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GALATIA

(Gk. Galatía)

A region in north central Asia Minor (modern Turkey) named after Gallic/Celtic invaders. Later the name designated a Roman province.

The Gauls migrated to the region in the mid-3rd century b.c.e. and made their military presence felt. King Nicomedes I of Bithynia enlisted their support in his civil war. During the century, the Gauls fought with such powers as the Seleucid Antiochus I (281-61) and Attalus I of Pergamum (ca. 240-230). While being contained geographically, the Gauls maintained their independence. Their territory centered around the city of Ancyra (modern Ankara), in the northern half of central Asia Minor. In 64 b.c.e., the Gallic tribes became a client state of Rome, ruled however by one of their own. Upon the death of their last king, Amyntas, in 25 b.c.e., the region became a Roman province, which gradually extended south, almost to the Mediterranean Sea. Such cities as Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch were now a part of “Galatia.”

This is significant, for it has a bearing on how one understands the recipients and date of Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia. One can argue that Paul uses “Galatia” to designate the ethnic region in northern Asia Minor (Gal. 1:2), explaining his use of the ethnic term Galatians (3:1) in the letter. It could also correspond with Acts 16:6; 18:23, which say that Paul visited the region (not the province) of Galatia after the council meeting of Acts 15 (= Gal. 2:1-10?), requiring a date for the letter after the meeting of Acts 15. However, if Paul is using “Galatia” to denote the Roman province, the Galatian letter may be addressed to churches in the southern part of the province, churches which Paul visited early in his missionary career (cf. Acts 14:1-20), allowing one to date the letter earlier in Paul’s career, before the meeting of Acts 15 (perhaps making Gal. 2 = Acts 11:27-30). The issue is controversial, for it affects many issues in Pauline studies: chronology, development of Paul’s thought, and agreements/disagreements between Acts and Pauline letters.

J. Bradley Chance

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

GALATIA

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)