(ii. ) The alternative explanation rests on the conviction that the single article in the phrase rr^v ^pvylav Kal TaXaTiK7]v x'^P^^v proves conclusively that one single district is in view, ttj^ ^pvyiav Kal VaXaTiKT]v xw/jav means that region which is both Pluygian and Galatian, ' the Phrygo-Galaticregion.' The only district which really answers to this de- scription is that part of the old kingdom of Phrygia which was included in the Roman province of Galatia, i.e. the country which extended westward from Iconium to Antioch and beyond, south of the Sultan Dagh.
That St. Paul had passed through the whole of S. Galatia before he was forbidden to preach in Asia is a mere assumption. At Iconium two
GALATIAXS, EPISTLE TO THE
GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO THE 435
roads lay before him — one to the north, leading via Laodicea into Phrj-gia Asiana, the other to the west, leading to Phrygia Gaiatica. It is permissible to suppose that Iconium was the point at which he became conscious of the Divine command not to preach in Asia, and that, because of it, he chose the western rather than the northern road. Sooner or later he Mas bound to enter Asia ; but, by tak- ing the western road, he was enabled to travel as long as possible tlirough a region where missionary work was allowed.*
The chief objections to this interpretation of the plirase are : (a) in the NT i>pvyiav is elsewhere used only as a noun (Ac 2^" 18-^) ; {b) it is straining language to give /cat the force of ' or ' : KaL suggests two districts, not one (cf. ttjj' 'MaKedoviav Kal 'Axaiav [19^' and 273]).
(;3) The meaning of tt]v V oKo-t iktiv xuipav Kai ^pvyiav (Ac 18-^). — Of this phrase, which indi- cates the route by which St. Paul started on his third journey, only one translation is possible, i.e. ' tlie Galatic region and Phrygia.' The exact meaning attached to the expression will depend on the interjjretation given to the words of Ac 16". It can be adapted to either of the alternatives.
(i.) On the first hypothesis, tt^v FaXartKTjc x^pai' will mean ' Galatia jjroper' as in 16", and Phrygia will be ' Phrygia Asiana.'
(ii.) On the second, ttjp VoKaTiKriv x^P"-^ signifies that part of the province of Galatia in which were Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium (Lj'caonia Gaiatica). 'Piirygia' means either 'Phrygia Gaiatica' {i.e. the district described in 16" as Tr]v ^pvyiav Kal FaXa- TLKr]v x'^P"-") ^^ ' Phrygia Gaiatica and Phrj'gia Asiana,' for the Apostle would have to pass through both regions in order to reach Ephesus by way of TO. avwrepiKo. fxepr] (Ac 19'). The absence of any further definition of Phrygia in Ac 18^ is naturally explained by the fact that on this occasion preach- ing in Asia was not forbidden.
Tlie im])artial critic must admit that the eW- dence of these two passages is not sufficient to prove conclusively whether St. Paul ever visited N. Galatia or not. In favour of the N. Galatian interpretation, it must be granted that it represents the most straightforward and obvious reading of the verses, and that it gives a uniform meaning to the phrases rrjp Ta\aTiKriv x'^'P'^^ and ^pvyiav. Yet it fails to explain some things — e.g. why the writer of Acts should say ttjv YaKaTiKrjv x^pcf where FaXa- rlav would be sutiicient, and why he should state in the same verse that («) preaching in Asia was forbidden, [b] therefore the Apostle preached in Asia. Again, the Acts usually tells its story at greater length when the gospel is being taken into a new district fur the first time, but passes over as brieflj' as possible second visits to places already evangel- ized. The extreme brevity of the reference to t7]v ^pvyiav Kal FaXart/cTyv xt^pa" (16") suggests that it is not new ground to the missionaries.
The S. Galatian interpretation avoids these special difficulties, but only at the cost of some forcing of interpretation and straining of gTammar. The great stumbling-block to its acceptance is the fact that when Acts is actually speaking of the S. Galatian cities, it does not describe them politically as 'Galatian,' but etlmographically — 'Antioch in Pisidia'(13''*), ' Lystra and Derbe, citiesof Lycaonia' (14"). The contribution of Acts towards the dis- covery of the destination of the Galatian Epistle is simply this. St. Paul certainly visited the cities of S. Galatia ; he may or may not have visited N. Galatia.
* The contention that KtoXv^e'fTe? may be predicative, and therefore that the prohibition may have been given at the close of the journey throug-h •riji' ^pvyiav Kal TaXariicriv x'^'pi" (Ask- with, p. 35flE.), cannot be regarded as proved.
{b) Evidence of the Epistle itself. — This evidence is slight, and is claimed by both sides.
(a) For the N. Galatian theory it is claimed that :
(i.) St. Paul addresses his readers as FaXdrai (3^). This term applies only to the people of N. Galatia. The inhabitants of Antioch, Derbe, and Lystra were Phrygians and Lycaonians. But it is diffi- cult to see what other general term could be used to include the inhabitants of all these cities. It was true politically if not ethnographically.
(ii.) Assuming that Gal 2'"'*^ refers to the time of the Council, we should expect, on the S. Galatian theorj', that some reference to the evangelizing of Antioch, Derbe, and Lystra would follow Gal P^ It would also be natural to look for some mention in Ac 13. 14 of the Apostle's illness (Gal i^^).