Galatians 1:1
Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Paul isn't just saying his apostleship comes directly from God, but he's emphasizing that it's not through any human intermediary, distinguishing his divine appointment from any lesser human authority. The phrase "through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead" highlights that his commission stems from the powerful, resurrected Christ, implying the same divine authority that raised Jesus now empowers Paul.
Paul opens this letter with a strong declaration of his authority as an apostle, emphasizing that his commission comes directly from God and the risen Christ, not from any human source. This assertion is crucial because some in the Galatian churches were challenging his authority and distorting his message. By establishing the divine origin of his apostleship right at the beginning, Paul sets the stage to defend the truth of the gospel he preached.
Ever felt like your authority or calling was questioned? Paul kicks off his letter by forcefully stating where his authority doesn't come from, setting the stage for why we should listen.
Paul begins by declaring himself an "apostle." But he immediately clarifies what that means, and more importantly, what it doesn't mean.
Not of Men
This phrase means his authority didn't originate from any human group or earthly institution. He wasn't appointed by a council or an earthly leader. The ultimate source of his apostleship was divine, not human.
Neither by Man
This goes a step further. It means no human being acted as the channel or intermediary in conferring this authority upon him. While he had human companions and even received guidance from individuals like Ananias (Acts 9:17), the foundational commission for his apostleship came directly from God, not through human agency.
This distinction was crucial because some in the Galatian church were questioning Paul's legitimacy, likely influenced by those who emphasized ties to the original Jerusalem apostles. Paul is saying his commission is on the same level, directly from God.
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Why connect Paul's apostleship to a resurrection? Discover how the very act of God raising Jesus to life underpins Paul's entire message and mission.
Paul doesn't just say he was appointed by Jesus Christ and God the Father. He adds a crucial qualifier: "who raised him from the dead." This phrase is loaded with significance:
The Foundation of Apostolic Power
By linking his apostleship to the resurrection, Paul asserts that his authority is tied to the very power that defeated death, making his message and commission undeniably valid and transformative.
Understand the original words
apostolos · Greek Noun
A messenger or delegate commissioned by a higher authority, particularly one appointed directly by Jesus Christ as a witness to His resurrection and a foundational leader of the early church.
Paul's opening declaration of apostleship isn't just a formal title; it's a bold assertion of divine authority directly from the resurrected Christ, intended to counter the undermining efforts of those challenging his ministry and message in Galatia.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The central event of Christian faith: Jesus' death for sins and His resurrection, demonstrating His divine power and validating His claims. Paul directly links his apostleship to this event.
c. 33-36 AD
Paul's Conversion on the Road to Damascus
Saul, a fierce persecutor of Christians, encounters the resurrected Jesus. This transformative event leads to his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles.
c. 36 AD
Paul visits Jerusalem, meets Peter and James
Shortly after his conversion, Paul travels to Jerusalem and speaks with Peter and James, key leaders of the early church. This interaction helps establish his credentials, though he emphasizes his independent commission.
c. 48-49 AD
Council of Jerusalem
A crucial meeting where church leaders addressed the issue of gentile inclusion. Paul's apostolic authority was recognized, particularly his mission to the Gentiles, solidifying his independent commission.
c. 53-55 AD
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
During his third missionary journey, Paul spent an extended period in Ephesus, a major city in Asia Minor. This likely provided him with firsthand knowledge of the churches in the surrounding Galatian region.
c. 57 AD
Composition of the Epistle to the Galatians
Paul writes this letter, likely from Macedonia, to address a crisis in the Galatian churches. False teachers were undermining his authority and distorting the gospel, prompting him to fiercely defend his apostleship and the doctrine of justification by faith.
This passage details Paul's defense of his apostleship by recounting his direct encounter with the risen Christ, mirroring Galatians 1:1's emphasis on his divine commission and not human authority.
Acts 9:1-19The account of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus directly illustrates the 'through Jesus Christ' aspect of his apostleship, showing his divine appointment apart from human intervention.
Romans 1:1-7Similar to Galatians, Paul introduces himself as an apostle 'called to be holy' through Jesus Christ, underscoring the shared theme of a divine commission for gospel ministry.
Galatians 2:1-10Here, Paul confronts the 'pillars' of the Jerusalem church, asserting the equality of his apostleship to theirs, which was granted directly by Christ and not by their authority, reinforcing the point made in the opening verse.
Ephesians 3:1-7Paul again emphasizes his role as an apostle to the Gentiles, a stewardship given to him by God's grace, further highlighting the divine origin of his commission mentioned in Galatians 1:1.
ellicottGalatians 1:1: "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)"
I. (1-5) It is no self-constituted teacher by whom the Galatians are addressed, but an Apostle who, like the chosen Twelve, had received his commission, not from any human source or through any human agency, but directly from God and Christ. As such, he and his companions that are with him give Christian greeting to the Galatian churches, invoking upon them the…
expositorsGalatians 1:1: "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)"
Chapter 1THE ADDRESS. Galatians 1:1-2 ANTIQUITY has nothing to show more notable in its kind, or more precious, than this letter of Paul to the Churches of Galatia. It takes us back, in some respects nearer than any other document we possess, to the beginnings of Christian theology and the Christian Church. In it the spiritual consciousness of Christianity firs…
Paul isn't just saying his apostleship comes directly from God, but he's emphasizing that it's not through any human intermediary, distinguishing his divine appointment from any lesser human authority. The phrase "through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead" highlights that his commission stems from the powerful, resurrected Christ, implying the same divine authority that raised Jesus now empowers Paul.
Paul opens this letter with a strong declaration of his authority as an apostle, emphasizing that his commission comes directly from God and the risen Christ, not from any human source. This assertion is crucial because some in the Galatian churches were challenging his authority and distorting his message. By establishing the divine origin of his apostleship right at the beginning, Paul sets the stage to defend the truth of the gospel he preached.
Paul opens this letter with a strong declaration of his authority as an apostle, emphasizing that his commission comes directly from God and the risen Christ, not from any human source. This assertion is crucial because some in the Galatian churches were challenging his authority and distorting his message. By establishing the divine origin of his apostleship right at the beginning, Paul sets the stage to defend the truth of the gospel he preached.
"Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—" — Paul isn't just saying his apostleship comes directly from God, but he's emphasizing that it's not through any human intermediary, distinguishing his divine appointment from any lesser human author…
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