Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

ERSE 1. Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by JesusChrist, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead).St. Paul wrote this epistle because, after his departure from the Galatianchurches, Jewish-Christian fanatics moved in, who perverted Paul's Gospelof man's free justification by faith in Christ Jesus.The world bears the Gospel a grudge because the Gospel condemns the re-ligious wisdom of the world. Jealous for its own religious views, the worldin turn charges the Gospel with being a subversive and licentious doctrine,offensive to God and man, a doctrine to be persecuted as the worst plagueon earth.As a result we have this paradoxical situation: The Gospel supplies the worldwith the salvation of Jesus Christ, peace of conscience, and every blessing.Just for that the world abhors the Gospel.These Jewish-Christian fanatics who pushed themselves into the Galatianchurches after Paul's departure, boasted that they were the descendants ofAbraham, true ministers of Christ, having been trained by the apostles them-selves, that they were able to perform miracles.3 MARTIN LUTHERIn every way they sought to undermine the authority of St. Paul. They saidto the Galatians: "You have no right to think highly of Paul. He was thelast to turn to Christ. But we have seen Christ. We heard Him preach. Paulcame later and is beneath us. It is possible for us to be in error-we who havereceived the Holy Ghost? Paul stands alone. He has not seen Christ, norhas he had much contact with the other apostles. Indeed, he persecuted theChurch of Christ for a long time."When men claiming such credentials come along, they deceive not only thenaive, but also those who seemingly are well-established in the faith. Thissame argument is used by the papacy. "Do you suppose that God for thesake of a few Lutheran heretics would disown His entire Church? Or doyou suppose that God would have left His Church floundering in error allthese centuries?" The Galatians were taken in by such arguments with theresult that Paul's authority and doctrine were drawn in question.Against these boasting, false apostles, Paul boldly defends his apostolic au-thority and ministry. Humble man that he was, he will not now take a backseat. He reminds them of the time when he opposed Peter to his face andreproved the chief of the apostles.Paul devotes the first two chapters to a defense of his office and his Gospel,affirming that he received it, not from men, but from the Lord Jesus Christby special revelation, and that if he or an angel from heaven preach any othergospel than the one he had preached, he shall be accursed.The Certainty of Our CallingEvery minister should make much of his calling and impress upon othersthe fact that he has been delegated by God to preach the Gospel. As theambassador of a government is honored for his office and not for his pri-