Galatia

In order to understand Paul’s address to the Galatian church we should understand some of the background of the audience he was addressing.

In Galatians Chapter 1 Paul introduces himself to the Galatians. This is significant if you understand who the Galatians were.

Paul asserts his authority under the Lord Jesus Christ. He introduces the people with him as being under his authority in the Lord.

Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me,

Paul then addresses his audience.

To the churches of Galatia:

Right after that Paul introduces his topic.

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:2-5

Again this is significant. Grace is the topic that Paul wants to talk about to the Galatians. This is because the Galatians had fallen from Grace into the “obedience to the law,” doctrine.

Here we have a group of Gentiles willing to give heed to the “law keepers,” and add to their salvation, the doctrine of ‘law keeping’. To this day, this false doctrine is a problem in the church. If you take a look at the picture I posted on the ruins of Galatia you can see for yourself what happens when one adds works to the gospel of grace. Complete ruination!

There are some modern day, “law keepers” today who reject the teachings of Paul. These prefer to follow the mosaic law for their righteousness. Its a dangerous path they take. Ruination will be the outcome!

Jesus told us in the gospels that there is no one good but God. He also said that if you look at a women with lust you have committed adultery in your heart. James says that if we have broken just one of God’s laws we have broken all of them. We must be perfect to go to heaven under the law! One little white lie can send a person to hell! (Matthew 5:20–29, James 2:10)

That is why Jesus came to save us! No one can keep the law in its entirety!

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, 1 Peter 3:18

Paul preached the gospel of grace to the Galatians. So why did these Galatians fall prey to the false doctrine of works? Is there a lesson we can learn from their fall? Lets find out!

Galatia was located in the ancient highlands of central Anatolia. (Modern Turkey)

The Galatians were originally a group of warrior Celts from mainland Europe who invaded Anatolia and settled there. These Celts were enculturated with a feudalistic worldview.

Feudalism is a societal system based on hierarchy. The fief, [Lord] held power through land ownership. The fief had indentured servants who worked his land in exchange for protection. He also had warriors who worked for him, as well as slaves taken captive by war.

By understanding the background of the Galatians we can see how this group of Celts could have fallen away from the gospel of grace.

Lets take a look at some of the possible reasons for this backsliding.

The Galatian culture was based on feudalism. That means the Galatian warrior submitted to the authority of the ruler and the ruling class over them. The Galatians had no problem submitting to authority if that authority was more powerful than they were. The Galatians had no problem conforming to the ruling class over them.

For more information on Celtic Culture I have posted a link.

https://celticgaulsdotcom.wordpress.com/gaul-culture/#:~:text=The%20Gauls%2C%20a%20group%20of,of%20the%20Gauls’%20social%20customs.

While the Galatians were able to preserve the core of their culture in many respects, their language, some religious ideology as well as war culture, they could also adapt to the ruling power’s culture that conquered them.

These warfaing Celts invaded Anatolia during the Greek Empire. Greek culture was prevalent in the known world. The Galatians soon became Hellenized. That is they infused Greek culture into their indigenous culture.

The Galatians were influenced by the culture they invaded and settled in.

As a side note Western culture today is based on ancient Greek culture. Many modern nations are Hellenized or infused into the dominant western culture of today.

Democracy is an ancient Greek concept. It originated from the Greek empire. It is not a Christian concept! The rule of the majority sometimes conflicts with God’s word.

Christians are called to be in submission to God’s authority first and foremost. The Kingdom of God! We submit to the King, Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus Messiah) King of all kings!

https://www.britannica.com/topic/democracy/Democratic-institutions

When Rome conquered the Galatians, in 25 BCE Galatia became a Roman province. Rome was also influenced by Greek culture. Much of Roman culture was infused with ancient Greek culture.

The Galatians became mercenary warriors for Rome. That meant submission to the emperor and loyalty to Rome.

The Galatians worshiped a matriarchal god. The mother goddess Cybele, who was also worshipped by the Greeks and Romans. This goddess represented nature, protection in war, sexuality and fertility. Originally this goddess was worshiped in Phrygia, but the cult spread to Greece and then to Rome.

Cybele became known as Magna Mater or “Great Mother.”

The Roman state adopted and developed a particular cult of this goddess. This cultish practice of mother goddess worship still persists today, even among some Christian sects.

Another name for this goddess is Gaia. Defined today as ‘mother nature’.

The Galatians also worshiped the “black stone that fell from heaven,” in association with Agdistis, a unisex god.

The Galatians, worshiped, mother nature, war, and cultish sexual perversions.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Phrygia

https://www.worldhistory.org/galatia/#:~:text=Galatia%20was%20a%20region%20in,Bithynia%2C%20Nicomedes%20I%20

Let’s take a look at some possible reasons for the Galatians falling into the false doctrine of adding the law to their salvation.

The Galatians came from a feudalist society.
They respected authority.
They were conformists to popular culture.
They submitted to power structures.
They were obedient warriors for the ruling class.
They associated power with truth.
They preferred rules, laws, and ritual over the gospel of grace.

The Galatians converted to Christianity under Paul’s ministry. The gospel was demonstrated to them by God’s power.

“God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them” (Acts 19:11–12)

Through the miracles demonstrated from Paul’s ministry the Galatians realized that Yeshua was the God of all gods.

Eventually Galatia grew into a Christian center.

At the time Paul wrote his epistle to the Galatians, there appeared among them ‘law keepers,’ trying to bring these Galatians under obedience to the Mosaic law. Paul reinforces the gospel of grace to the Galatians.

As it ends up the Galatians were eventually conquered by the Suebics, a Germanic people from 410 to 584 AD. Then the Galatians were conquered by the Visigothic Kingdom (585 – 711) Finally, Galatia was conquered by the Islamic moors.

What can we learn from the history of Galatia?

The Galatians submitted to whatever dominant culture it was that ruled over them. While maintaining the core of their culture the Galatians infused the dominant culture into their culture.

The Galatians were willing to compromise with the dominant society in which they lived. Their feudalist mindset demanded submission to ruling elites, to the governing class, to social hierarchy and cultural peculiarities.

By submitting to whatever ruled over them at the time the Galatians failed to submit to the ultimate authority of God’s word.

Paul warned the Galatians. He said, “If we or any other angel preach unto you any other gospel than that which we have preached to you ,let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8)

Paul made it clear that our submission must be to the truth of God’s word. To Jesus Christ and his gospel. The Gospel of grace. Any other ‘gospel’ is a false gospel.

The result of adhering to a false ‘gospel’ is ruination.

So don’t get swayed from God’s grace through Jesus Christ alone for salvation by the power structures, ruling institutions, false gods and goddesses, lying spirits, evil fallen angels masquerading as angels of light, or the law keepers!

Any ideology or system that contradicts the gospel of grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation must be rejected.

Our very soul depends on it!