Outreach To Galatia

by George Prasher, Manchester, England | Category: New Testament Churches Of God | Nov 1999

What can we learn from the New Testament record about churches of God in the Roman province of Galatia, an area which now forms part of modern Turkey?

So far in this series we have looked at individual churches of God, but this month's study instructively reminds us that those churches are often referred to in their provincial or other district groupings. Paul's letter to the Galatians is a case in point. Again in 2 Corinthians 8:1 he writes of 'the churches of Macedonia'. Peter's first epistle was addressed to disciples in a much larger area, covering most of modern Turkey, but again according to their provincial groupings (1 Pet. 1:1). From which we learn that in apostolic times the churches of God were closely interrelated, each one linked with others in the same province. Moreover all these provincial groups of churches are together viewed as one flock (1 Pet. 5:2), one kingdom (Rev. 1:6), one 'habitation of God in the Spirit' (Eph. 2:21,22).

It was Paul and Barnabas who pioneered the work of God in Galatia during their first great missionary outreach from Syrian Antioch (see Acts chapters 13 and 14). In spite of many hardships and tough opposition there was an excellent response to the message, and disciples were made in four cities - Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Nor were they left to their own devices in spiritual service, but the apostles instructed them in the way of the Lord so that a church of God was established in each city.

We begin at Antioch of Pisidia, an important route centre and a Roman colony, with a mixed population of Romans, Greeks, Jews and native Phrygians. Acts chapter 13 records Paul's masterly address in the Antioch synagogue. This aroused great interest and the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord; but the Jews were filled with jealousy and publicly opposed the apostles, who then turned to the Gentile populace. Of whom many gladly received the word, which spread through the whole region. Paul and Barnabas were soon forced by persecution to leave Antioch, but they left behind them a thriving Church of God: 'the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit' (Acts 13:52).

About ninety miles east of Antioch was the ancient city of Iconium, said to be as old as Damascus, its modern name is Konya. There Paul and Barnabas again spoke first in the synagogue. Their message was so effective that a great number both of Jews and Gentiles believed. Intense opposition was then stirred up by Jews who had refused the gospel. Once more God's servants were driven away by threat of violence, but not before the newly won converts were functioning together as a Church of God in that city.

Unshaken by all Satan's attempts to harass them these devoted servants of Christ pressed forward to the city of Lystra. A man who had been crippled from birth was healed by Paul, causing the superstitious crowds to welcome Paul and Barnabas as gods come down in the likeness of men. The apostles had difficulty in restraining the people from offering sacrifices to them. Once more the gospel bore fruit, disciples were made, and in yet another place a Church of God was planted. Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium followed Paul and Barnabas to Lystra, stirred up a riot, stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 'But as the disciples stood round about him', Luke records, 'he rose up, and entered into the city' (Acts 14:20). The next day he and Barnabas travelled on to Derbe.

Derbe became the fourth city in Galatia where the apostles were able to establish a Church of God, for Acts 14:21 tells us that when they preached the gospel there they made many disciples.

We might have thought that after so many frightening experiences in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch these two intrepid apostles would have hesitated to return there, at least for the time being. However, the disciples in these places had become very dear to them but were inexperienced in their new-found faith. So Paul and Barnabas, prepared to hazard their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, retraced their steps to the three cities where they had been so dangerously persecuted. In each place they confirmed 'the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God' (v.22). The faith and the kingdom! The faith is the Lord's teaching, delivered to His disciples to keep; the kingdom is expressed in obedience to the rule of God among His people. In these newly planted churches the apostles were encouraged to see a deepening work of the Holy Spirit. 'And when they had appointed for them elders in every church', we read, 'and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed' (Acts 14:23). So provision was made for shepherding the flock in each church in Galatia, churches enjoying mutual fellowship, and linked with all other churches of God from Jerusalem outward.

Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch in Syria, the place from which they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had now fulfilled. It was about this time that a strong threat to the truth of the gospel developed among the New Testament churches of God. Jewish false teachers from Judaea went to Antioch and taught that unless Gentiles were circumcised according to the Law of Moses they could not be saved. Paul and Barnabas vigorously countered this erroneous teaching, and a special conference was convened in Jerusalem to deal with the controversy. The outcome was summarized by the apostles and elders in a message circulated for the guidance of all the churches:

...it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you (Acts 15:28,29).

However, the false teaching had also spread to the churches in Galatia. News reached Paul that many disciples in those churches were as a result turning away from the truths of the gospel which he had plainly taught them. His urgent corrective letter is preserved in our New Testament as The Epistle to the Galatians. On reading it we cannot escape the sense of deep concern in Paul's heart. He wrote with burning conviction, knowing that the basic foundations of the gospel were being undermined:

O foolish Galatians, we read in chapter three, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified? This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected

in the flesh? ...I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labour upon you in vain (Gal. 3:1-3; 4:11).

Paul's letter doubtless had a salutary effect on the disciples in the Galatian churches of that day. God has over-ruled to preserve it in our New Testament, extending to believers in succeeding generations the benefit of this lucid defence of the central truth of the gospel - that salvation is on the basis of God's free gift in Christ, not by a process of law-keeping.

Finally it is worth again noting that Paul could write one letter to the churches of God in Galatia and be sure that the disciples in each church would receive its message. Although Antioch of Pisidia and Derbe were about 150 miles apart, so close was the integration of New Testament churches of God that one letter would suffice to communicate with them both, and also with all other churches in the province.

George Prasher, Manchester, England | Nov 1999
New Testament Churches Of God