Christ-Centered Greetings. Galatians 1:1-3.
Dear People Who Are Called by the Name,
Today we start a new series in Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia. This is possibly the earliest of Paul’s letters, with the letter of James the only earlier New Testament book. Apostle* (v. 1). Paul identifies himself as an apostle. An apostle is a person who is sent to represent another, usually with the authority of the sender. Paul goes to lengths to state that he was not made an apostle by men, but by Jesus Christ himself. This is important because later, the legitimacy of his apostolic authority will come into focus. Paul enjoins the Father in his validation statement but also refers to him as the one who raised Jesus from the dead. This points to the centrality of the resurrection to the message of the gospel. The apostles were witnesses to the resurrection. They had seen, interacted with, and been instructed by the risen Christ. They were so convinced of the resurrection that they were willing to die for the truth of it.
Associates (v. 2). It is possible that Paul wrote from Antioch, the city from which Paul and Barnabas had been sent. Barnabas and other Christians would have been with him. Because of some hard things, he will be saying later, the inclusion of others of like mind is important. The recipients are addressed simply as “the churches of Galatia. But behind this simple reference is a rich history. Paul addresses the Christians in the Southern region of the Roman province of Galatia. The visit of Paul to the area is narrated in 13:13-26. If you look it up on a Bible map you can see all the cities Paul and Barnabas visited during the First Missionary Journey: Attalia, Perga, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Paul founded churches in pretty much all the cities of the region.
Address (v. 3). Paul wishes the Christians grace and peace. These were common cultural greetings, grace for the Greeks, and peace for the Jews. But whereas culturally these were wishes only, Paul brings in two members of the Trinity – the Father and the Son. Grace now must be seen in this light, as God’s favor to undeserving sinners. Peace comes loaded with the fact of reconciliation with God in Christ (Ephesians 2:13-18). The quality of this peace is that of inner, settled calm, in the knowledge that one is secure in God.
This echoes the words of Jesus, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). If there is a storm in your life, it is time to come to the one who is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).
Your Loving Pastor Chris.