And all the brothers who are
with me. Paul wasn’t alone. “All” indicates many brothers united with
Paul bearing witness to the gospel. The
Galatians likely knew these brothers (cf. Acts 20:4).
To the churches of Galatia.
Grace
to you
Grace, (Charis) in Greek, means that which affords
joy, pleasure, delight. It is derived
from a verb meaning to be full of cheer,
calmly happy or well off.
It is related to words for joy (chara), and gift (charisma).
Grace is a free gift from God (Ro 5:15) for our mutual
delight. Grace requires no repayment (2Co 8:9). Grace is in Christ; we receive
it from Him (Jn 1:16-17). We are saved through grace (Ep 2:8) and justified freely through it (Ro 3:24). Grace is
our sufficient supply and equipping (2Co 12:9, 1Pt 4:10). Grace constitutes each of us as particular
gifts to the body for function and operation (Ro 1:5, 1Co 3:10, 2Co 9:8, Ep 4:7, 12). Grace
reigns and labors in us (Ro 5:21, 1Co 15:10).
Grace bears fruit as we each labor according to our measure. This is not by demand or debt, but inward
empowering grace unto the delight of God, us, and those benefited by this
“laboring grace” We can find grace for our daily salvation and moment by moment
supply (2Co 1:12, Heb 4:16; 1 Pet 2:19-20).
In Galatians: We
were called into, and by, grace (1:6, 15); Paul received grace for the gospel
(2:9), and righteousness is by grace through Christ’s death (2:21). If justified by law, we fall from grace and
Christ becomes ineffective to us (2:21, 5:4).
The Galatians had been distracted.
They should find grace for their daily walk by contacting God in spirit.
But they were detoured, by “troublers’” perverting the gospel, into works
of law, tradition and outward practices.
They reverted to their own effort, forfeited their freedom, were brought
under a curse and fell from grace. Grace
may be available to us but we can miss it and both God and we lose out. Grace is direct from God – not through a
mediator like the law. The law was a
contract requiring performance by both parties.
Man can never satisfy his side, so the law becomes a curse (3:10) while
grace depends on God alone.
And Peace (eirene)
Peace, prosperity, quietness,
rest, one or joined. Peace is a result
of grace. In works of law, the Galatians
would be always restless, toiling in labor dependant on themselves. Peace is absence of trouble, turmoil. “The troublers” led the Galatians to nullify
grace – which ignored Christ’s death for them.
There is no peace in bearing responsibility for ones own sins nor in being under the demands of the law.
From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace are “from” both the
Father and Jesus Christ.
This
apparently simple greeting in verses 1:2-3, means a lot in the context of
Galatians. The Galatians needed rescue by the grace of God.