Galatians 1:1 – God…Who rouses Him from among the dead

Paul, an apostle, not from men, neither through a man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, Who rouses Him from among the dead.

In the first sentence, Paul already lets you know with which authority he speaks. He was delegated, not by a man, (a mortal) but “by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who rouses Him from among the dead.” Thus he was invested by God with the highest authority. This salutation alone would silence Paul’s opponents.

The Christ raised from the dead was the last thing all the apostles saw. Forty days later a cloud hid Him from their sight. But where their apostleship ended, Paul’s began. Out of heavenly glory the risen Christ has called, taught, and delegated him.

Note also Paul’s formulation: God the Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead. As a chorus, this is heard countless times in the NT. Jesus Christ was dead for three days, and even if God had not resurrected Him, He would still be dead now. Supposing Jesus Himself were God (as Christendom officially teaches), how could we wholeheartedly confess that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9)?

Delen: