Galatians 1 2

Galatians 1:2 kjv

And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

Galatians 1:2 nkjv

and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

Galatians 1:2 niv

and all the brothers and sisters with me, To the churches in Galatia:

Galatians 1:2 esv

and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

Galatians 1:2 nlt

All the brothers and sisters here join me in sending this letter to the churches of Galatia.

Galatians 1 verses

Galatians 1 2 Meaning

Galatians 1:2 emphasizes the collective endorsement of the letter's urgent message. While the divine appointment of Paul as an apostle is established in verse 1, this verse shows that his urgent theological warning is not a solitary opinion, but a position shared and affirmed by all his fellow Christian workers and brothers present with him. This unity of purpose and understanding from the apostolic circle strengthens the letter's authority and underscores the gravity of the gospel deviation occurring in the churches throughout the Roman province of Galatia. The message is for multiple congregations, signaling a widespread challenge to the core doctrine of salvation by grace through faith.

Galatians 1 2 Context

Galatians 1:2 immediately follows Paul's opening address and assertion of his unique divine apostleship. This verse then shifts to include his companions, solidifying the broad support for his forthcoming message. The historical context is crucial: Paul is writing to counter the "Judaizers," false teachers who were infiltrating the Galatian churches and asserting that Gentile Christians must adhere to Mosaic Law, particularly circumcision, in addition to faith in Christ for salvation. This direct challenge to the gospel of grace demanded not only Paul's authoritative voice but also a clear indication of unity among his fellow ministers, showing that his message was not isolated but broadly affirmed by those laboring with him. The address to "churches of Galatia" signifies that the problem was pervasive, affecting multiple communities, thus requiring a letter to all.

Galatians 1 2 Word analysis

• and (kai): Connects this verse seamlessly to Paul's personal designation in verse 1. It signifies that what follows is an integral part of the salutation and holds importance alongside his apostolic authority.
• all (panthes - Gk: πάντες): Emphasizes the full measure and unanimity of the group. It means "everyone" present, leaving no room for dissent among them. This strengthens the communal endorsement of the message.
• the brethren (hoi adelphoi - Gk: οἱ ἀδελφοί): From adelphos (ἀδελφός), meaning "brother" or "kinsman," here used metaphorically to denote fellow believers, spiritual family members, and co-workers in the gospel. This term establishes a shared spiritual kinship and identity among the believers with Paul.
• which are with me (hoi syn emoi - Gk: οἱ σὺν ἐμοί): Literally, "the ones with me." This phrase specifically refers to Paul's companions and co-laborers present with him at the time of writing. Their presence implies active involvement and agreement with Paul's ministry and the content of this letter. It underlines the collective understanding of the gospel truth.
• unto the churches (tais ekklesiais - Gk: ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις): From ekklesia (ἐκκλησία), referring to an assembly or congregation of God's people. The plural "churches" indicates that the letter was intended for multiple distinct Christian communities within the province.
• of Galatia (Galatias - Gk: Γαλατίας): Refers to the Roman province of Galatia in Asia Minor. It specifies the recipients' geographical location. Scholars typically understand this as the churches in Southern Galatia (e.g., Iconium, Lystra, Derbe), where Paul established congregations on his first missionary journey, and which were subsequently affected by false teaching.
• "all the brethren which are with me": This phrase functions to demonstrate the solidarity behind Paul's teaching. In the face of a theological crisis, Paul is not presenting a private interpretation but a collectively supported truth. This shared conviction gives greater weight and credibility to the uncompromising message that follows, reassuring the Galatian believers that Paul’s gospel message is consistent with the understanding of other key figures in Christian leadership who accompanied him.
• "unto the churches of Galatia": This identifies the diverse, yet united, target audience for Paul’s critical corrective. The crisis was not localized but affected the entire region where Paul had preached the gospel of grace. Addressing multiple churches underscores the widespread nature of the doctrinal deviation and the universal applicability of Paul's defense of the true gospel.

Galatians 1 2 Bonus section

• The inclusion of "all the brethren with me" suggests Paul was not writing in isolation but surrounded by a company of believers who were privy to and endorsed his apostolic mission and gospel teaching. This can include companions like Silas, Timothy, Luke, and others who frequently traveled with him and witnessed his ministry.
• This verse contributes to understanding the collaborative nature of early Christian ministry and the communal authority that often backed individual apostolic proclamations, even as Paul staunchly defended his direct revelation from Christ. It hints at a consistent apostolic witness against doctrinal error, showing a collective guarding of the gospel.
• The lack of named companions (unlike other Pauline epistles where Timothy or Sosthenes are specified) may signify that "all the brethren" was a fluid group of co-workers and local church members present with Paul at the time, whose collective solidarity, not individual renown, was the intended emphasis.
• This statement highlights that Paul's struggle was not against minor disputes but against a fundamental theological assault on the nature of salvation, affecting entire church bodies rather than isolated individuals. The need for the collective support and endorsement implies the high stakes involved in defending the purity of the gospel in Galatia.

Galatians 1 2 Commentary

Galatians 1:2 functions as a crucial affirmation of corporate witness and support for Paul's divine apostleship. After establishing his unique, God-appointed authority in the preceding verse, Paul immediately includes "all the brethren who are with me" to bolster the credibility and consensus behind his urgent message. This move pre-empts any claim by his opponents that he stands alone in his interpretation of the gospel, presenting instead a united front from his traveling companions and fellow ministers. This communal endorsement reinforces the divine origin and universal validity of the gospel of grace against the localized perversion advocated by the Judaizers. The address to "the churches of Galatia" highlights the pervasive nature of the theological threat across the entire region, necessitating a unified and authoritative response to multiple congregations facing the same dangerous deviation from Christ-centered salvation. It's a statement of common truth, not merely one man's doctrine, inviting the recipients to consider the gravity of straying from the shared, orthodox faith.