Where was Paul writing? North or South Galatia?

Over the last two centuries, scholars have debated whether Paul was writing to the region of North Galatia or South Galatia. While we hold to the South Galatian view, let’s consider both theories.

North Galatia?

Under this view, Paul wrote to the churches that he reached on his second missionary journey. These people were the ethnic Galatians (or “Gauls”), who occupied the territory of Asia Minor. According to this theory, Paul visited these cities (e.g. Ancyra, Tavium, Pessinus) in between his work in Pisidian Antioch and Troas (Acts 16:6). This view was held by almost all interpreters up until the 18^th century, and it has been affirmed by J.B. Lightfoot,[] James Moffat,[] and James Montgomery Boice.[]

South Galatia?

Under this view, Paul wrote to the churches he reached on his first missionary journey (Acts 13-14). These were not the ethnic Galatians, but rather, the people who inhabited the Roman province of Galatia. These would include those who lived in “Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, ‘Pisidian’ Antioch, and doubtless other small places whose names are unrecorded.”[] This view was most powerfully defended by Sir William Ramsey[] and F.F. Bruce.[] Other NT scholars have also adopted this view, such as Ben Witherington,[] Timothy George,[] Ronald Fung,[] R. Alan Cole,[] D.A. Carson, and Douglas Moo.[] Indeed, the majority of modern scholars affirm this theory. Several lines of evidence support this perspective:

First, Acts does not explicitly mention that Paul ever went to North Galatia. Even though Acts 16:6 and 18:23 might allude to Paul going to Northern Galatia, it doesn’t explicitly say that he did.[] Luke could’ve mentioned these churches in North Galatia in a single sentence in Acts 16:6-7, and we might even expect him to mention a movement of this caliber. But he doesn’t. By contrast, the movement in Acts 13-14 seems to match what we read in Paul’s letter to the Galatians.[]

Second, Barnabas was on the first missionary journey—not the second. Paul mentions Barnabas three times in Galatians (Gal. 2:1, 9, 13), which implies that this people knew Barnabas well. Yet, Paul and Barnabas split up in Acts 15:39, because of their dispute over John Mark. Why would Paul mention Barnabas to the North Galatian churches, if Barnabas had never been there? Moreover, why would the North Galatians be surprised by Barnabas’ hypocrisy, if they had never met him? (Gal. 2:13)

Third, “Galatians” was a broad term. Paul didn’t have a term to describe all of the peoples in Antioch, Lystra, Iconium, and Derbe. Therefore, calling this group the “Galatians” was the best term to include all of these people who were reached in Acts 13-14. Luke generally used ethnic names to describe the provinces of Galatia, while Paul apparently used proper names in describing them (2 Cor. 8:1; 1 Cor. 16:19; 2 Cor. 1:1).[] The fact that Acts 18:23 says that Paul strengthened the disciples seems to imply that he had already been there (i.e. on his first missionary journey).

Fourth, we have no history of any churches in the North Galatian region. Even proponents of the Northern Galatian theory admit this key point.[]

Fifth, if Paul went into North Galatia, it would have been a massive detour.[] Paul would have needed to have gone northeast and then backtracked west to get to Troas, which would’ve been entirely out of his way.[]

Sixth, in addition to this detour, Paul was sick when he made the trip. In order to get to North Galatia (from Pisidian Antioch; Acts 16:6), Paul would have needed to cross a thick mountainous terrain. This is unlikely because Paul said that he was sick when he came to Galatia (Gal. 4:13). This would have been a further deterrent, and far less likely.

Seventh, it’s difficult to believe that Judaizers would have followed Paul this far north. Not only is it unlikely that Paul would have travelled through this out-of-the-way territory, but it is also unlikely that the false teachers would have followed him through this. As Carson and Moo poignantly ask, “How fanatical were they?”[]

Eighth, the persecution by Judaizers fits with the South Galatian theory nicely. On Paul’s first missionary journey (in South Galatia), Luke records, “The Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district” (Acts 13:50). Other Jewish religious leaders had Paul stoned on this first missionary journey (Acts 14:19). This would fit with Paul’s statement, “I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus” (Gal. 6:17).