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;)”

Context:The book of Galatians is one of the letters written by the apostle Paul to the churches in Galatia. Paul wrote this letter to address the issue of false teachings that were infiltrating the Galatian churches, particularly the teachings that insisted on the necessity of circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic law for salvation.

Authorship:In this verse, Paul identifies himself as the author. He starts by stating his name, “Paul,” which was a common practice in ancient letters. Paul, formerly known as Saul, was an apostle chosen by Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1-19). He had a transformative encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, which led to his conversion. This encounter and subsequent commission from Jesus Christ made Paul an apostle, meaning one sent with a specific message and authority.

Authority of Paul’s Apostleship:Paul emphasizes the source and nature of his apostleship in this verse. He clarifies that he is not an apostle “of men” or “by man,” indicating that his calling did not originate from human authority or appointment. Instead, Paul’s apostleship came “by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.”

Divine Calling:Paul underscores the divine origin of his apostleship. He was not self-appointed or commissioned by any human authority but was directly chosen by Jesus Christ and God the Father. This divine calling carries significant weight and authority for Paul’s message and teachings. By emphasizing this, Paul establishes his authority to address the false teachings in the Galatian churches and defend the true gospel.

Resurrection of Jesus Christ:The mention of God the Father raising Jesus Christ from the dead is significant in this verse. It highlights the central event of Christianity-the resurrection of Jesus. Paul often emphasized the resurrection because it is through Christ’s death and resurrection that salvation and new life are made available to believers. The resurrection is the foundation of Paul’s preaching and the hope of the gospel message.

In conclusion, Galatians 1:1 establishes Paul’s authority as an apostle and underscores the divine origin of his calling. It highlights that his apostleship came directly from Jesus Christ and God the Father. This verse sets the stage for Paul’s defense of the true gospel and his passionate plea to the Galatians to reject the false teachings that threatened their faith.