ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Galatians 1

Gal. 1:1–9 Opening. Paul offers a greeting (vv. 1–5). He then addresses the crisis in the Galatian church (vv. 6–9).

Gal. 1:1–5 Many of the typical elements of Paul’s greetings appear here (e.g., “grace and peace”), but there is no thanksgiving for or reference to the Galatians’ faith, hope, or love.

Gal. 1:1 apostle. Paul was sent by God to proclaim the gospel. On apostleship, see notes on Matt. 10:2; Acts 1:20; Rom. 1:1. False teachers have evidently raised questions about whether Paul should really be called an apostle (Gal. 2:7–9). not from men nor through man. Paul stresses both here and in 1:11–12, 16–17, 19 that he received the gospel directly from the Lord, not from others.

Gal. 1:2 all the brothers . . . with me. Those with Paul agree with the gospel he proclaims. The Galatians are wrong to accept a gospel that demands circumcision for salvation.

Gal. 1:3 Grace means God’s unmerited favor. Peace is not just the absence of conflict. It echoes the OT concept of blessing, in which the person and community are well and whole in all aspects of life. Such blessing comes especially in a right relationship with God (e.g., Num. 6:24–26).

Gal. 1:4 gave himself for our sins. Christ’s saving work on the cross is central in this letter. Jesus saves Christians from their sins and sets them free from slavery to this present evil age (3:22–26; 4:1–11).

Gal. 1:6–9 The Galatians are abandoning the true gospel because of the false teachers. so quickly. It was a short time between Paul’s first preaching to the Galatians and their present confusion. there are some who trouble you. Visiting preachers have taught them that circumcision and obedience to the whole law are essential to justification (see also 4:17; 6:12–13).

Gal. 1:10–2:21 Indirect Appeal: Paul’s Ministry and the Gospel. Paul received the gospel directly from Jesus Christ (see Acts 9:1–19a; 22:3–21; 26:12–23). James, Peter, and John approved his ministry (Gal. 2:9). Paul had enough authority as an apostle to correct Peter (2:11–21).

Gal. 1:10–24 Paul’s critics say he teaches a gospel received from man, not from God. They also say he wants to please man rather than God. Paul does not simply defend himself but shows a pastoral concern. He wants to reassure the Galatians that the gospel they received was authentic. It was not a false message delivered by an untrustworthy messenger (e.g., 2:5).

Gal. 1:13–14 Paul distances himself from his former life in Judaism, but he does not reject his identity as an Israelite (see Rom. 11:1). Rather, he has broken with the life of seeking righteousness through the Law of Moses. the traditions of my fathers. In the first century a.d., rabbinic teaching was the foundation of Jewish life, particularly for the Pharisees (see Mark 7:3–5).

Gal. 1:16 that I might preach him among the Gentiles. This was Paul’s specific mission.

Gal. 1:17 The journey to Arabia and back to Damascus occurs between Acts 9:25 and 9:26. On the city of Damascus, see note on Acts 9:3. Roman Arabia included much of modern Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and southern Syria.

Gal. 1:18 after three years. If Paul was converted in a.d. 33 (an approximate date), then this visit occurred around a.d. 36. It is probably the visit to Jerusalem described in Acts 9:26–29. Cephas. Peter.

Gal. 1:19–20 none of the other apostles except James. This implies that James was among “the apostles,” though he was not one of the original 12 (see note on 1 Cor. 9:4–5).