Commentary on Galatians (8)

Paul's position was clear. He was established in Judaism, and was determined to destroy Christianity. He was not "on the fence" in any way. When he was converted, he was not inquiring from any of the apostles or disciples about the way of salvation. In fact, he was fiercely charging toward the opposite direction, heading to Damascus with letters from the high priest to arrest the Christians that he may find there.

Thus in verses 15-16, he describes his conversion as a work of God and not a work of man. He says he was converted because "God…was pleased to reveal his Son in me." Consistent with the context and his purpose, man is wholly excluded, and no man receives any credit for his sudden and dramatic change. He had heard the testimony of Christians, but he was not convinced and rather persecuted them because of it.

Further, men did not set him apart by some process of consecration or ordination, but he says it was God "who set me apart from birth." Of course, every legitimate ministry is divinely ordained, predetermined by God before the creation of the world. But Paul here echoes the prophetic consciousness of one like Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 1:5), and again directs attention to his conversion and ministry as one foreordained and accomplished by divine will, rather than by human initiation and discipleship.

He writes that "God…called me by his grace." He was not chosen because of his works or merits, and certainly not because of his dedication to Judaism, which "grace" caused him to leave behind. By telling his story, Paul provides an ingenious indirect argument against the false gospel. Probably none of the Judaizers could match what Paul had attained in Judaism, and the Gentile Galatians are at an even greater disadvantage. But what the Judaizers are preaching and what the Galatians are turning to – that which they covet and strive for – is precisely what Paul had to be rescued from by the grace of God.

By turning to the message of the Judaizers, the Galatians are not finding a solution better than what Paul gave them – there is nothing better – but they are taking on a problem greater than any of them could bear. If adherence to Jewish laws and traditions is the answer, then Paul already had it before his conversion to the Christian faith, but he speaks of it as bondage and damnation. He was charging much more fiercely in the direction that the Galatians are now heading, and he tells them that there is no salvation there. He pointed them toward the right way when he first preached to them.

He says that God revealed Christ to him "so that I might preach him among the Gentiles," or to the various nations and peoples. This is not the whole of Christ's commission to Paul (see Acts 9:15), but it is a major part of it, and the part that is most relevant to his readers and the thrust of this letter. Later he will emphasize God's promise to Abraham, that through him "All nations will be blessed" (3:8, also 3:14). This provides a context that accentuates the significance of his commission, and assuming that he also perceives the connection, he understands his ministry as God's fulfillment of the promise to Abraham. And it in turn emphasizes once more the legitimacy and authority of the ministry against the Judaizers.