Notes on Galatians 1

1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul begins by identifying himself as an apostle, with authority deriving from Jesus Christ and God the Father, not from any human agency. This establishes the basis of his authority, his right to give direction and counsel to the churches of Galatia. He offers them the common blessing he extends to most of the churches he addresses; the grace, or unmerited favor, of God, and God's peace, that inward rest and contentment that comes only from unity with God and with other Christians.

He then presents a summary of the Gospel, which he also does often at the beginning of a letter. Everything he does and says is done in the context of God's gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, through his death for us on the cross. That serves to give the proper focus for his letters, rather than his saying something out of his own wisdom or pride. The glory always goes to God, not to him.

6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

The early church had no written Gospels to turn to as their authority, and unless there were strong teachers in a local congregation well versed in Christian doctrine, the members were easily led astray. Paul's letters were written before the Gospels were compiled and in general use. They either provided additional instruction and encouragement to churches trying to follow the truth, or rebuke and guidance to those who had fallen into error. The Galatian churches, like the one in Corinth, fell into the latter category. After the brief preliminaries, Paul immediately voices his concern that the church has so soon turned away from the truth of the Gospel he had proclaimed to them. He pronounces God's curse on anyone who is bringing them the lying message cloaked as the Gospel. All false teachers and preachers fall under that same curse, which has not prevented their persistence in trying to lead Christians astray, to this very day.

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24 And they glorified God in me.

In order to further establish his credentials, and his knowledge of the Gospel, Paul shares some of his testimony. As he discusses later, the false teachers who were troubling the church were Jews, like himself, and they were trying to lead the Galatians into Jewish legalism. He himself came out of that tradition, he says, to the point that he was the model Jew, who in his zeal tried to destroy the church. He was called by God, not by his being obedient to all the points of the law, but by grace, something he did not and never could deserve. He didn't call Paul just so he would himself believe in Christ as savior, but so that he in turn could lead others to Christ. He didn't go into this ministry blindly, but only after years of instruction and training by the Spirit. Though well trained in the Jewish law, he went to no seminary to learn how to be an apostle. The churches of Judea, the home of the faith, did not license him, and did not even know him personally for several years. What they did know was that Paul had repented, turned about, and now served Christ rather than trying to destroy his church.

There are two schools of thought today when it comes to pastors or evangelists with formal seminary or Bible college training. One says that such training is absolutely necessary, and no one can serve in the ministry. Another, opposing school, less pronounced now than in past years, says that preachers should be trained by the Holy Spirit, and the book learning is not necessary, and may even be harmful. The truth is that some liberal seminaries don't turn out preachers of the Word, but scholars and technicians lacking in any inspiration or direction by the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, some preachers are so ignorant of the Bible's origins and meaning that they spout spiritual error as truth without even realizing it. There is nothing wrong with good, solid study in a Christ-centered school, but this is only a framework. Real insight in the Word comes from the Holy Spirit, who can make the best use of the tools and knowledge pastors gain in their formal education. Without the Spirit's constant direction, the most learned and detailed education is useless. Both for laymen and clergy, learning the Truth is a lifetime process.

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