Galatians 1

 

Galatia is probably an area of Asia Minor (Turkey today) where Paul started a number of churches (see Acts.) The letter address the question of whether or not Jewish Law is binding on Christians (remember that from Acts?)

Note that Paul starts out by claming apostleship – directly fro Jesus himself! He really is calling as much weight to bear on his letter (or is he being defensive?) as he can. Paul starts out this letter, and many others, with a combination Greek/Roman (grace) and Jewish (peace) greeting.

 Paul gets right into it! His churches are abandoning his Gospel foundation because some false teachers are perverting it. The "new" teaching is worthless. The teachers should be condemned. How easy it is to listen to teachers who tell us the kind of things we like to hear. Right? There is only one Gospel. Everything else is "bad news."

Paul stresses his pedigree again. God's one and only Gospel and Paul is a messenger called by God to proclaim it. He says he was a Jew's Jew, keeping the Law of Moses, but realized that there was more. Salvation (spiritual health) is found in Jesus Christ.  Jesus sent him to Gentiles (the ones now abandoning the faith.)