1.
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Verse 1
Not of men. From various expressions occurring in Paul's Epistles, we infer that his authority as an apostle was sometimes called in question by his enemies. In fact, although he received his commission to preach the gospel directly, and in the most unequivocal manner, from Christ himself, he was not one of the twelve, to whom the term apostle more strictly and properly applied. From the distinct and formal manner in which he maintains the divine origin of his call to preach the gospel, in this chapter, (Galatians 1:11-24,) we may infer that his commission had been questioned by some persons inimical to him among the churches of Galatia.
2.
And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
3.
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4.
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5.
To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6.
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Verse 6
From him that called you; from him who was the instrument of calling you; referring apparently to himself, as the subsequent train of remark seems to imply. The calling of the sinner is generally, in the writings of Paul, ascribed directly to God; though it may not improperly be ascribed to the human instrument through whose agency it is done.
7.
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Verse 7
Which is not another; not another gospel, but only a perversion of the gospel, as is stated in the close of the verse. A similar mode of expression, or rather turn of thought, occurs in 2 Corinthians 11:4.
Galatians 1:8,Galatians 1:9. The meaning is simply that it is utterly impossible that there should be another gospel; that is, another system of religious truth, inconsistent with what had been revealed to him.
8.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Verse 10
Persuade men; seek the favor of men.
11.
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Verse 11
I certify you; I assure you.--Is not after man; was not communicated to me by man; that is, it does not rest on human authority.
12.
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Verse 12
Of Jesus Christ. The apostle here refers to the direct interview which he had with Jesus Christ, when he was first called to preach the gospel, as recorded in Acts 9:3-9.
13.
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14.
And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Verse 14
And profited in the Jews' religion; went forward ardently and zealously in it.--The traditions of my fathers. There was a large body of doctrines and precepts held as of divine authority by the Jews, which had come down from the fathers by tradition,--not being recorded in the word of God. Our Savior often alluded to these traditions in his conversations with the Pharisees.
15.
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
16.
To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Verse 16
To reveal his Son in me; that is, when he was on his way to Damascus.--Conferred not with flesh and blood; consulted not with men.
17.
Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Verse 17
Neither went I up, &c.; that is, not immediately.--Into Arabia. Of this journey into Arabia, Luke, in the Acts, does not give any account.
18.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19.
But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
20.
Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21.
Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22.
And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
Verse 22
The churches of Judea; that is, to those churches generally. It would seem, from the account in the Acts, that he must have been well known in Jerusalem. (Acts 9:26-28.)
23.
But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24.
And they glorified God in me.
Verse 24
The design of this whole passage (Galatians 1:11-24) is, to vindicate the views of religious truth which the apostle had inculcated, and which he was about to inculcate in this Epistle, by showing that they rested on no human authority, but on revelations made directly to him from the Lord Jesus Christ.