Grace School of Theology

NORTH OR SOUTH: Destination and Date of Galatians

A Paper Submitted to
Gregory P. Sapaugh, Th.M. Ph.D
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of
RS-503: Research Methods, Writing, and Technology

by
William (Brant) Wallace

Houston, Texas
February 25, 2015

Contents
Introduction

1

General Debate

1

Geography of Galatia

2

Diversity and Strategy

2

Advantage for Missional Activities

3

The North

3

Evidence for the Northern Theory

4

History

4

Biblical Reference

4

Character

5

The South

5

Evidence for the Southern Theory

6

Establishment of Churches

6

Inclusion of Galatian Churches

6

Judaizing Controversy

7

The Date

7

Southern Theory

8

Northern Theory

8

Conclusion

9

Bibliography

10

Introduction
The date and destination of the Apostle

Epistle to the Galatians is a topic of

debate.1 The general debate is framed around when and to whom Paul wrote the letter. The two theories surrounding when and to whom Galatians was written are: (1) The North
Galatia Theory; and, (2) The South Galatia Theory.2 In an attempt to address the questions of when and to whom Paul wrote Galatians, this paper will address both theories.

General Debate
In order to understand the prevailing theories, it is important to understand the positions of the general debate. The general debate is whether the letter was addressed to the churches in the northern or southern part of Galatia. If it was written in the northern part, then most scholars agree that it would have been written sometime between AD 53 58.3 In contrast, if it was written in the southern part, it would have been written sometime between AD 47 49.4 Whether
Galatians was written between AD 53 58 AD or between AD 47 49 would determine if the second mission to