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Sketches from the Life of Paul
even of absolute apostasy. Judaizing teachers were opposing the work
of the apostle, and seeking to destroy the fruit of his labors.
In almost every church there were some members who were Jews
by birth. To these converts the Jewish teachers found ready access, and
through them gained a foot-hold in the churches. It was impossible, by
scriptural arguments, to overthrow the doctrines taught by Paul; hence
they resorted to the most unscrupulous measures to counteract his
influence and weaken his authority. They declared that he had not been
a disciple of Jesus, and had received no commission from him; yet
he had presumed to teach doctrines directly opposed to those held by
Peter, James, and the other apostles. Thus the emissaries of Judaism
succeeded in alienating many of the Christian converts from their
teacher in the gospel. Having gained this point, they induced them to
return to the observance of the ceremonial law as essential to salvation.
Faith in Christ, and obedience to the law of ten commandments, were
regarded as of minor importance. Division, heresy, and sensualism
were rapidly gaining ground among the believers in Galatia.
Paul’s soul was stirred as he saw the evils that threatened speedily
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to destroy these churches. He immediately wrote to the Galatians,
exposing their false theories, and with great severity rebuking those
who had departed from the faith.
In the introduction to his epistle, he asserted his own position as an
apostle, “not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the
Father, who raised him from the dead.” He had been commissioned
by the highest authority, not of earth, but in Heaven. After giving
his salutation to the church, he pointedly addresses them: “I marvel
that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace
of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another.” The doctrines
which the Galatians had received, could not in any sense be called the
gospel; they were the teachings of men, and were directly opposed to
the doctrines taught by Christ.
The apostle continues: “But there be some that trouble you, and
would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from
Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
How different from his manner of writing to the Corinthian church
is the course which he pursues toward the Galatians! In dealing
with the former, he manifests great caution and tenderness, while