The Denouement of Claudian Pamphylia-Lycia and its Implications for the Audience of Galatians

Abstract

Abstract Recent inscriptional discoveries have revised our understanding of provincial boundaries in southern Asia Minor from Claudius until Vespasian. Pamphylia is now understood to have been part of Galatia during Paul’s journeys there. The denouement of the South Galatian hypothesis was declared by Clare Rothschild. An attempt is made to place historical and geographical issues into a more nuanced framework. Because of the omission of key source materials, her conclusion is challenged and the redivivus of the South Galatian theory is heralded. A discussion of Paul’s audience for his letter to the Galatians follows. Based on the new evidence regarding provincial Galatia, believers in Pamphylia might well have been part of his readership.