GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO THE

— This epistle of St. Paul, authenticity of which has scarcely been impugned, is the only one addre ed by the apostle to a group of churches. Its exact date has not been established, though it was probably written in 57 or 58 A.D., between the writing of 2 Corinthians and Romans, and during Paul’s third mi ionary journey, while he was at Ephesus or Corinth or on the way between the two. Its object was to counteract the Judaic teaching which for some time had been undermining Paul’s work in the Galatian Church. May be divided into three parts, of which the first is a vindication of the author’s independence as an apostle of Christ; second is doctrinal, showing that the Gospel dispensation is the fulfillment of the law; third is practical, showing that the believer's life should be the expre ion of his faith.