Galatians 1:1-10 | Part 1
May 4, 2025

Intro to Galatians 1:1-10

The great reformer Martin Luther especially loved this letter; he called Galatians his “Catherine von Bora” after his wife; because, he said, “I am married to it.”

Galatians is a condensed version of Romans

Who wrote it?

Paul

When? - Somewhere between 40-50 AD

Many scholars believe that Galatians was written in the late 40’s or the early 50’s. An approximate date of A.D. 50 is often given. It seems that Paul wrote this letter before the Jerusalem Council mentioned in Acts 15, because although he mentions several trips to Jerusalem, he makes no mention of the council. Because the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 dealt with the exact issues Paul writes about, it would seem strange if the Council had already happened, yet he made no mention of it. If it is true that Galatians was written around A.D. 50, then Paul would have been a Christian for about 15 years, being converted on the road to Damascus around A.D. 35.

Who is it written to?

Galatia

To the churches of Galatia: This wasn’t written to a single church in a single city. For example, 1 Thessalonians is addressed to the church of the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1). But this was addressed to the churches of Galatia, because Galatia was a region, not a city and there were several churches among the cities of Galatia.
i. “During the third century BC some Celtic peoples (or Gauls) migrated to this area and, after fighting with the people they encountered, they settled into the northern part of Asia Minor. In due course they came into conflict with the Romans, who defeated them, and from this time they remained under the authority of the Romans as a dependent kingdom. The name ‘Galatia’ covered the territory settled by the Gauls.” (Morris)
ii. There were essentially two regions of Galatia, one to the north (including the cities of Pessinus, Ancyra and Tavium) and one to the south (including the cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe). There has been considerable — though mostly unimportant — debate as to if Galatians was written to the cities of the northern region or the southern region.
iii. “It is clear that Paul intended his words to have a wide circulation in the region of Galatia. The letter would be taken to each centre and read there, or several copies would be made and one taken to each church.”


Galatia


Modern Galatia is…

Turkey

Turkey Map

Why is this book written?

Practically
Written because Jews were trying to make Galatians adhere to the Old Covenant or Jewish traditions, circumcision, diet, Jewish holidays, etc.

Spiritually
This is dealing with the issue of salvation. It is God’s grace that saves us alone. It is Jesus + nothing that saves, instead of Jesus + Law.

False teachers are spreading lies of Paul and his credentials

Polluting the Gospel with Judaism, who is doing this?

Definitions:
Judaizers
Christians who are trying to adhere to the Mosaic Law

Grace
A: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification
B: a virtue coming from God
C: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance

Simplified version- unmerited favor or getting something we don’t deserve

Mercy
compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power

Simplified version- not getting what we deserve

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia: —Galatians 1:1-2

OK, let’s stop right here. There are a few things we need to cover on why is this significant.

First, Paul an Apostle. He wasn’t one of the twelve disciples, so how did he become one?
Acts 9:3-6 is Jesus appearing to Saul on his way to kill more christians, but Jesus appears to Saul, calls him, and eventually Saul becomes the primary person reaching out to the gentiles.

On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised —Galatians 2:7

We saw Peter was given the revelation in Acts 10 with preaching the Gospel to Cornelius and his family, but Peter’s focus remained with the Jews, as Paul’s focus became the Gentiles. Interesting, Peter the fisherman teaches and leads the Jews, the first with the Word, God’s chosen people, and the Pharisee is given to the Gentiles. An expert of the Law, but was both Jew and Roman.

“When I was a young man I thought Paul was making too much of his call. I did not understand his purpose. I did not then realize the importance of the ministry… We exalt our calling, not to gain glory among men, or money, or satisfaction, or favor, but because people need to be assured that the words we speak are the words of God. This is no sinful pride. It is holy pride.” (Martin Luther)

Paul also acknowledges the other brethren with him, letting Galatia know he is not alone in this letter. This all to help assert what Paul will be correcting the church on.

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. —Galatians 1:3-5

Paul used the word grace more than 100 times in his writings. Among all the other writers of the New Testament, it is only used 55 times. Paul was truly the apostle of grace.

How interesting how he starts with grace and then peace, almost how it is for us. When we first receive God’s grace, we are then able to find peace.

Quite shortly fits the Gospel here.

God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever.

No Other Gospel

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. —Galatians:6-7

Ok, now we have come to a problem, and a reason, if not the main reason he is writing. So what is this gospel that is being distorted? We saw in the previous verses the Gospel laid out briefly and succinctly, but now we have a better understanding why. Those is Galatia who knew the Gospel, accepted Christ as their savior are being lied to and they are accepting a different gospel. What is that? We will read more about this later, but for today briefly, we are going to see how the Judaizers are going around and teaching it is Jesus plus the Law equals salvation. For your curiosity, that is the answer, but we will cover this again more later. Let’s continue to read on.

8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. —Galatians 1:8-9

We don’t see this often post Jesus, but we see that Paul believes anyone who taints the Gospel should be cursed. That is pretty strong, but let’s explore why.

Tainting the Gospel, Jesus plus nothing equals everything

Man adds our own efforts

Let’s finish the reading for the day.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. —Galatians 1:10

We see a bold Paul making it clear, he is not here for man’s approval, and that if that is what he would seek, then Paul wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.

We can never add to the Gospel message, and we can never take away from the Gospel. That Gospel message, the Good News is Jesus Chrsit paid for the sins of the world so that anyone who accepts that gift will be restored to our Good and Holy God.