Why did the churches in Asia turn away from Paul?
The churches in Asia turned away from Paul because they abandoned his teaching of pure grace and returned to legalistic teachings and the influence of Peter, James, John, and the Jewish community. They rejected the apostle who had brought them out of paganism and did not remain true to him.
Les explains that the churches in Asia did not pitch Christianity overboard entirely, but they turned their back on the apostles' teachings of pure grace and went back under much of the legalistic teachings and influence of Peter, James, and John, and the Jewish community, as will be seen in Galatians. Paul, writing from prison in Rome just before he was martyred, was heartbroken that all these little churches he had suffered for, spent so much time with, and encouraged as they grew in grace and knowledge had turned away from him. They had rejected him, and though the extent is unknown, Scripture is true: they had not remained true to the apostle who had brought them out of their paganism.
This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
More Questions
Which churches were located in Asia, the region Paul mentions?
The churches Paul founded in Asia included Ephesus, Thyatira, Pergamos, Derbe, Lystra, and Antioch in Pisidia, all located in what Scripture calls Asia or Asia Minor.