Galatians 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia.
Paul wrote to the church located in the Roman province of Galatia. He begins his letter like his other letters with a statement of his position and authority. He can call himself an apostle because he saw the risen Jesus Christ in a vision and was “sent out” by him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. His mission did not come as the result of any human activity. He did not need letters of recommendation. He did not need the authorized signature of any church, group, or leader. He did not need a General Assembly or Pope.
His calling as an apostle came through Jesus and God the Father. His apostleship came through Jesus by way of revelation, about which he will write in a few more verse. He was an apostle of Jesus. He also came by the authority of God. This statement connects Paul to the whole history of salvation. His reference to God as Father of Jesus reveals a deep understanding of the Trinity, although Paul never fully explains this in his letters.
The mention of Jesus’ resurrection implies sovereign power. Paul will take up the topic of sin and living by the flesh later in the letter. The heart of the message he preached was freedom in Christ. The only way this is possible is because Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus was truly dead and not just in a coma. He needed outside power to raise him, which the Father did. This is the same creative power that bring life from nothing. With this reference as part of his identity, Paul has connected his mission as an apostle with the infinitive power behind Jesus’ resurrection. Paul’s mission focused on letting the world know of the hope of resurrection, a spiritual resurrection in this life and an enteral transforming resurrection in eternity.
Paul then adds others in his opening greeting. Wherever he was when he wrote this letter, possibly Ephesus, he had a group of believers with him. When he uses the term brothers in his letters, it was inclusive of males and females. It is a term of relationship closer even than blood family. Sociologists call this “fictive kinship.” The early Christians were bonded together in like faith, experience, and hope. They were unified together into one body by the Holy Spirit. It did not matter how far away they were, they were still together as one church. Those who believe in Jesus Christ have been adopted into God’s family and become brothers and sisters. Although Paul will appeal to his vision of Jesus as the basis for his message, Paul was not a rogue but was part of a large team of people. His message was not unique, even though it came in a unique way. There is one Lord and there is one message.
He writes this letter to the churches of Galatia. This implies that the letter is not for one particular group for believers in a large area. Galatia was a Roman province in modern Turkey. Where these believers were has been debated for a long time. If this refers to southern Galatia, it would include places like Lystra and Derbe, which Paul and Barnabas visited in Acts 14:6. These churches should have known Paul’s message. He is writing this letter to remind them of this message.
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