GALATIANS 1, 2 (roughly). PAUL VINDICATES HIS INDEPENDENCE. Galatians 1:1. Paul's apostleship, denied by his enemies, is due neither to human initiative nor human mediation, but directly to God and Christ, the latter being viewed in accordance with the fundamental doctrine of Christianity as the ri... [ Continue Reading ]
Most of Paul's letters open with thanks to God for the Christianity of the readers. Nothing of that kind is possible here! Quickly not soon after their conversion; that were no wonder; but with indecent haste and levity, such as one laments in George Eliot's abandonment of faith they are turning awa... [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS 1:11 begins a historical narrative proving Paul's independence of any human authority in his apostolic work. He learned by a revelation from heaven, not in any sense from flesh and blood: _cf._ Matthew 16:17. All natural human tendencies inclined him towards different beliefs. He was born... [ Continue Reading ]
Not till he had been three years a Christian and a Christian preacher did he come in contact with the earlier apostles; and then but slightly. He visited Cephas at Jerusalem, spending a fortnight with him (_cf._ 1 Corinthians 15:3?); and he also met James, the brother of Christ (the Gr. may mean eit... [ Continue Reading ]