An Apostle by Divine Authority: Paul's Defense in Galatians 1
Scripture Reading: Galatians 1:1-24
"Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)..." (Galatians 1:1)
Introduction:
The book of Galatians opens with a powerful declaration of Paul's apostolic authority. Faced with accusations that challenged his legitimacy, Paul boldly asserts that his apostleship came not from human sources but directly from God. Today, we will examine Paul's defense, exploring his claims, warnings, and the evidence he provides.
I. The Claim Made (Galatians 1:1-5)
A. An Apostle (v. 1):
• Paul begins by firmly stating his apostolic status.
• He clarifies that his apostleship was not derived from or mediated by any human authority.
B. Greetings (vv. 2-3):
• He extends greetings to the churches of Galatia, emphasizing the grace and peace that come from God and Jesus Christ.
C. Salvation Through Christ (vv. 4-5):
• He highlights the core message of the gospel: salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who delivered us from this present evil age.
How Paul Received His Apostleship:
• Not From Man: His apostleship did not originate with any human organization or body. It was of divine origin.
• Not Through Man: No human acted as an intermediary between God and Paul. It came to him directly.
◦ Source: Jesus Christ.
◦ Agency: God the Father.
II. The Warning Given (Galatians 1:6-9)
A. Been Led Away by False Teachers (vv. 6-7):
• Paul expresses astonishment that the Galatians were so quickly turning away from the true gospel to a different one.
• He clarifies that this "different gospel" was not another version of the truth, but a perversion of it, introduced by those who sought to trouble the believers.
• The greek used for “another” here is “heteros” which means of a different kind, not “allos” which means another of the same kind.
B. False Teachers Will Be Accursed (vv. 8-9):
• Paul issues a severe warning: even if an angel or an apostle preached a gospel contrary to what they had received, they would be accursed.
• This reinforces the absolute authority of the gospel he preached.
III. The Evidence Provided (Galatians 1:10-24)
A. Claim: Independent Apostleship (vv. 10-12):
1. Don’t Seek to Please Men (v. 10):
◦ Paul asserts that his motivation was not to please men, but to serve God.
2. Not Receive My Gospel From Man (vv. 11-12a):
◦ He emphasizes that his gospel was not of human origin.
3. Received My Gospel My Revelation (v. 12b):
◦ He received his gospel directly through a revelation from Jesus Christ.
B. Evidence (vv. 13-24):
1. From His Life Before His Conversion (vv. 13-14):
◦ Paul recounts his past as a persecutor of the church, demonstrating that his conversion was a radical transformation, not a gradual development.
2. From His Conversion (vv. 15-17):
◦ He describes his divine call and the immediate revelation of Jesus Christ, emphasizing that he did not consult with any human authority.
◦ He went into Arabia, then back to Damascus, and then three years later, he went to Jerusalem.
- 1. From his life before his conversion (vv. 13-14)
- 2. From his conversion (vv. 15-17)
- 3. From his first visit to Jerusalem (vv. 18-20)
- 4. From his stay in Syria & Cilicia (vv. 21-24)
- Preaching on The Conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48)
- Preaching on The Conversion of 3,000 (Acts 2)
- Preaching on Letter to the Church in Smyrna Revelation 2:8-11
Conclusion:
Paul's defense in Galatians 1 is a powerful affirmation of divine authority. His apostleship, his message, and his mission were all rooted in a direct encounter with Jesus Christ. We learn that:
• Divine authority is paramount in matters of faith.
• The true gospel is unchanging and absolute.
• God's transformative power can radically change lives.
Let us stand firm in the truth of the gospel, recognizing that our faith is built on the solid foundation of God's revelation. Amen.
