When was the book of Galatians written relative to the destruction of the Temple?
Galatians was written approximately 60 A.D., about 10 years before the Temple's destruction in 70 A.D. At that time, Temple worship and daily sacrifices were still ongoing in Jerusalem, and the Temple remained the center of Jewish activity when Paul wrote the letter.
Les teaches that chronology and history are essential here. He explains that Galatians was written approximately 60 A.D., while the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., so the letter came about 10 years before the Temple's destruction. At that time, Jerusalem still had Temple worship and daily sacrifices, hundreds of them, and the Temple was the center of all Jewish activity. That is why Paul could use Hagar to speak of the Law given at Sinai, which was still indicative of Temple worship when he wrote Galatians.