Galatians 1:1 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 1:1-5

Introduction. The tone of this Epistle is decidedly controversial. In the first and second chapters the writer establishes against Judaistic assailants his apostolic authority. This, however, is only subsidiary to his main design, which is in the third and fourth chapters, as an accredited servant of God, to establish the gospel of Christ, or justification by faith against Judaism (a different gospel), or justification by the works of the Law. The fifth and sixth chapters may be said to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:1

Paul an apostle - See the note at Romans 1:1. This is the usual form in which he commences his epistles; and it was of special importance to commence the Epistle in this manner, because it was one design to vindicate his apostleship, or to show that he had received his commission directly from the Lord Jesus.Not of men - “Not from ἀπ ̓ ap' men.” That is, he was not “from” any body of people, or commissioned by people. The word apostle means “sent,” and Paul means to say, that he was not “sent”... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Galatians 1:1-3

Galatians 1:1-3. Paul, an apostle Here it was necessary for Paul to assert his authority, otherwise he is very modest in the use of this title. He seldom mentions it when he joins others with himself in the salutations, as in the epistles to the Philippians and Thessalonians; or when he writes about secular affairs, as in that to Philemon: nor yet in writing to the Hebrews. Not of men Not commissioned from them. It seems the false teachers had insinuated, if not openly asserted, that he... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Galatians 1:1-10

1:1-2:21 PAUL’S GOSPEL IS THE ONLY GOSPELRebuke to the Galatians (1:1-10)At the outset Paul reminds the Galatians that his call to be an apostle did not come from any human source or through any human agency. It came direct from God. The gospel that God called him to preach is the good news that by the grace of God and through the death of Christ, people can be saved from their sins (1:1-5).Paul is amazed and angered to hear that many of the Galatians are turning away from this, the only true... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Galatians 1:1

apostle . App-189 . not , Greek. ou . App-105 . of . Greek. ape . App-104 . men . Greek. anthropos . App-123 . neither = nor yet. Gk. oude . Compare verses: Galatians 1:11 , Galatians 1:12 . by . Greek. dia . App-104 .Galatians 1:1 . Jesus Christ . App-98 , God . App-98 . Father . App-98 . raised . Greek. egeiro . App-178 . from . Greek. ek . App-104 . the dead . App-139 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Galatians 1:1

PAUL'S LETTER TO THE GALATIANSGAL. 1This chapter contains Paul's salutation (Galatians 1:1-5), the dramatic introduction of his reason for writing the epistle, which was the developing apostasy of the Galatians (Galatians 6-10), a bold defense of his apostleship (Galatians 1:11-17), and the additional evidence of his independence and authority as an apostle (Galatians 1:18-24).Paul an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Galatians 1:1

Galatians 1:1. Paul, an Apostle,— The first four verses contain the preface or introduction to this epistle: the general view of it plainly shews St. Paul's chief design to be, to keep theGalatiansfromhearkeningtothoseJudaizing seducers, who had almost persuaded them to be circumcised. These perverters of the Gospel of Christ, as St. Paul himself calls them, Gal 1:7 had, as may be gathered from Galatians 1:8; Gal 1:10 and from ch. Gal 5:11 and other passages of this epistle, made the Galatians... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Galatians 1:1

1. apostle—in the earliest Epistles, the two to the Thessalonians, through humility, he uses no title of authority; but associates with him "Silvanus and Timotheus"; yet here, though "brethren" ( :-) are with him, he does not name them but puts his own name and apostleship prominent: evidently because his apostolic commission needs now to be vindicated against deniers of it. of—Greek, "from." Expressing the origin from which his mission came, "not from men," but from Christ and the Father... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 1:1

The nickname (cognomen) "Paul" is from the Latin Paulus, which means little. The earliest physical description of Paul we have comes from a second-century apocryphal writing. It described Paul as "a man of small stature, with a bald head and crooked legs, in a good state of body, with eyebrows meeting and nose somewhat hooked, full of friendliness; for now he appeared like a man, and now he had the face of an angel." [Note: E. Hennecke and W. Schneemelcher, eds., New Testament Apocraypha,... read more