Exegsis Galatians 1:1-5

Beginning Galatians, there are no empty words. Paul must remind his readers of who he is and who He represents.

Paul normally opened his letters declaring himself to be an apostle, not any different "Paul". Only in this letter does Paul extend his title with a Jewish Chaism to show his specific relation to the Galatian readers.

An apostle is by definition a person sent with an authoritative message. The distinction from an "angel" or "teacher" is the nature of authority. In some ways an apostle is an "angel" bringing a message from someone but the one one bringing it does not have authority to enforce or command (c.f. Matt 7:28-29; 1 Cor. 7:28; 2 Cor10:8; Eph. 4:11). You may consider the likeness that a prophet may have an enforceable word from God (2 Kings 17:1,7). An apostle does bring a prophetic word; even Peter referred to their messages and the scriptures written by them as prophecy (2Peter 1:19-21, 3:14-16). Apostles go beyond prophecy though to give official representation to their message from God; they are the authority to the message in God.

Paul expounds on the specifics of his apostolic authority with a rather straight forward few phrases. His authority does not come "from men"; this apostle was not sent from the realm of men. I work for AT&T and teach in my Church. I am man of both 'worlds' but I do not teach in church as being "from AT&T". Neither does Paul give his message as "from men".

Further he clears up that his authority is not being intrinsic to himself but through Jesus Christ and God the Father. More specifically the God who rose Christ from the dead to sit authoritatively at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33-35). This resurrection both vindicates Christ's authoritative claims and justifies Paul and all other Christians(Rom. 4:25). Paul speaks through an authority that no other god--let alone no other man--can claim.

We have reached the center of the Chaism as Paul addresses the Galatians. He redirects the stern focus on authority to a gentle blessing.

As is his pattern, Paul speaks grace and peace to the receipients. This he speaks to comes again from their mutual heavenly Father through the work of Jesus Christ. Specifically the sacrificial and substitutional work for their sins. This was the basis of their justification and reconciliation (Rom 4:25, 5:9-10) and consequentially for their deliverance from the dominion of sin they were under.

This great hope for their grace and peace is clearly declared to be of God's decreed purpose not just a desire of God. Paul makes it clear this "will of God" is God's purpose because of it being linked to the ultimate end of God's eternal praise and glory. This purpose God will surely not compromise (Is. 48:11). What great assurance and comfort the authority of this apostle can bring!

These few verses form a chaism with the focused phrase "to the churches of Galatia", in the middle. Paul book ends his opening to them with his authority firmly rooted in God's work through Christ and blessings firmly rooted in God's work for them in Christ. This microcosm will be a focal lens for much of the rest of the book study.

Joshua 3-5 Part 2a-Chiastic Structure, introducing a memory

My last post, back in the beginning of April, was brief and far too provoking to leave you hanging. Unfortunately, I will be refering to that post in this one because it contains brief contextual information to this story. If you wish to understand the rest of the context I would recommend reading the Exodus of the Israelites in the early chapters of the Book of Exodus--specificly chapter 14, when they cross through the Red Sea.

To understand this post you will at least want to read Joshua 3-4, which is one synergistic passage linked by Chiasm. (Chiasm is literary structure used to join thoughts together in a fashion that emphasizes what is in the middle and compares what is done on either end. Click the link to find out more.) The middle of the Chiasm is at the end of Chapter 3 and beginning of Chapter 4. Notice they are the exact same sentance: "All the nation had finished crossing the Jordan." After that "middle point" there is type of segway in thought, picking up from Chapter 3:12, which was a break in sentance. The passage is emphasizing the segway about 12 memorial stones. God wanted them to remember who He was/is and what He did for them because of it.

Sara posted her thoughts quite well on this part of the chapter awhile ago. I will simply seek to add on to it from the surrounding text.

Around and inside of that centeral part of the passage are key words that frame what God wanted the Israelites and us to understand. Two of them were already introduced by the officers (c.f. previous post). I will pick up on the other two in my next post.