Paul was called by his original name "Saul" in the scriptures until Acts 13:9. He had now at this junction become a Christian and was to share the Good News with his fellow Jewish people. Later on as recorded in Acts 13, Paul's ministry expanded to the Gentiles, and his message was consistent and of the same foundation: "To preach Christ and Christ crucified", and "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain."
This particular letter to the Galatians were to a people of non-Jewish background, or were called Gentiles. Galatia was a part of what is now Turkey and Paul had already been to this region twice before the writing of this letter.
As far as Galatia, they had received the Good News of Christ Jesus on Paul's earlier visits, but already there were Jewish false teachers (of the Good News) in their midst. They were saying negative things about Paul himself, basically trying to dismiss him as being an Apostle, and telling the believers they were still obligated to follow Jewish laws and customs.
Paul writes this letter to basically reinforce their personal belief in Christ Jesus in their hearts and accepting Him by faith is all they will ever need to be in His Presence. They are now free to serve Him without the former bondages of laws and rituals.
This letter according to some was probably written somewhere around 48 A.D. and Paul quite possibly wrote this letter from Antioch. There was at the time quite a controversy going on between the Jewish and the Gentile believers in Christ Jesus.
Note of Interest:
Paul always prayed or spoke kindness and peace at the start of his letters. The word "peace" that Paul uses is of Hebrew origin, being the word "shalom", which we have often heard used even today. The interesting thing about this word is it simply does not mean "to be in absent of war or confrontations or contention". The word shalom conveys "for God to give you a calmness within your heart or your very own spirit". This peace is not related to physical circumstances, whether it be at war or any various encounters in life we find ourselves in, rather, it is the instilling and the awareness of God's peace being in us, and the knowing that His Peace in us can make an effect or difference in whatever of life's circumstances we find ourselves in.
Gleaning from Galatians 1:1-5...
" Paul, a unique and special messenger, as well as an apostle to the witness and testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no man or organization that has commissioned me to do so, I have my "orders" directly from the Commander-n-Chief Himself, that being our Lord Jesus Christ and God, who is now our Heavenly Father, the very One who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead.
All the brothers and sisters who are here gathered around me join in sending this letter to you, our fellow believers in Galatia.
First, I speak words of Grace and Peace which are given to you through our Beloved Jesus, our personal Christ and personal Savior. After all, it is good to keep this in your minds: Jesus gave His very own life for each of us, the sins that kept us from any relationship with God Himself, and rescued us from all our sins, the present age we live in, and all the world has to offer. The thing is, God, who is now our very own Father, already had planned this; the purpose being, in fact the order being sent that this is in fact His Divine Will....that we live!...and that we live free!, all that made possible by our Lord Jesus Christ! This alone allows us to give Glory and Praise to our wonderful God!
This particular letter to the Galatians were to a people of non-Jewish background, or were called Gentiles. Galatia was a part of what is now Turkey and Paul had already been to this region twice before the writing of this letter.
As far as Galatia, they had received the Good News of Christ Jesus on Paul's earlier visits, but already there were Jewish false teachers (of the Good News) in their midst. They were saying negative things about Paul himself, basically trying to dismiss him as being an Apostle, and telling the believers they were still obligated to follow Jewish laws and customs.
Paul writes this letter to basically reinforce their personal belief in Christ Jesus in their hearts and accepting Him by faith is all they will ever need to be in His Presence. They are now free to serve Him without the former bondages of laws and rituals.
This letter according to some was probably written somewhere around 48 A.D. and Paul quite possibly wrote this letter from Antioch. There was at the time quite a controversy going on between the Jewish and the Gentile believers in Christ Jesus.
Note of Interest:
Paul always prayed or spoke kindness and peace at the start of his letters. The word "peace" that Paul uses is of Hebrew origin, being the word "shalom", which we have often heard used even today. The interesting thing about this word is it simply does not mean "to be in absent of war or confrontations or contention". The word shalom conveys "for God to give you a calmness within your heart or your very own spirit". This peace is not related to physical circumstances, whether it be at war or any various encounters in life we find ourselves in, rather, it is the instilling and the awareness of God's peace being in us, and the knowing that His Peace in us can make an effect or difference in whatever of life's circumstances we find ourselves in.
Gleaning from Galatians 1:1-5...
" Paul, a unique and special messenger, as well as an apostle to the witness and testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no man or organization that has commissioned me to do so, I have my "orders" directly from the Commander-n-Chief Himself, that being our Lord Jesus Christ and God, who is now our Heavenly Father, the very One who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead.
All the brothers and sisters who are here gathered around me join in sending this letter to you, our fellow believers in Galatia.
First, I speak words of Grace and Peace which are given to you through our Beloved Jesus, our personal Christ and personal Savior. After all, it is good to keep this in your minds: Jesus gave His very own life for each of us, the sins that kept us from any relationship with God Himself, and rescued us from all our sins, the present age we live in, and all the world has to offer. The thing is, God, who is now our very own Father, already had planned this; the purpose being, in fact the order being sent that this is in fact His Divine Will....that we live!...and that we live free!, all that made possible by our Lord Jesus Christ! This alone allows us to give Glory and Praise to our wonderful God!
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