and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul doesn't start with praise for the Galatians, which is unusual for him; instead, he immediately includes "all the brothers with me" in the greeting. This subtle inclusion signifies his awareness that his message isn't just his own, but a unified message shared by the wider Christian community he's part of.
and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul begins this letter not with his usual warm commendations, but with a direct address to the churches in Galatia, along with all the Christian brothers accompanying him. This abrupt and unadorned opening signals that Paul is deeply concerned about a serious issue that has taken root among the Galatian believers, likely concerning the very foundation of their faith.
Why does Paul include 'all the brothers with me' in his greeting? Was he seeking backup, or was it something deeper?
Paul rarely wrote alone. He often included the names of his companions in the salutations of his letters, like Sosthenes with 1 Corinthians or Timothy with Philippians. In Galatians, however, he uses a more general phrase: 'all the brothers who are with me.'
This isn't about Paul trying to hide behind others or bolster his own authority. The scholars suggest he was simply acknowledging the unity of the Christian community and that the message he carried was a shared truth, not just his personal opinion. These 'brothers' stood with him, sharing the same conviction and message. It subtly reinforces that his apostolic authority wasn't just his own, but part of a larger fellowship of believers who were united in the Gospel.
Most of Paul's letters start with warm words of praise for the recipients. But not this one. Why the abrupt silence here?
Normally, Paul would begin his letters with commendations, praising aspects of the church he was writing to. Think of how he starts 1 Corinthians, acknowledging their gifts even amidst their struggles. But here, in Galatians, the greeting is stark. There are no words of praise, no mention of their spiritual blessings.
This isn't an oversight; it's intentional. The scholars point out that the Galatians had strayed significantly from the core of the Gospel. They weren't just struggling with practical application like the Corinthians; they were questioning the very foundation of their faith. Paul's tone reflects a 'righteous indignation.' The lack of customary praise signals the seriousness of their error and immediately sets a more somber, corrective tone for the letter.
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The letter to the Galatians was written because Judaizing teachers were trying to force Jewish customs, especially circumcision, onto Gentile believers. Paul's response, grounded in his apostolic authority and the core message of justification by faith alone, was a fierce defense of the true Gospel. This context helps explain the urgent and sometimes indignant tone of the letter.
c. AD 46-49
Paul's First Missionary Journey
Paul, along with Barnabas, travels through much of Asia Minor, including the region of Galatia, establishing churches and sharing the Gospel. This period marks the initial planting of the churches Paul addresses in his letter.
c. AD 49
Council of Jerusalem
A pivotal meeting where apostles and elders debate the requirements for Gentile believers, particularly regarding circumcision and the Mosaic Law. The council's decision to not burden Gentiles with these laws is crucial to Paul's argument in Galatians.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Second Missionary Journey
Paul revisits the churches in Galatia, likely strengthening them and addressing emerging issues. It's during or shortly after this journey that the problems addressed in Galatians likely began to take root.
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Paul's Third Missionary Journey
During his extensive ministry in Ephesus, Paul likely receives reports about the situation in the Galatian churches, leading him to write this powerful letter.
This passage shows Paul's typical practice of including fellow believers in his greetings, highlighting the communal nature of his ministry, even though in Galatians he opts for a more general inclusion.
Acts 14:23This verse describes Paul appointing elders in various churches, illustrating the network of believers he was connected to and likely included in his broader ministry greetings.
Philippians 4:21-22Here, Paul specifically distinguishes between 'all the saints' and 'the brethren with me,' providing a helpful parallel for understanding the category of companions he includes in his Galatian greeting.
2 Corinthians 1:1This opening verse, similar to Galatians 1:2, also includes 'all the saints who are in all Achaia,' showing a pattern of Paul addressing multiple congregations and involving those with him in his ministry.
ellicottGalatians 1:2: "And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:"
(2) All the brethren which are with me — i.e., all his travelling companions. We are unable to say exactly who these were, the more so as we do not know with any certainty the place from which St. Paul was writing. He may have had in his company most of those who are mentioned in Acts 20:4 as accompanying him back into Asia: Sopater, son of Pyrrhus (according to an amended reading); Aristarchus and Secundus,…
cambridgeGalatians 1:2: "And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:"
2 . all the brethren which are with me ] It is impossible to say with certainty who these brethren were. The expression, ‘ all the brethren’ and the omission of any names, render it improbable that reference is intended only to Timothy and Titus. The words are intentionally vague, and certainly do not lend support to the view that St Paul “sought safety in numbers”. He knew that truth is generally with the mi…
Paul doesn't start with praise for the Galatians, which is unusual for him; instead, he immediately includes "all the brothers with me" in the greeting. This subtle inclusion signifies his awareness that his message isn't just his own, but a unified message shared by the wider Christian community he's part of.
Paul begins this letter not with his usual warm commendations, but with a direct address to the churches in Galatia, along with all the Christian brothers accompanying him. This abrupt and unadorned opening signals that Paul is deeply concerned about a serious issue that has taken root among the Galatian believers, likely concerning the very foundation of their faith.
Paul begins this letter not with his usual warm commendations, but with a direct address to the churches in Galatia, along with all the Christian brothers accompanying him. This abrupt and unadorned opening signals that Paul is deeply concerned about a serious issue that has taken root among the Galatian believers, likely concerning the very foundation of their faith.
"and all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:" — Paul doesn't start with praise for the Galatians, which is unusual for him; instead, he immediately includes "all the brothers with me" in the greeting. This subtle inclusion signifies his awareness…
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Last reviewed October 2026