Galatians 1

Galatians 1 opens Paul’s urgent letter to the Galatian churches, written around AD 48–49, likely from Syrian Antioch or during his first missionary journey. Paul defends his apostolic authority and the gospel of grace, rebuking the Galatians for deserting the true gospel for a distorted version promoted by Judaizers, who insisted on law-keeping for salvation. He emphasizes that his gospel came directly from Christ, not human sources, and recounts his early life to prove his divine calling.
Key Sections
Greeting and Rebuke (1:1–5): Paul, an apostle by God’s call, not human appointment, greets the Galatians, affirming Christ’s sacrifice for sins. He marvels at their quick desertion to a false gospel, which is no gospel at all, invoking God’s glory through Christ.
No Other Gospel (1:6–10): Paul pronounces a curse on anyone, even angels, preaching a gospel contrary to his. He seeks God’s approval, not human praise, clarifying he’s not a people-pleaser but a servant of Christ.
Paul’s Divine Calling (1:11–17): The gospel Paul preaches came through revelation from Jesus, not human teaching. His past as a zealous persecutor of the church and strict Jew underscores his transformation by God’s grace, called to preach to Gentiles without consulting others.
Confirmation of His Ministry (1:18–24): After three years, Paul visited Jerusalem to meet Cephas (Peter) for 15 days, seeing only James, the Lord’s brother. He then ministered in Syria and Cilicia, unknown personally to Judean churches, who glorified God for his transformation from persecutor to preacher.
Cross-References
Apostolic Authority: 
Acts 9:1–6: Paul’s conversion.

Romans 1:1: Called as apostle.

2 Corinthians 1:1: Apostle by God’s will.
No Other Gospel: 
Acts 15:1–5: Judaizers’ false teaching.

2 Corinthians 11:4: Different gospel.

Revelation 22:18–19: Warning against altering truth.
Curse on False Teachers: 
Deuteronomy 13:1–5: False prophets condemned.

1 Timothy 1:3–4: Stop false doctrines.

Titus 1:10–11: Rebuke deceivers.
Divine Revelation: 
Ephesians 3:3–5: Revelation to apostles.

Acts 26:16–18: Christ’s commission to Paul.

1 Corinthians 2:10: Spirit reveals truth.
Paul’s Past: 
Acts 8:3: Persecuting the church.

Philippians 3:5–6: Zealous Pharisee.

1 Timothy 1:13: Former blasphemer.
Jerusalem Visit: 
Acts 9:26–30: Paul in Jerusalem.

Acts 15:2: Later council visit.

Hebrews 13:7: Honor faithful leaders.
Theological Meaning
Apostolic Authority: Paul’s calling from Christ, not humans, validates his gospel (1:1; Romans 1:5).

One True Gospel: Salvation is by grace through faith, not law; distortions bring condemnation (1:6–8; Ephesians 2:8–9).

God’s Sovereign Grace: Paul’s transformation from persecutor to apostle shows God’s unmerited call (1:15; Titus 3:5).

Revelation Over Tradition: The gospel’s divine origin trumps human teachings or traditions (1:12; Colossians 2:8).

Mission to Gentiles: God’s plan includes all nations, fulfilled through Paul’s ministry (1:16; Romans 11:13).

Glory to God: True faith results in glorifying God for His work, not human effort (1:24; 1 Corinthians 10:31).
Questions and Answers
Why is Paul astonished (1:6)?
The Galatians quickly abandoned the gospel of grace for a legalistic distortion (1:6; Galatians 3:1).

What is the false gospel (1:7)?
Judaizers’ teaching that law-keeping, like circumcision, is needed for salvation (1:7; Acts 15:1).

Why curse false preachers (1:8–9)?
To protect the gospel’s purity, as distortions lead to spiritual ruin (1:8; 2 Peter 2:1).

How did Paul receive his gospel (1:11–12)?
Through direct revelation from Jesus, not human instruction (1:12; Acts 9:3–6).

Why mention his past (1:13–14)?
To show his zealous Judaism and persecution, highlighting God’s grace in his calling (1:15; Philippians 3:6).

Why visit Cephas (1:18)?
To connect with Peter, confirming his gospel, not seeking approval (1:18; Acts 9:27).

How does this apply today?
Guard the gospel, trust God’s grace, and reject works-based salvation (1:6; Ephesians 4:14).
Additional Notes for Readers
Historical Context: Written to Galatian churches (Acts 13–14) facing Judaizers’ pressure to adopt Jewish law (1:6–7), this chapter establishes Paul’s authority against false teachers. Galatia’s Gentile believers (Acts 14:1) were vulnerable to legalism (Galatians 5:2). Paul’s conversion (1:15) occurred around AD 33–35 (Acts 9:1–19). His Jerusalem visit (1:18) likely aligns with Acts 9:26–30, post-conversion.

Cultural Questions: “Apostle not from men” (1:1) counters Judaizers’ reliance on human credentials (Acts 15:5). “Another gospel” (1:6) reflects Galatia’s syncretistic tendencies (Acts 14:11–13). Paul’s persecution (1:13) was rooted in Pharisaic zeal (Acts 26:9–11). “Revelation” (1:12) echoes Jewish prophetic calls (Jeremiah 1:5). Gentile mission (1:16) challenged Jewish exclusivity (Isaiah 49:6). “Judean churches” (1:22) were early Jewish believers (Acts 11:18).

Application: Galatians 1 calls believers to uphold the gospel of grace, reject distortions, and trust God’s transformative call. It challenges compromise with false teachings or human approval, urging fidelity to Christ’s truth in a pluralistic world (2 Timothy 4:2–4; Jude 1:3).