Beginning with God’s grace and peace

Galatians 1:1-5

¹ Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—² and all the brothers and sisters with me,

To the churches in Galatia:

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

This is a letter from Paul to the churches in Galatia (in present central Türkiye) that he started towards the end of his first missionary journey with Barnabas (Acts 13-14). He visited some of those churches again at the beginning of his second journey (Acts 15:1-16:5). When he couldn’t be with them, Paul used letters like this to remain part of their lives.

Like all good first-century letters, it starts with who it’s from, who it’s to, and good wishes for its recipients. But Paul takes what was a formality and makes it into a profound, deeply felt mini-version of what he’s going to say in the rest of the letter. The most important things Paul has to say are right here. It was really important that they (and we) hear them before he starts, because his beginning is pretty confronting. (You’ll hear that tomorrow.)

The letter isn’t just from Paul. It’s also from all their brothers and sisters in God’s family. It will become important to understand that God’s family is much larger than Abraham’s family that Jewish members of these churches were born into. But Paul isn’t just writing on behalf of these people, he’s been sent to them (that’s what “apostle” literally means) by the risen Jesus and so its as though Jesus is writing to them.

There will be some intricate arguments coming up. But the most important thing to hear in all of it is God’s grace and peace for them, and that this grace and peace is for them because of what Jesus has already done. His grace and peace are for them even when they are wrong. And his grace and peace are no less for us, even when we are wrong.

Thank you, Father that your grace and peace are for me in my wrongness. Thank you, Jesus, that you gave yourself to rescue me. Thank you for sending my brothers and sisters to tell me when I’m wrong. Give me grace to hear your love and their love as they speak your truth into my wrongness. If ever you send me to help turn around a brother or sister, please fill my words with your love and grace and peace.

Written by David Cornell

Have a look at the Bible Project overview of Galatians.