Imagine you have a very difficult letter to write, stating things you know the readers will not want to hear. You would choose your words very carefully, trying to avoid unnecessary offence, yet making the critical points clearly. That is the sensitive task that Paul undertakes in Galatians. He has to deal with false teaching that strikes at the heart of the gospel. Galatians was probably written to churches in South Galatia (Antioch, Iconium, etc) and may be Paul’s earliest letter. We consider Galatians 1:1-5 Rescued from this present evil age.
1. Apostolic authority
The author is ‘Paul, an apostle’ (v1), but he adds to his usual introduction – ‘sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father’. He is making a point to his readers: in the face of challenges to his authority in the Galatian churches he asserts the divine authority behind his apostleship and teaching. Paul is to be heeded because his apostleship comes from God and confers authority as God’s spokesman. He also mentions the resurrection – having seen the risen Christ was a qualification for apostles (1 Corinthians 9:1). Note ‘all the brothers with me’ (v2) – his authority is recognised by many others.
2. Apostolic greeting
The usual salutation is used: ‘Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ’ (v3). Here are reminders of the heart of the gospel that is under threat in Galatia, where some are ‘so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ’ (v6). From the outset Paul is reasserting gospel fundamentals:
(i). Grace. Without grace there is no salvation (Ephesians 2:1). Only the action of God can give life and deal with sin. In Galatia false teachers were compromising the exclusive agency of God’s grace in salvation.
(ii). Peace. The chief blessing provided by grace: ‘we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is an objective, unchanging fact, but believers need a subjective experience of that peace day by day, along with peace among believers themselves.
3. Apostolic gospel
Paul expands his greeting in a unique way, with the focus on ‘the Lord Jesus Christ’ (v3). He spells out key elements of his redemptive work called into question in Galatia:
(i). ‘who gave himself for our sins’ (v4). At the centre of the plan of salvation there is the self-giving of the Son of God incarnate (see 2:20). This is God’s once for all, unrepeatable act of grace (2 Corinthians 5:21). The entire penalty of the sins of his people was laid on Christ – it is a substitutionary atonement.
(ii). ‘to rescue us from this present evil age (v4). The gospel is about rescue – emancipation from bondage to sin, Satan and death. Our enemies are summed up as ‘the present evil age’ – sinful society under the dominion of ‘the god of this age’ (2 Corinthians 4:4). At the cross Christ defeated him completely, fulfilling Genesis 3:15.
(iii). ‘according to the will of our God and Father. The planning of salvation is ascribed particularly to the love of Father, to whom a doxology is offered – all glory is his.