Galatians 1:23 - Paul Preaches the Gospel

They only heard the account:
The early Christian communities often relied on oral reports and letters for news about the spread of the Gospel. In this context, "they" refers to the churches in Judea, who had not yet met Paul in person. This highlights the importance of testimony and reputation in the early church, as well as the challenges of communication in the ancient world.

The man who formerly persecuted us:
This phrase refers to Paul's past as a zealous Pharisee who actively persecuted Christians (Acts 8:3, 9:1-2). His transformation from persecutor to apostle is a powerful testament to the grace of God. It also serves as a reminder of the radical change that can occur through faith in Christ, echoing themes of redemption and forgiveness found throughout Scripture.

is now preaching the faith:
Paul's conversion and subsequent mission to preach the Gospel demonstrate the transformative power of encountering Christ. His preaching was centered on the death and resurrection of Jesus, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22). This also underscores the idea that God can use anyone, regardless of their past, to fulfill His purposes.

he once tried to destroy:
Paul's initial efforts to destroy the Christian faith were rooted in his deep commitment to Jewish law and tradition. His dramatic shift to becoming a proponent of the very faith he sought to eliminate illustrates the theme of divine intervention and calling. This transformation is a type of Christ's own death and resurrection, symbolizing new life and purpose. It also serves as a powerful example of repentance and the possibility of new beginnings in Christ.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus)
Once a zealous persecutor of Christians, Paul experienced a dramatic conversion and became a leading apostle preaching the Gospel.

2. The Early Church
The community of believers who were initially wary of Paul due to his past but later accepted him as a fellow worker in Christ.

3. Galatia
A region in modern-day Turkey where Paul established churches and to whom this letter was addressed.

4. Conversion of Paul
A pivotal event in Christian history where Paul encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, leading to his transformation from persecutor to preacher.

5. The Faith
Refers to the Christian doctrine and belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, which Paul was now advocating.

Teaching Points

Transformation through Christ
Paul's life exemplifies the transformative power of encountering Christ. No past is too dark for God's grace to redeem and use for His glory.

The Power of Testimony
The early church's acceptance of Paul highlights the importance of sharing personal testimonies. Our accounts of transformation can encourage and strengthen the faith of others.

Overcoming Skepticism
The initial skepticism of the early believers towards Paul reminds us to be open to God's work in others, even when it challenges our expectations.

The Call to Preach
Like Paul, every believer is called to share the Gospel. Our past should not hinder us but rather serve as a testament to God's grace and power.

Faith and Perseverance
Paul's perseverance in preaching the faith he once opposed encourages us to remain steadfast in our mission, regardless of past failures or opposition.

(23) Had heard.--Rather, were hearing.

The faith.--Not quite, as yet, "the body of Christian doctrine," which was in process of forming rather than already formed, but the one cardinal doctrine of faith in Christ. (Comp. Romans 1:5, and Note there.)

Verse 23. - But they had heard only (μόνον δὲ ἀκούοντες η΅σαν); and they only from time to time heard say. They did not see him in person, but only heard about him. The dilated imperfect, ἀκούοντες η΅σαν, applying to the whole space of time here referred to, suggests the insertion in the translation of the words, "from time to time." The ὅτι is inserted after the Greek idiom in introducing the very words spoken in oratio directa, as in Matthew 7:23; Mark 2:1; John 1:40; John 4:1, etc. That he which persecuted us in times past (ὅτι ὅ διώκων ἡμᾶς ποτε); he that once was persecuting us. The διώκων is in the procter-imperfect participle, of which we have examples in Τυφλὸς ὤν ἄρτι βλέπω, John 9:25; Οἵ ποτε ὄντες Ephesians 2:13; Τὸ πρότερον ὅντα βλάσφημον, 1 Timothy 1:13. Now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed (νῦν εὐαγγελίζεται τὴν πίστιν ἥν ποτε ἐπόρθει); now preacheth the faith which once he was making havoc of. The use of the term "faith" is the same as in Acts 6:7, "Were obedient to the faith," which is equivalent to the "obeying the gospel" mentioned Romans 10:16. The object to the verb εὐαγγελίζομαι is always something which is announced, never a thing which is required (cf. e.g. Luke 2:10; Acts 5:42; Acts 10:36; Ephesians 2:17; Ephesians 3:8); so that "faith" here cannot mean the faith which men are to render to Jesus, but the doctrine which they are to believe, to wit, that Jesus is Christ the Saviour. We have here the early beginnings of that objective sense in which afterwards the word got to be so commonly used in the Church to denote the Christian doctrine (see Bishop Lightfoot's essay 'Galatians,' pp. 154-158). In the second clause, "which he was sometime making havoc of," the "faith" is identified with the Church which held it (comp. ver. 13). We may heartily accept Estius's comment, cited by Meyer, "Quia Christi fidelibus fidem extorquere nitebatur," while we still think it intolerably harsh to understand "faith," as Meyer does, in a subjective sense. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

They
ἦσαν (ēsan)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

only
μόνον (monon)
Adverb
Strong's 3440: Alone, but, only. Neuter of monos as adverb; merely.

heard
ἀκούοντες (akouontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

the account:
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

“The [man who]
Ὁ (Ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

formerly
ποτε (pote)
Particle
Strong's 4218: At one time or other, at some time, formerly. From the base of pou and te; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever.

persecuted
διώκων (diōkōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

us
ἡμᾶς (hēmas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

{is} now
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

preaching
εὐαγγελίζεται (euangelizetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2097: From eu and aggelos; to announce good news especially the gospel.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

faith
πίστιν (pistin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

{he} once
ποτε (pote)
Particle
Strong's 4218: At one time or other, at some time, formerly. From the base of pou and te; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever.

tried to destroy.”
ἐπόρθει (eporthei)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4199: To lay waste, destroy, ravage, harass. Prolongation from pertho; to ravage.

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