When was Galatians written?

In the middle of the first century AD, false teachers known as Judaizers spread unbiblical doctrine in the churches of Galatia, a Roman province. In response to their legalistic teaching, Paul wrote a letter to these churches, a letter now known as the book of Galatians. According to internal and external evidence, Paul wrote the letter in or soon after AD 49, after his first missionary journey and just after the Jerusalem Council in AD 49 (Acts 15:1–21).

Understanding Paul’s life and ministry provides important evidence for when he wrote Galatians. In the opening verse, Paul clearly identifies himself: “Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead” (Galatians 1:1). Later, he mentions his authorship in a personal appeal: “Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all” (Galatians 5:2). These references provide strong internal evidence that Paul himself wrote the letter.

Paul not only names himself in Galatians, but he also shares details from his own life. For example, he writes, “I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers” (Galatians 1:14). He then describes God’s call on his life and his time in Arabia before going back to Damascus (Galatians 1:15–17). Next, looking at events in Paul’s life, especially his three missionary journeys in Acts, helps reveal when he wrote Galatians. The Jerusalem Council took place in the spring between Paul’s first and second missionary journeys (Acts 15). The main issue before that council was whether Gentile believers needed to follow the Mosaic Law become Christians—the same issue Paul dealt with in his epistle to the Galatians.

The Judaizers were pressuring the Christians in Galatia to follow the Law of Moses, so Paul answered with strong words. He wrote, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6–7). Because of the influence of false teachers, Paul defended the true gospel, the message that salvation comes by grace through faith, apart from the works of the law. Paul mentions the Jerusalem Council in Galatians 2:1–10. The decision of that council comports entirely with his message to the Galatians.

In response to the Judaizers’ false teaching, Paul boldly proclaims and strongly defends the good news of Jesus. He says that salvation comes by grace through faith. Paul knew this truth in his own life, writing, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Written around AD 49, Galatians shows that from the church’s earliest days the gospel was clear: salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone (cf. Ephesians 2:8–9).