What is the meaning of Galatians 1:11? For I want you to know • Paul opens with urgency and warmth, signaling that what follows is essential, not optional. • Similar phrasing shows up in Philippians 1:12—“Now I want you to know, brothers…”—where Paul clarifies God’s purposes in his imprisonment. Like there, he is about to clear away confusion. • In 1 Corinthians 15:1 he says, “Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel…”—again anchoring his teaching in certainty, not speculation. • By stressing “I want you to know,” Paul reassures the churches of Galatia that spiritual clarity is attainable and that the Lord desires believers to grasp truth, not wander in doubt (cf. John 8:32). brothers • The familial term reminds the readers that they share a common adoption in Christ (Romans 8:15-17; Ephesians 2:19). • Addressing them as “brothers” softens the corrective tone that fills much of Galatians. Discipline comes from family love, not from a distant critic (Hebrews 12:6-8). • This bond underscores that gospel truth unites believers, even when hard conversations are necessary (Galatians 3:26-28). that the gospel I preached • Paul points to a specific, already-proclaimed message, not a developing theory. The content is settled (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Jude 3). • “Gospel” means “good news,” and Paul consistently defines it as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for our sins (Romans 1:16-17). • His phrase “I preached” highlights personal responsibility: he has heralded this news publicly, risking opposition (Acts 20:24; 2 Timothy 1:11-12). • By reminding them of his preaching, he calls them back to their original foundation, away from the false teachers who were adding law to grace (Galatians 1:6-9). was not devised by man • Paul zeroes in on the gospel’s divine origin; it didn’t arise from human brainstorming sessions (Galatians 1:12). • Jesus said, “My teaching is not My own; it comes from Him who sent Me” (John 7:16). Paul echoes that same confidence. • 1 Thessalonians 2:13 celebrates the same reality: “When you received the word of God, you accepted it not as the word of men but as the word of God.” • The Spirit-breathed nature of Scripture guarantees purity and power (2 Peter 1:20-21). Because the message is God-given, it remains unchangeable, sufficient, and authoritative for every generation. summary Paul’s single verse packs four life-shaping truths: he longs for believers to grasp solid doctrine; he speaks as family; he points to the unchanging gospel he has already proclaimed; and he insists that this good news is God-given, not man-made. Knowing that the message comes straight from the Lord secures our confidence, anchors our faith, and guards us against every competing voice. |
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