The form of the opening words follows the custom in the era 'writer to addresses; greetings' found in other New Testament and early Christian letters. Only elaborates the greetings at a greater length than in this epistle.
Verse 1
"Apostle": translated from Greek word ἀπόστολος, apostolos, which generally means 'one who is sent', but in the New Testament is more specifically applied to those specially commissioned by Jesus Christ. Paul's striking comment on his apostleship emphasizes his ministry in Galatia under the commission by Jesus Christ and God the Father.
Verse 2
"All the brethren" : Unlike the other epistles that name individual co-workers, Paul alludes to 'God's family' consisting ofmen and women, using the wordadelphoi, literally 'brothers', which can also include 'sisters'.
Rebuke (1:6–9)
Instead of the usual note of thanksgiving following the greetings, Paul criticizes the Galatians for deserting his teaching of God's grace and turning to a different gospel, while there is no other gospel, and calls those who spread the fake gospel as anathema.
Paul claims that his proclamation of the gospel is not of human origin but directly from the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul's Pre-Christian Life and Conversion (1:13–17)
The clarifying account of Paul's pre-Christian life may be a response to an effort by his opponents to use it to undermine his authority. The word 'Judaism' in verses 13 and 14 are the only two references in the whole New Testament, and not until half a century later in the writings of Ignatius, 'Judaism' and 'Christianity' are considered two 'religions'.
Contacts at Jerusalem (1:18–24)
In this part, Paul recounts his interaction with the leaders in Jerusalem, but maintains his independence of the Jerusalem authorities.
Verse 18
"After three years": This is after Paul's conversion, not after his return to Damascus. Paul wanted to join the church in Jerusalem, but the members doubted and avoided him, until Barnabas brought him to Simon Peter and James, informing the conversion and his eagerness to preach the Gospel in Damascus.
"Peter": Several Alexandrian and Ethiopia copies read "Cephas", which is another name of the same Simon Peter.
Verse 19
"James the Lord's brother" refers to "James the brother of Jesus Christ", a distinguished member of the church in Jerusalem, although not one of the Twelve Apostles, but is named an apostle in the wider sense ; see the note in [|Galatians 1:1].
