Why does Paul open Galatians by calling himself an apostle?
Paul opens Galatians by calling himself an apostle to establish the divine authority of his apostleship and message. His apostleship was not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead, so he had absolute authority to proclaim these truths.
Les explains that in Galatians 1:1 Paul immediately reminds his hearers of the authority of his apostleship. He always comes at that first: he had the absolute authority to proclaim the truths he was proclaiming, and it had nothing to do with men appointing him. Paul writes that his apostleship was not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead. This fits the little book of Galatians, written about two years before the Corinthian letters, whose whole theme is to convince them and us that we are not under Law but under Grace.
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
More Questions
What does Paul remind his readers of right away in Galatians chapter 1 verse 1?
At the very start of Galatians, Paul immediately reminds his hearers of the authority of his apostleship.
How did Paul become an apostle according to Galatians 1?
Paul's apostleship did not come from men and was not given by any man; he was commissioned by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Christ from the dead.