Gal 1:1-5

One of the things I like to do when starting to read a book of the bible is to see if the text can be easily divided up.


Galatians chapter 1 can be divided into the following sections:

1:1-5
1:6-9
1:10-14
1:15-24

If you want to take 1:10-24 as one longer section that’s ok.

There is a question about v. 10, some like the NIV take v. 10 with verses 6-9. There is no clear marker in the text, so we have some liberty. The repeated ‘accursed’ or ‘anathema’ in vv. 8 and 9 tie these verses together. Then, we could read the reference to pleasing man in v. 10 as looking forward to ‘not man’s gospel’ in v. 11 so linking v. 10 to this new section.

1:1-5
Paul describes himself as an apostle. The key definition of an apostle that Paul gives in Galatians is in v. 1 when he writes of being an apostle ‘through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead’.
Acts 1 has rather more to say about being an apostle, but this is what is important for Paul in this letter. His apostleship has been challenged by some in Galatia and Paul will give much of chapters 1 and 2 to defending his apostleship.
Without this word ‘apostle’ in chapter 1 we begin to see Paul, one who is sent and one who serves. Coming to Galatia preaching the gospel Paul is acting in obedience to the one who sent him, Jesus Christ. While in Galatia Paul serves Jesus Christ in the work of the gospel.

Do you think ‘apostle’ is a term that should be reserved for Paul and the other New Testament apostles? In what ways are we sent by God and called into service today?

Paul does not use the term ‘God’ without further defining that term. The God whom Paul serves, the God of the bible is very specifically the Father of Jesus Christ and the one who raised him from the dead. There are not many gods, only one. This one God has uniquely made himself known through Jesus Christ and his resurrection.
This Jesus is the one who has given himself (an allusion to the crucifixion) with the aim of delivering us from this present age by dealing with our sins. It is the will of God the Father that this Jesus should give himself, should do so for our sins and should deliver God’s people. There is no disharmony or disunity between the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. That sin is the problem which needs dealt with and that Jesus is the one who will deal with sins is something the Father and the Son agree upon.

Why is the history of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection important to you? How do we know God? Why does God the Father agree that his Son should deal with our sins?

In the light of this the common greeting ‘grace and peace to you’ is transformed by the gospel. Our sins do not deserve such merciful treatment, grace alone can account for God’s mercy towards us in Christ. Our lives are so lacking in peace only the promise of God and the gift of his Spirit making peace for us can give a term like ‘peace’ any meaning. Grace and peace is what we receive from God in the gospel, we are called to share grace and peace with one another, and with all the world.

What does grace and peace mean to you? What encourages you to share grace and peace with others?