<P> The central dispute in the letter concerns the question of how Gentiles could convert to Christianity, which shows that this letter was written at a very early stage in church history, when the vast majority of Christians were Jewish or Jewish proselytes, which historians refer to as the Jewish Christians . Another indicator that the letter is early is that there is no hint in the letter of a developed organization within the Christian community at large . This puts it during the lifetime of Paul himself . </P> <P> Nevertheless, a small number of scholars have questioned Paul's authorship of Galatians, such as Bruno Bauer, Abraham Loman, C.H. Weisse and Frank R. McGuire . </P> <P> Paul's letter is addressed "to the churches of Galatia" (Galatians 1: 2), but the location of these churches is a matter of debate . A minority of scholars have argued that the "Galatia" is an ethnic reference to a Celtic people living in northern Asia Minor, but most agree that it is a geographical reference to the Roman province in central Asia Minor, which had been settled by immigrant Celts in the 270s BC and retained Gaulish features of culture and language in Paul's day . Acts of the Apostles records Paul traveling to the "region of Galatia and Phrygia", which lies immediately west of Galatia . </P> <P> Some claim the New Testament says that the churches of Galatia (Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe) were founded by Paul himself (Acts 16: 6; Galatians. 1: 8; 4: 13; 4: 19). They seem to have been composed mainly of converts from paganism (Galatians 4: 8). After Paul's departure, the churches were led astray from Paul's trust / faith - centered teachings by individuals proposing "another gospel" (which centered on salvation through the Mosaic law, so - called legalism), whom Paul saw as preaching a "different gospel" from what Paul had taught (Galatians 1: 1--9). The Galatians appear to have been receptive to the teaching of these newcomers, and the epistle is Paul's response to what he sees as their willingness to turn from his teaching . </P>

Who is the book of galatians addressed to