A. God’s Minister and His Authority—Paul, 1:1-5
(1:1-5) Introduction: Paul’s greeting to the Galatians is different from his greetings to other churches. He was writing under heavy stress and strain. False teachers and critics had arisen in the church who were criticizing and attacking him. They were questioning his call to the ministry and his authority as God’s messenger. Some were even questioning the very gospel itself. Therefore, the usual affection expressed toward churches and individuals is missing. From the very first sentence his writing is abrupt. He assails the Galatian churches with words straight to the point: he is a true minister of God, a true apostle and messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. He is commissioned by God alone (v.1).
2. He is recognized as God’s man by Christian believers (v.2).
3. He wishes the very best for other believers (v.3).
4. He proclaims the work of Christ (v.4-5).
1. (1:1) Minister— Call— Apostle: the minister of God is called and commissioned by God alone. There were those in the church who questioned Paul’s call and ministry, questioned if he had really been called by God to be a minister. They were set on destroying Paul’s ministry. Why?
⇒ Because he had lived such a terrible life before his conversion: he had been the savage persecutor of believers (cp. Galatians 1:13; see notes—• Acts 8:1-4; note—• Acts 9:1-2 for more discussion).
⇒ Because he was not one of the select officials of the church; that is, he had not been taught by the Lord Himself when the Lord was on earth. This was one of the basic qualifications for being recognized as an apostle (cp. Galatians 1:17-18; see Deeper Study #5, Apostle—Matthew 10:2 for more discussion).
⇒ Because he had not been appointed by the official or mother church, that is, the home church of the apostles, the church in Jerusalem (cp. Galatians 1:17-18).
⇒ Because he by-passed the religious forms and rituals of the official church (cp. Galatians 4:9-10; Galatians 5:6; Galatians 6:12-15).
⇒ Because he preached a different message than the official church: that a person is not saved by ritual and works, but by the love and grace of God demonstrated in the death of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:4-9; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:1f, esp. Galatians 2:10-11).
Paul answered his critics in no uncertain terms: he was an apostle (apostolos). The word apostle means a person called and sent forth on a very special commission (see Deeper Study #5, Apostle—Matthew 10:2 for more discussion). The apostle…
• is like an ambassador who is sent forth to represent the Person who called and appointed him.
• is like a very special messenger who is called and sent forth to proclaim the message of the Sender.
• is like a very special minister who is called and sent forth to serve as the Leader wills.
• is like a very special servant who is called and sent forth to do the bidding of the Master.
Note that Paul was not arguing with his critics: he was declaring that God had called and appointed him to the ministry. He was making his call a part of his personal testimony (Acts 9:1f; Acts 22:7f; Acts 26:16f; 1 Cor. 9:1).
1. His call and ministry were “not of men, neither by man.”
⇒ “Not of men”: men were not the source of his call and ministry. His call had not come from man.
⇒ “Neither by man”: no man had qualified or made him fit for the ministry. He was not made a minister by man.
2. His call and ministry were by Jesus Christ and God the Father.
⇒ Note that Jesus Christ is placed side by side with God the Father. This is a crucial fact, for it means that Paul’s call and ministry came from the highest source possible: from both God the Father and God the Son.
Note also that Jesus Christ is said to be raised from the dead. Therefore, Paul’s call and ministry came from the Risen and Living Lord Himself. He was called to serve the Living Lord, the very same Lord served by the twelve apostles. If they were true ministers, then he also was a true minister, for he had been called by the same Living Lord who had been raised from the dead by God the Father.
Thought 1. Critics often arise and cause trouble for the minister of God. At such times the minister must boldly declare his call and ministry—not in a boastful and super-spiritual way, but in a humble and clear way.
Thought 2. Every minister should examine his heart to make sure his call and ministry have been commissioned by God. The ministry is…
• not a profession to be chosen.
• not a job to earn a living.
• not a position to secure recognition and esteem.
• not a service agency founded by men.
• not an ordained commission from men.
• not a call of men nor by men.
The ministry is of God; therefore a call to the ministry must come from God. God alone can give a true call and commission to the ministry.
“[God] who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament” (2 Cor. 3:6).
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry [from God] as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Cor. 4:1-2).
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation….Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:18, 20).
“Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power” (Ephes. 3:7).
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Tim. 1:12).
“But [God's grace] is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles” (2 Tim. 1:10-11).
