noted by Bible commentators that there are 23 distinct similarities shared by Second Corinthians and Galatians, and 20 such shared resemblances with First Corinthians.  The shared sayings are:  “A little leaven,” “circumcision is nothing, “be not deceived,” “it is manifest,” “known by God,” “profit nothing,” “to be something,” “scandal of the cross,” “the spiritual [of persons],” “they that are Christ’s,” “another gospel” “false brethren,” “brings into bondage,” “devour,” “zealously seek,” or “am jealous over [of persons],” “a new creation,” “confirm,” or “ratify,” “I am perplexed,” the antithesis of, “sowing” and “reaping,” (figuratively), “on the contrary,” or “contrariwise.”

 

Also, the conception of the “two covenants,” or “testaments,” is conspicuous in both Epistles (Gal. 3:17-21; 4:21-31; 2Co. 3:8-18).  In each case the ideas of “law,” or “letter,” “bondage,” and “death,” are associated with “spirit,” “freedom,” and “life.”  Galatians 3:13 is matched by Second Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:19 and Galatians 6:14, are similar to Second Corinthians 5:14 & 15; while Galatians 6:17 crosses to Second Corinthians 4:10.  In addition, Galatians 5:19 & 20 link themselves up to Second Corinthians 12:20; Romans 13:13; 16:17.

 

The expression, “at the first,” or “the first time,” of Galatians 4:13, presumes Paul to have been twice with the readers previously.  For the first occasion see Galatians 4:13-15, and for the second time see Galatians 1:9; 5:3.