Home -- English -- Galatians - 002 The letter head
Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
GALATIANS - I Have Been Crucified With Christ
Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Galatians
PART 1: The Opening: Greetings And Questions (Galatians 1:1-10)
1. The letter head (Galatians 1:1-2)
GALATIANS 1:1-2
1 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 brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:
Paul commences his epistle mentioning his name, not for boasting, but to confirm that he was the penman of it. The Greek name “Paul” means “little”, which is contrary to his previous name, “Saul”, which was given to the first king of Israel, who was a tall, large man of attractive appearance. Since Paul, as King Saul, belonged to the same tribe of Benjamin, his parents gave him the glorious name of Saul. However, Paul put pride and haughtiness aside, and wanted to be known as the “Little One” in Christ’s service, giving all glory to Christ.
The Lord who was raised from the dead, the living God was the mystery of his life. He had no chance to see him in flesh, but the Lord appeared to him in his great glory before the gates of Damascus, and the poor Saul recognized that the despised, dead, crucified Christ was living and present, while he persecuted him. Thus, he crushed his boasting of the Law, and saw that he was wrong and perishing; and Christ, on his part, did not destroy him at once, but he spoke to him kindly.
The seeing of Christ is not a dull teaching. Jesus did not show himself with empty words, but he manifested himself with power and authority changing the life of his followers. Our faith signifies union with God in Christ.
The Lord who was raised from the dead chose his broken, repentant enemy to be his apostle to the nations, after filling him with the power of his Holy Spirit. Therefore, Paul proved to the Galatians that he was a true apostle, called and commissioned not by people, but directly by the glorious Christ, in harmony with the will of God.
Paul recognized in the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that the holy God was not a destroying tyrant, as otherwise he would have punished him. He knew with all faith that God was merciful, and compassionate; that he was the true God who had a Son, and children of his Holy Spirit from eternity.
Paul lived with those children of God, and made them partners of his service, seeking their prayers in order that this epistle might be anointed with the Holy Spirit and effective in the hearts of its readers. Paul did not serve his Lord proudly alone, but in the fellowship of saints whom he called “brothers” in the family of God, the Father.
PRAYER: We worship to you, O heavenly Father, because you called us, who are sinful and disobedient, to become your children. Forgive us our sins against you and against all men. Establish us in your Christ that we may be filled with his Holy Spirit, and participate in preaching the world, as you sent the great Saul and made him the little Paul that the strength of Christ might be made perfect in his weakness.
QUESTION:
- Who sent Paul to his apostolic service? How did this commission take place? (Also Read Acts 1: 22).