King James Version
Galatians
Galatians in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of Galatians: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | Paul, who writes the closing in large letters with his own hand. Scholars accept Paul as the author. |
|---|---|
| Date | AD 50–56 in one survey. The earlier end fits the south Galatia view, the later end the north Galatia view. |
| Place written | Not named in the letter. Proposals include Antioch in Syria (near modern Antakya, Turkey), Ephesus, and Corinth. |
| Genre | A polemical letter defending the gospel of grace. |
| Chapters | 6 |
| Verses | 149 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | Galatians 2:16Galatians 2:16 · King James VersionKnowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.Galatians 2:16 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
Galatians 1:1Galatians 1:1 · King James VersionPaul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Galatians 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) opens with Paul, an apostle not of men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father. The letter is autobiographical in Galatians 1–2, and Galatians 6:11Galatians 6:11 · King James VersionYe see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
Galatians 6:11 · King James VersionOpen the Source says Paul has written with his own hand in large letters.
Eusebius counts Paul’s letters undisputed. (2) The Muratorian fragment lists Galatians. (3) Athanasius lists it. (4) Galatians is one of the letters nearly all scholars accept as Paul’s, and it is a standard against which others are compared.
Who It Is Not
The letter is not from the Jerusalem apostles, whom Paul describes in Galatians 2:9Galatians 2:9 · King James VersionAnd when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Galatians 2:9 · King James VersionOpen the Source as giving him the right hand of fellowship. It is not from the opponents who urged circumcision.
When and Where
Bible Gateway gives AD 50–56. (5) The range depends on who the Galatians were. On the south Galatia view, the churches are Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe from Acts 13–14, and the letter may come before the Jerusalem council of Acts 15. On the north Galatia view, the churches are in ethnic Galatia in central Anatolia, and the letter comes later. Galatians 1:18Galatians 1:18 · King James VersionThen after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Galatians 1:18 · King James VersionOpen the Source and Galatians 2:1Galatians 2:1 · King James VersionThen fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
Galatians 2:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source give Paul’s intervals of three years and fourteen years.
Audience and Setting
The churches of Galatia in Galatians 1:2Galatians 1:2 · King James VersionAnd all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
Galatians 1:2 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1), mostly Gentile converts who were being told to accept circumcision and the law. Paul writes to call them back to justification by faith.
Rulers at the Time
2 Corinthians 11:322 Corinthians 11:32 · King James VersionIn Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
2 Corinthians 11:32 · King James VersionOpen the Source names Aretas, but Galatians does not. Galatians names no emperor or king, and this page adds none.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Conversion and Arabia | Paul is called and goes into Arabia, then Damascus. Galatians 1:15–17Galatians 1:15–17 · King James Version1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.Galatians 1:15–17 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| First Jerusalem visit | Three years later, fifteen days with Peter, and James. Galatians 1:18–19Galatians 1:18–19 · King James Version1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.Galatians 1:18–19 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Second visit | Fourteen years later, with Barnabas and Titus. Galatians 2:1Galatians 2:1 · King James VersionThen fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.Galatians 2:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Antioch incident | Paul withstands Peter. Galatians 2:11Galatians 2:11 · King James VersionBut when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.Galatians 2:11 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| The letter | AD 50–56 in one survey. (5) |
Places in This Book
| Ancient name | Modern-day location | References |
|---|---|---|
| Galatia | Central Anatolia, Turkey, around modern Ankara, or the southern cities of the province. Which region is meant is disputed. | Galatians 1:2Galatians 1:2 · King James VersionAnd all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:Galatians 1:2 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Jerusalem | The Old City of modern Jerusalem. | Galatians 1:18Galatians 1:18 · King James VersionThen after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.Galatians 1:18 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Antioch | Antakya, Hatay Province, Turkey. | Galatians 2:11Galatians 2:11 · King James VersionBut when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.Galatians 2:11 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Damascus | Damascus, Syria. | Galatians 1:17Galatians 1:17 · King James VersionNeither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.Galatians 1:17 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
What Is Happening
Galatians 1–2 defend Paul’s gospel and apostleship from his own history, ending with the Antioch confrontation. Galatians 3–4 argue from Abraham, the law, and the allegory of Hagar and Sarah that the promise comes by faith. Galatians 5–6 describe freedom in Christ, the fruit of the Spirit, and bearing one another’s burdens.
Key Themes
Justification by faith is stated in Galatians 2:16Galatians 2:16 · King James VersionKnowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:16 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Freedom from the law as a way of righteousness is in Galatians 5:1Galatians 5:1 · King James VersionStand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Unity in Christ beyond ethnic and social lines is in Galatians 3:28Galatians 3:28 · King James VersionThere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Life by the Spirit is in Galatians 5:22–23Galatians 5:22–23 · King James Version5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22–23 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
Apologetics Questions
Galatians 1:19Galatians 1:19 · King James VersionBut other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
Galatians 1:19 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) mentions James the Lord’s brother, a first-century witness that Jesus had a brother who led the Jerusalem church. That is cited in arguments that Jesus existed. Some readers set Galatians against James on faith and works, and that question is treated on the James page. The relation of Paul’s visits to the Acts account is a known puzzle with several proposed matches.
How the Book Points to Christ
Galatians 4:4Galatians 4:4 · King James VersionBut when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Galatians 4:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source says God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, which presupposes the Son existed to be sent. Galatians 1:1Galatians 1:1 · King James VersionPaul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Galatians 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source sets Jesus Christ beside God the Father as the source of Paul’s apostleship, against any human source. Jesus is God.
Text and Manuscripts
Codex Sinaiticus contains Galatians. (6) No major variant changes the argument.
Canon Reception
Galatians was received without dispute. (2) (3) (4) Marcion placed it first in his collection, which shows its early use.
Further Reading
Did Jesus Exist? uses Paul’s witness. Who Wrote the Bible? covers the human authors.
References
- Letter to the Galatians, 1:1–2; 1:18–19; 2:1; 6:11Galatians 1:1–2 · King James Version1:1
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
1:2And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
Galatians 1:1–2 · King James VersionOpen the Source. King James Version - Church History, Book 3, 3.3.5; 3.25Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New Advent
Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord's discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.
Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New AdventOpen the Source (Eusebius, Church History 3.3, 3.24–25, and 3.39, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 1, on New Advent. Chapter 25 sorts books into acknowledged, disputed, and rejected. Chapter 39 reports Papias on Mark and Matthew.) - Muratorian fragment, GalatiansMuratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5
Moreover, the Acts of all the Apostles are comprised by Luke in one book, and addressed to the most excellent Theophilus, because these different events took place when he was present himself; and he shows this clearly-i.e., that the principle on which he wrote was, to give only what fell under his own notice-by the omission of the passion of Peter, and also of the journey of Paul, when he went from the city-Rome-to Spain.
Muratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5Open the Source (Roberts-Donaldson translation, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5. The Latin is damaged and the English follows restorations. The fragment lists the books read in the church and those rejected.) - Festal Letter 39, 39.4–5 (Athanasius of Alexandria, AD 367, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 4, on New Advent. The letter lists twenty-two Old Testament books and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, and places Esther among books to be read rather than in the canon.)
- When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, Galatians (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives Galatians as AD 50–56. It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Codex Sinaiticus, About the manuscriptCodex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus Project
Codex Sinaiticus, a manuscript of the Christian Bible written in the middle of the fourth century, contains the earliest complete copy of the Christian New Testament.
Codex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus ProjectOpen the Source (The Codex Sinaiticus project’s description of the manuscript, a fourth-century Greek Bible with the earliest complete copy of the New Testament.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.