{{ Introduction to Galatians 55-58 AD
The letter is addressed to Christians as are all ‘letters’ and this time multiple congregations all located in Galatia. Paul wastes no time getting right to the point that there is only ‘one good-news of Jesus’ and that anyone proclaiming a different good-news is accursed. Apparently, some Christian who were Jews were teaching the other Christians that they had to be circumcised and keep the Old Covenant Laws. A wonderful comparison of the ‘promise to Christians’ and the ‘faith of Abraham’ and ‘the faith of Christ’ seen here in Galatians. The real purpose of God was always to bring Christ into the world. However, Paul with various arguments pretty much put it in the context in 5:1-6. Circumcision is not profiting, but if you keep any of the Law (Old Testament), then you have to practice all of it. However, in Christ, all are free from the Old Testament Law and Christians are not a slave to it. Then the typical ‘slap on the face’ from Paul ‘you° who are made righteous by the law; you° fell from the grace of God.’
Therefore, if you are keeping tithing, then you have to keep the Sabbath (Saturday) and about 613 more laws. Then once again ‘who hindered you°’ from obeying the truth, ‘I wish-that the ones unsettling you°, will even castrate themselves’ No doubt, we know Paul’s (God’s) opinion of false teachers who lead Christians away from the truth by making them keep Old Testament Law. ‘For* all the law is fulfilled in one word, in the command: ‘You will love* your neighbor like yourself.’ 5:14.}}
1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him up from the dead), 1:2 and all the brethren who are together-with me, to the congregations* of Galatia: 1:3 grace to you° and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 1:4 who gave himself concerning our sins, *that he might liberate us out-of the present evil age, according-to the will of our God and Father, 1:5 in which is the glory, forevermore. Amen.1:6 I marvel that you° are so quickly transferring yourselves from the one who called you° by the favor of Christ to a different good-news; 1:7 which is not another good-news, except now there are some, the ones disturbing you° and wishing to pervert the good-news of the Christ. 1:8 But even if we or a messenger from heaven, should proclaim to you° any good-news contrary to what we ourselves proclaimed to you°, let him be accursed. 1:9 As we have said before, and so now I am saying again, if anyone proclaims to you° any good-news contrary to what you° received, let him be accursed. 1:10 For* am I now persuading men or God? Or am I seeking to please men? For* if I was still pleasing men, I myself would not be a bondservant of Christ.
1:11 But I am making known to you°, brethren, the good-news which was proclaimed by me, It is not according-to man. 1:12 For* I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 1:13 For* you° have heard previously of my conduct in Judaism, how that I was surpassingly persecuting the congregation* of believers of God and was making havoc of her; 1:14 and how I was progressing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own race, being* even-more zealous of the ancestral traditions. 1:15 But when God was delighted, he separated* me from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace, 1:16 to reveal his Son in me, in-order-that I may proclaim the good-news of him among the nations. Immediately, I did not consult with flesh and blood, 1:17 nor did I go up into Jerusalem to the ones who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and I returned again into Damascus.
1:18 Thereafter, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to make the acquaintance of Peter and remained with him fifteen days. {Fall 39 AD.} 1:19 But I did not see any other of the apostles, except James the Lord’s brother. 1:20 Now what I am writing to you°, behold, in God’s sight that I am not lying. 1:21 Thereafter I came to the districts of Syria and Cilicia. 1:22 But I was still unrecognized by face to the congregations* of Judea, which are in Christ; 1:23 but they were only hearing that, The one previously persecuting us is now proclaiming the good-news of the faith of which he was previously making havoc. 1:24 And they were glorifying God with* me.