Galatians 1

The date of the Epistle is not later than A.D. 58, and if the “South Galatian” theory is accepted, it may even be as early as A.D. 52. The subject is fully discussed by Lightfoot (Commentary on Galatians), Sir William Ramsay (Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen), and Rendall (Expositor’s Greek Testament). A very fine exposition of the whole Epistle is given by Canon Girdlestone (Devotional Commentary: Galatians).

1 an apostle. See note on Rom. i. 1. Paul here declares, in reply to his opponents, that his commission as an apostle was not received in any sense from man (either “from men” as the source, or “through men” as the means), but “through (as well as from) Jesus Christ and God the Father,” etc.: see ver. 12; Acts xxii. 17-21. The laying on of hands at Antioch (Acts xiii. 2, 3) was only an outward recognition by the church of a previous Divine call and commission; see Acts xxvi. 16-18.

who raised Him from the dead. Our Lord’s resurrection was the great attestation of the truth of all His claims, especially His claim to bestow apostolic authority and gifts (Eph. iv. 8, 11).

2 all the brethren. Paul’s companions and fellow-labourers at that time. The “churches” here addressed (without any honourable adjunct or description, as in other Epistles) were most likely in the leading cities of Galatia.

3. Grace, etc. See note on Rom. i. 7.

4 who gave Himself. That is, to death: see Matt. xx. 28, and note. The apostle at once makes prominent the atoning sacrifice of Christ, with its sanctifying design, and its Divine authority, in opposition to those who taught that circumcision and legal observance were essential to salvation.

God and our Father. Better, “our God and Father.”

6 are so soon removed. R.V., “are so quickly removing.” The verb means “to alter one’s opinion”; “to fall away.” So quickly, either after their conversion, or after Paul’s second visit. In either case the time was comparatively short; varying from one to five years.

from Him. That is, from God, from whom the call proceeds: 1 Thess. ii. 12; v. 24; 2 Thess. ii. 14; 2 Tim. i. 9.

into the grace of Christ. Rather, “in the grace of Christ.”

another gospel. More exactly, as R.V., “a different gospel”; the apostle immediately adding “which is not another.” (Two words are rendered another, the former denoting difference in kind, the latter simply numerical difference). It is not another gospel: for in fact it is no gospel at all.

8 accursed. Or, “anathema.” See note on 1 Cor xvi. 22.

10 persuade. Rather, “conciliate”; or, “seek the favour of.”

11 not after man. It was not communicated to me by human teaching, but by direct revelation from Christ, and must therefore be in exact accordance with no human standard, but with His will alone.

13 conversation. Rather, “manner of life”; “career” (Moffatt).

in the Jews’ religion. Greek, “in Judaism”; which involved obedience to the traditions of the fathers, as well as the institutions of Moses: ep. vers. 13, 14, with Acts xxii. 3, 4.

14 profited. R.V., “advanced beyond”; “outran” (Conylecare and Howson).

my equals. Properly, “equals in age.”

15 who separated me, etc. “Who, from my birth, separated me to this service (Acts ix. 15; xiii. 2), and called me,” etc.

16 to reveal His Son in me. Giving me the personal knowledge of Christ and the call to be an apostle. This began at the time of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts ix.).

not with flesh and blood. That is, not with any human being. Paul “immediately” decided not to seek instruction from any man, not even from the apostles at Jerusalem; but he went away into Arabia (see next note), as some think, for exclusion, meditation, quiet study, and communion with God. Meyer, however, thinks that it was “a first, certainly fervent experiment of extraneous ministry.” How long he remained there is uncertain: ep. Acts ix. 19-23.

17 into Arabia. This visit is not mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. “Arabia” included the whole desert district south-east of Damascus. It has, however, been thought (see Lightfoot) that the apostle’s sojourn was in the wilderness of Sinai, to which the after-mention of Arabia in this Epistle undoubtedly refers. “Standing on the threshold of the new covenant, he was anxious to look upon the birthplace of the old.”

18 after three years. Most likely “three years” from the time of his conversion (see Acts ix. 23, “many days”; 26-30).

to see Peter. Or, “to become acquainted with Cephas.”

19 save (or, “but only”) James the Lord’s brother. See notes on Matt. xiii. 55; and on Acts xii. 17.

20 before God. This solemn appeal to God refers not only to his statement of facts, but to his claim of independence of the other apostles.

21. Syria and Cilicia. See note on Acts ix. 30.

22 the churches of Judæa. Excepting the church at Jerusalem, where alone he had been since his conversion. This is also to prove his independence of the other apostles.

23 but they had heard only. Rather, “But they were hearing only”; i.e., reports about his preaching reached them from time to time.