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Galatians: the letter's destination


There was a vast majority of gentiles in Paul's audience. According to Gal 5:2, they had not yet been circumcised (Gal 6:12) and they had only worshipped God once (4:8). In regards to the destination of the Galatians' letter, there are two main views.
North Galatian theory
 According to this view, the letter of Galatians was addressed to the churches located in the north-central part of Asia Minor (Pessinus, Ancyra and Tavium) where the Gauls or Celts had settled when they invaded the area in the third century B.C. It is said that Paul visited this area on his second missionary journey though the book of acts does not give reference to such a visit. According to this view, the letter of Galatians was written between 53 and 57 A.D. from Ephesus or Macedonia.[2] There is some argument on this view like Luke employs the title Galatia only in Acts16:6 and 18:23. Luke's basis for supporting his argument for Paul's mission in the north is vulnerable to several criticisms; first, Luke mentioned no evangelizing happening in connection with these travels, second, Luke's usage cannot be used to determine Paul's, and third, ancient usage indicates that Luke might be referring to Phrygian Galatia rather than northern Galatia in 16:6.
South Galatian theory
This view says that the letter was addressed to the churches of the southern area of the Roman province of Galatia (Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe) that Paul had founded on his first Missionary Journey (Acts13:13-14:27). People believe this letter was written in Syrian Antioch between 48-49 A.D. after Paul's first missionary journey and before the Jerusalem Council. Some claim that Galatians was written in Syrian Antioch or Corinth between 51 and 53 A.D. D[3]. Stephen Mitchel, a well-known scholar, supports this point of view. According to him, in the first century, the roads of south Galatia were better and the citizens were more numerous than in northern Galatia.
In conclusion, I agree with the south Galatia theory regarding the destination of Galatia. The date and written place support the theory of south Galatia.
 
[1] Craig S. Kener, Galatians (USA: Cambridge University Press, 2018), 7.
[2] Galatians Zondervan 2002, www.biblestudytools.com/galatians/ (Accessed 1st, Aug,2022)
[3] Ibid.,
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