GALATIANS 1:3-1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
NSB* Paul calls himself an apostle to assert his divinely given authority to speak to the problem confronting Galatian churches.
Apostle; is, lit., one sent forth" (apo, "from," stello, "to send"). "The word is used of the Lord Jesus to describe His relation to God, Hebrews 3:1; See John 17:3. The twelve disciples chosen by the Lord for special training were so called, Luke 6:13; Luke 9:10. Paul, though he had seen the Lord Jesus, 1 Corinthians 9:1; 1 Corinthians 15:8, had not 'companied with' the Twelve 'all the time' of His earthly ministry, and hence was not eligible for a place among them, according to Peter's description of the necessary qualifications, Acts 1:22. Paul was commissioned directly, by the Lord Himself, after His Ascension, to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles.
"The word also has a wider reference. In Acts 14:4, Acts 14:14, it is used of Barnabas as well as of Paul; in Romans 16:7 of Andronicus and Junias. In 2 Corinthians 8:23 (RV, margin) two unnamed brethren are called 'apostles of the churches;' in Philippians 2:25 (RV, margin) Epaphroditus is referred to as 'your apostle.' It is used in 1 Thessalonians 2:6 of Paul, Silas, and Timothy, to define their relation to Christ." * [* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 59-60.]
The Greek word for apostle here is ἀπόστολος apostolos. Vine's (def 1), Strong's G652.
John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Luke 6:13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
Luke 9:10 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
1 Corinthians 15:8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
Acts 1:22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Acts 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Acts 14:14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out
Romans 16:7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
2 Corinthians 8:23 If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
Philippians 2:25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;
1 Thessalonians 2:6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.
Through Jesus Christ And God The Father; NSB* refers to Paul's unique call to be an apostle which came to him at the same time as his salvation on the road to Damascus.
Raised Him From The Dead; NSB* is a reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Both the NKJV and the KJV use the word "raised", but it has the idea of to arise. The Greek word is ἐγείρω egeirō which means to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e. rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence)
Derivation: probably akin to the base of G58 (through the idea of collecting one's faculties);
Moving to Verse 2.
Brethren; The Greek word here is ἀδελφός adelphos. Dobson denotes a brother
a brother, a member of the same religious community, especially a fellow Christian. Strong's G80. Strongs offers - a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1) Derivation: from G1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς (the womb);
Churches Of Galatia; NSB* Galatians is a circular letter intended for several churches.
Moving to Verse 3.
Grace; This is a variation from the standard greeting of an ancient letter in Paul's time. The Greek word used here is χάρις chairs. The meaning here is graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude). Strong's G5485.
Peace; NSB* Is the Greek translation of the traditional Hebrew greeting Paul commonly combines the two ideas of grace and peace in the introductions of his letters. The true message of salvation is based solely on God's grace received by faith and it provides peace with God.
Strong's defines it as peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity Derivation: probably from a primary verb εἴρω (to join); The Greek word is εἰρήνη eirene. Strong's G1515.
Cross References: 1 Corinthians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Takeaway: This is the opening greeting of Galatians, but it contains some powerful concepts right off the bat. First, it asserts Paul's authority is from Jesus Christ. He then asserts the truth of Jesus Christ's restriction which is critical to our faith and gives Him victory over death, which we can obtain through faith.
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
*Nelson Study Bible.
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