GALATIA:
An inland district of Asia Minor, and, after 25 ), which is generally identified with "Galatia" (R. H. 26a). A teacher named Menahem is said to have come from "Galia" (Tosef., 'Er. viii.; Tosef., Ber. iv. 4; Ket. 60a). The chief proof, however, of the existence of Jews in Galatia is the fact that St. Paul sent thither a general epistle known as the "Epistle to the Galatians." There is a strong disagreement among scholars as regards the parts of Galatia where these correspondents of St. Paul lived. The older opinion was that they were to be found in the northern cities of Galatia, but recent scholars, especially Professor Ramsay, hold that they lived in cities of South or New Galatia, which are actually mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. The progress of Christianity in Galatia, however, may explain the fact that the Jews of this province are never heard of in later history. It remains to be stated that the "Galatians" of I Macc. viii. 2 and II Macc. viii. 20 were Gauls.
- Cheyne and Black, Encyc. Bibl.;
- Neubauer, G. T. p. 317;
- Schürer, Gesch. iii. 17;
- Lightfoot, Epistle to Galatians, Introduction;
- W. M. Ramsay, The Cities and Bishoprics of Phrygia, i. 667 et seq.